In a lower post about EBT No. 12, an individual took aim at the loco and its custodians.

I'm constantly amazed at how this hobby is populated by people who think that the way to advance both the preservation movement and their personal reputation is to lay waste to some individual, locomotive and operation from afar, armed with only rumor, innuendo and hearsay. Its been said that any jacka** can kick down a barn, now I know why.

Its bad enough to shoot yourself in the foot, but in the temple?

So, in my never to be humble MBA opinion, a few thoughts:

1.) Since the engine is NOT running, why would that demonstrate a disregard for safety?

2.) The fact that you received a juicy tidbit from an "insider" means nothing in terms of the validity or objectivity of a negative assertion. In fact, since its a bad bird that poops in its own nest, assume the "information" to be of dubious credibility. If its a former employee or volunteer, double your skepticism.

3.) Spreading unsubstantiated claims by word is slander and in writing is libel. Both are actionable at law, although not often pursued because of the amorphous expansionary distortions of the Article I that passed for enlightened jurisprudence these past few years.

Still, since yelling fire in a crowded theater is still recognized as not being free speech, consider yourself lucky if you don't get a summons after acting as the town screamer.

4.) If you actually observe something yourself that you are concerned about and you are qualified to make reasonable inferences about what you see (and no, subscribing to TRAINS isn't qualified), report it to the proper authorities who have the ability to make a proper evaluation and force remediation if necessary.

Like I said, my never to be humble opinion.

> One more thing, because one engine has problems, doesn't mean they all do!

It's the negative thing I will never understand. When preservation really became my main railroad interest, I had to cut-off contact with buffs who were doing nothing but bringing me down.

Here in NJ, we have a very large group of naysayers who loudly (and sometimes via the magazines based here) decry anyone trying to advance a project.

As one example...

If I listened to everything the "experts" told me, poor old #614 never actually ran those great trips to Port Jervis. She's just a bucket of bolts, I was told, and there was no way she could make it.

I guess those afternoons up on the Erie main were a pleasant dream. ;-)

I could go on.

My wife is a social worker trained in disorders that cause people to join communities and then be a negative asset. It is sad, because there is medication and professional help, but most people don't recognize this behavior as an illness. However, the need to be heard, spread rumors and be an "insider" is an illness. There is help.

I have tried to encourage some socially challenged buffs to seek help, because I care for them and I know that these signs don't just have an affect on their rr lives, but also their professional and home life, too. As many of you know, the most "loud" no-it-all fans really have no family life. That's not because of the trains, it is because of the illness.

Rob

Inlinebob@aol.com