Some interesting things in this auction promotion. If you scroll down through the materials, you'll find various photos and descriptions of audio recordings made in the 1950s, including some locomotives that still exist. Worth a look.

http://vincepaul.com/auction/trains.asp

Some of the slides that were scanned here, almost all pre-preservation era:

http://vincepaul.com/auction/train_sigh ... slides.asp

Trying very hard to figure out just what this is....... I can't find a home for Vince Paul other than a website apparently extolling a kid or grandkid......... There;s no indication what lots are involved or how to bid, or whether this is eBay or what......

So.......... more info? <:-?

Apparently the opening bid is $50,000, according to one of my colleagues who specializes in this sort of thing. The listings show about 500+ rather average (at best) slides, mostly late 50s-early 60s DRGW n.g., and late 50s CB&Q steam power, with some UP and other roads, too. There are boxes and reels of audio tape of the same era; wonder how useable that stuff is 40 years later. Seems a bit overpriced to me....

I recognize the yellow D&RGW 2-8-0 in some of the slides as being from a movie that was directed by Mike Todd (one of Liz Taylor's husbands). It might have been for the 1956 movie "Around the World in 80 Days". I believe the 2-8-0 was not steamable, or barely so, which is why they hid the Alco behind it to push it.

Howard might be right about quality of the slides, and recordings. My first thought was that some museum or archive should try and get in on this. But on second thought, looking at the sample images, it's probably not worth it. Granted, there's getting to be fewer and fewer of steam era fan collections in existence, but just because they were taking Kodachromes in the '50's doesn't mean they are of Emory Gulash quality or recordings comparable to Mr. Link's. Probably all of the really good and notable photographers from that era have been identified. Whether their work is/was preserved is another matter.

I would have to agree with Howard. Interesting stuff, but definitely nothing to justify Winston Link prices. I doubt if it would bring 1/10th of their opening bid if it was on eBay. I guess they're hoping for a sucker to come along.

The links still work ok for me. I wasn't suggesting that anyone was supposed to purchase this stuff. Just take a free look at the images, like I did.