Working on the WM, Vol II is now available from the WMRHS


I recieved my copy Friday. Having only had time to read bits and pieces I can already tell the book is excellent. There are some nice photos as well. This book is well worth the price and should be in every WM fans collection. This is exactly the kind of work a historical society should be doing. With the old employees dying out I hope there is another book in the future. Congratulations to those who made the effort to produce both of these volumes.

John Bohon

--- In WM_Rwy@yahoogroups.com, "Denny Wertz" <wm_1118@...> wrote:
>
> The WMRHS would like to announce that we have received the much anticipated
>
> "Working On The Western Maryland, Volume II"
>
> And it is now in stock. It contains 29 new interviews with retired WM
> employees and contains 208 pages. It includes a glossary of railroad terms
> and a separate photo section containing one photo of each class of
> locomotive, steam & diesel, that the WM had. There are also many photos
> placed throughout the book.
>
> Besides selling the new Volume II book we still have a limited supply of
> the earlier volume I for those who didn't get a copy the first time around
> and would like to have a copy, while supplies last. There is also a
> combination offer for anyone who would like both book\s, Volumes I & II
> which has a discount over the individual price. See below:
>
> Working on the Western Maryland Vol I:
> Price: non-members: $34.00 members: $24.00
>
> Working on the Western Maryland Vol II:
> Price: non-members: $37.00 members: $28.00
>
> Combination offer, both Vol I and Vol II:
> Price: non-members: $57.00 members: $44.00
>
> Shipping & handling for one book is $4.95 USPS priority, for two books it is
> $10.95 USPS priority.
>
> Maryland residents must also add 6% sales tax
>

Agreed. Railroads, like any other human organization or enterprise, are nothing without people, and far too many museums, preservation groups, and historical societies forget that simple truth. Artifacts are nice, and preserving those artifacts for future generations is a good and worthy cause, but if you don't include the human element, you will fail to attract the attention of a great many people who otherwise might have taken more of an interest in your museum or organization. It's much easier for people who know nothing about railroading to relate to it if you include exhibits focusing on its employees or, better yet, have actual railroaders (retired or not) on hand to tell their stories and experiences. Some of the best railroad photographs I've seen often focused not on trains or specific locations or equipment, but on the very people who operated those trains or equipment, or the folks who worked unseen to keep those trains running on schedule and safely.

Artifacts can last indefinitely; people and their memories, experience, and knowledge will not unless someone is willing to spend the time and effort to record that knowledge and those experiences. The human history of railroading is just as important as the artifacts and related information, and any historical society or similar organization needs to remember that or else start calling itself a preservation group instead.

The late Richard Steinheimer was famous for his railroad photos which included the people who made everything happen. I've tried to emulate him, taking such photos as the window-cleaning crew working on the Southwest Chief at Albuquerque (it's beautiful country out there, and they want the passengers to get the best view of it) and the daytime Radio Shop crew in San Bernardino many years ago.