Not a big deal, really, but just to note that some people are paying attention to "steampunk."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/sto ... 56067174/1

It's been brought up before, this group is a bunch of potential customers-advocates for us, and it's worthwhile to keep track of them.

I intend to test these waters this coming September.

Nearby is a Reniassance Fair village. I was there for the fair a few weeks ago. There will be a steampunk event on a Saturday, primarily a music/band event. The same folks that do the RenFair stuff also dress as steampunk, plus some other hardcore steampunk folks.

I approached my buddy that lives just a few miles away that has a selection of traction engines. I then approached the management of the RenFair/Steampunk event, and asked about the possiblity of having a real, live steam engine present. After some "you can do that?" looks, we agreed that it is a good idea. We will present the engine nearby the main activites/stage, and simply "turn a flywheel".

I don't know what to expect. Maybe nobody will pay attention to us. Maybe we'll get casual curiosity seekers. Maybe we'll get some really interested folks. I'm guessing that most of the "steampunks" have never had an opportunity to get up close and personal with a real, hot, smokey, smelly, steam engine. We will encourage and answer questions.

I guess we'll find out? Stay tuned...........

That sounds like a good idea, especially if you can swap out whistles or change it up in a small way.

"I'm guessing that most of the "steampunks" have never had an opportunity to get up close and personal with a real, hot, smokey, smelly, steam engine."--Mark Jordan

I would love to watch the expressions of those people. Might be like watching kids! Can you imagine the effect of a nice, big, noisy locomotive?

Those steampunk girls ought to wear more clothes, though; hot cinders burn on your skin.

Hey! We gotta have some incentive to go, you know. I've already seen my quota of oily engines and fat men in overalls..........

If that traction engine has brass gauges or control handles, if it has the steampunk style, I would expect a lot of interest. That would increase the audience beyond those who like steam alone. It's not unusual for steampunk art to feature machines clearly based on images of traction engines.

-Mark

A few Steampunk images that were taken about two years ago at the Whippany Railway Museum in NJ. These folks sure seemed to enjoy setting up their scenes and posing for the pictures alongside No. 385. The end results turned out quite nice...

Don't get your hopes up. Steampunk is, quintessentially, about fashion.

Well, those girls are better set up to be around steam than the ones in some other photos I've seen (and the best of the lot is the blonde--don't tell my wife I said that!), but I'm not sure the very fashionable Miss Phoebe of the Lackawanna would approve of all that black leather, the pants, and the purple-red hair. . .

Someone should tell these folks:
http://kineticsteamworks.org/
they go here every year-a lotta steampunk present:
http://www.burningman.com/

We wouldn't want them to get any more successful on a fad or a fashion trend!

Bravo Mark!

For those not familiar, here's as good an explanation of what the Steampunk thing is all about as any:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

As a re-enactor (Bicentennial era Revolutionary War) who prided himself on research and historical accuracy, the whole Steampunk thing is a bit of a hoot. Yeah, among many there's a seed of history, and some of the folks I'm aware of really are serious researchers-- but do it as a lark or a general excuse to play with some semblance of historic dress-up. And the others... well it's, uh, usually pretty entertaining...

I've always figured that those folks would go out of their minds if they ever found out about the McKeen car out in Carson City! If that isn't the be-all Steampunk vehicle, I don't know what would be! ;^)

The McKeen car would be even more Victorian looking with an original McKeen engine and drivetrain. Alas, some things are gone forever. At least, with the modern engine, the car gets to run occasionally.

Thank's! ( isaksenj ) for the interesting link on what this steampunk craze is all about. I have been wondering what the heck it this was about as i have seen several RR items listed on Ebay lately with the steampunk name included. Just for the heck of it i typed "steampunk" in Ebay's search mode and 39,000 items popped up!

When one types in old antique/vintage goggles, tophats and such those things are getting pretty pricy and i noticed new ones are even being made and sold. I wonder how practical some of these new goggles really are and if any are actually suited for RR use or if they are strictly a costume type article for wearing with the steampunk attire? Some of the new goggles aren't cheap and have brass parts and are actually nice looking. I wonder if Ross has looked into any of these?

J3a-614, i agree the blonde is the best of the lot! I don't think i'd kick her off the train if she climbed aboard!

steam punk is something of a fusion of an old west with a modern flair. You might say 765 is "punked" with roller bearings on the tender and cab signals and any other todays modern doings. If you're running steam, maybe having a Steam Punk day would bring together some of these folks, many are innovative like making a computer keyboard and make it look like an old time typewriter.
Steam Punk is again a style just like "Gothic" (a vampirish design)

Just so you kow, the person in the first (top) photo, and also seen kneeling in the other two photos is...a guy. Sometimes, with all the styling and gear, it can be tough to tell at first glance.