Whatever Happened to John P. Hankey?

Scott Rabin · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2003 12:12 am

Does anyone know what John Hankey is up to these days? You seldom ever hear about him, yet he is tops in the railway museum field. I always enjoyed his columns in L&RP and his lighthearted, scholarly banter on The History Channel.

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2003 8:40 am

> Does anyone know what John Hankey is up to
> these days? You seldom ever hear about him,
> yet he is tops in the railway museum field.
> I always enjoyed his columns in L&RP and
> his lighthearted, scholarly banter on The
> History Channel.

He's studying for a Ph.D. in history at University of Chicago, and acting as a consultant to several railroad preservation projects, notably the Martinsburg roundhouse project.

eledbetter@rypn.org

Harris Nemke · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2003 3:06 pm

Are you sure about that? I thought he was working on a museum project in conjunction with the NPS, and the Historic Pullman Foundation to reactivate part of the old South Shore interurban line and equipment. You information may be dated. I'm not sure John has been working on his Ph.D as of late.

> He's studying for a Ph.D. in history at
> University of Chicago, and acting as a
> consultant to several railroad preservation
> projects, notably the Martinsburg roundhouse
> project.

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2003 3:42 pm

> You information may be dated. I'm not sure
> John has been working on his Ph.D as of
> late.

Quite possible. I haven't spoken with John in two years; that's just the last I heard.

eledbetter@rypn.org

S. Matthews · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2003 6:35 am

When did John Hankey become "tops" in the field. I just checked amazon.com and still haven't found a book by him. Now Herb Harwood, he's truly a railroad historian! My two cents.

> Does anyone know what John Hankey is up to
> these days? You seldom ever hear about him,
> yet he is tops in the railway museum field.
> I always enjoyed his columns in L&RP and
> his lighthearted, scholarly banter on The
> History Channel.

smatthewh@yahoo.com

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2003 11:04 am

Folks, is this really necessary? John is a good railway museum thinker, as his columns in L&RP demonstrate. Herb is my favorite railway historian, too. Why set up invideous comparisons between two people who both contribute to our field?

eledbetter@rypn.org