The best way to instill "respect" for equipment within the ranks of the operating folks is to mandate their participation in the maintenance process. Granted, this is not an easy thing to do within the context of a volunteer organization-but
there needs to be some discipline exercised on the part of management.

I find the concept of "conservation" to be somewhat nebulous within the context of railroad preservation. Fact is-all equipment is "born" with a certain practical lifespan-in addition to an economic or operational one.

As the rail industry (indeed the world) becomes more and more regulated, the bar will get raised higher and higher. For exaple, the effects of EPA emissions regulations have made many, many diesel locomotives effectively obsolete in both the economic and practical sense. The economics of upgrade generally do not exist, nor do the capabilities exist to perform this work on a large scale. It is simpler (and cheaper) to purchase new.

What does this mean to "our" world ? Well, much of the equipment that arrives at the gates of railroad museums is prety well "spent."

So, I suppose the operative question is-in leiu of the issue of "conservation" is-does it really have to run-or can a better case be made for static display ?
> work trying to keep up with the repairs(not
> only engines but the cars as well). In a
> situation like that you learn very quickly
> that the easier you treat the equipment the
> less work you make for yourself and in the
> long run preserve equipment. It's better this way, for those running the
> train tend to care a lot more about the
> equipment and it's not just because they
> know they'll have to fix it if they break
> it. More than that, they respect the
> equipment and respect the work they've done
> long into the many nights keeping it in safe
> operating condition. In a
> "throw-away" world where most of
> us think nothing of getting a new
> fax/PC/VCR/phone or whatever rather than
> taking it into the shop (what shop?), train
> crews who head for the shop at the end of
> day with wrenches in their hands are a
> breath of fresh air and give the rest of us
> hope that 261 (or pick your favorite) will
> be operable next year and the year after
> that.

> --Malcolm


newhaven0401-NOSPAM-@verizon.net

How is restoration of 819 going? Last I heard she needed FRA recertification. Does anyone know any more info?

Regards
Brian