Assume that the SI is our nation's premier interpreter of history, and has been given the task of preserving "The Essentials" of US railroad history. What pieces would be a MUST for such a collection?

And assume, just this once, that politics and money are not an issue...



tr2manz@hotmail.com

> Assume that the SI is our nation's premier
> interpreter of history, and has been given
> the task of preserving "The
> Essentials" of US railroad history.
> What pieces would be a MUST for such a
> collection?
> And assume, just this once, that politics
> and money are not an issue...

How about just using the equivalent funding that this idea would take,
and making grants available to preserve what already exists in the hands of volunteer groups and museums that could use a little financial boost.

Since the history of railroading is the history of politics and money in a technological wrapper, is it possible to interperet it without its involvement?

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

I'd like to see a Merci Train boxcar complete with all gifts displayed and used as a traveling exhibit.

We actually need pieces which were involved in historical events, not just old one-of-a-kind pieces.

wyld@sbcglobal.net

Assuming you are talking about a building comparable to the NASM, my suggestions would include a GG-1, a U.P. Big Boy, probably the C&O's streamlined Hudson, eventually th K4 #1361, A closed end observation car, a sleeper, and open ended observation car, something early that is archaeologically recovered, like one of those two 2-4-0's laying off the New Jersey coast, any of the 2-8-0's, 4-6-0's, Pacifics, and Mikes that lay near abandonment such as those in Oregon, a standard 40' boxcar, a hopper, tank car, variety of cabooses. An F7, a Geep 9, the PA. I think tht's a good start. Of course each of these is already somewhere on display. You asked for the story of our countries railroads.

glueck@maine.edu

Let us not forget the Traction side of things!
Loan them any number of deserving car bodies for display. High Speed Interurbans, Steel Streetcars,
Wood horsecars and streetcars. Parlor cars et cetera.



ted_miles@nps.gov

I'd put in a PS-1 boxcar, a PRR GLa or H21a hopper, a Tofcee flat and trailer...

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

This is fun...

In addition to all the above, I would add a "Jim Crow" segregated car, like the one that is being restored at Steamtown for the Gold Coast RR Museum in FL.

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

In hindsight, a NYC J3a!

Let's see--On the electric side, a GG-1. Got it..

Steam--Big Boy (no, darn it), Hudson (not streamlined, but better looking), K4 (no), 2-8-0, 4-6-0, Pacific, Mike, and J-3 (dream on!). What, no Northerns?

Freight--Merci boxcar (no, but how about a pair of troop sleepers instead), standard 40' box, hopper, tank, caboose (gobs).

Transit--High speed interurbans, wood and steel streetcars, wood horsecar. Got them all.

Passenger--Closed and open obs, parlor car, Jim Crow car. Ditto.

Diesels--F-7, GP-9 (no, but the first GP-7), PA (another dream, but at least there's an FA). (and how could it be that no one has listed an E-unit?).

So . . . it looks like IRM should change its name to Smithsonian West. Be glad to do it, as soon as all that nice funding from Uncle Sam arrives!


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> So . . . it looks like IRM should change its
> name to Smithsonian West. Be glad to do it,
> as soon as all that nice funding from Uncle
> Sam arrives!

Be careful what you ask for!

wyld@sbcglobal.net

> Be careful what you ask for!

Figuring that there would be limited space, I would state (in this order):

1. A standard gauge 2-8-0 Consolidation
2. A "run-of-the-mill" 40' box car (steel or wood)

Each would be easy to procur and to fit in.

My 2 cents.

midlandblb@cs.com

How about some narrow gauge in there.
Some 3-foot, and 2-foot for that matter.


SJHussar@aol.com

> PA (another dream, but at least there's an
> FA).

Why not a PA?

pennengineer@trainorders.com

> Why not a PA?

Kevin was koking about what it would take to turn IRM into the proposed Smithsonian collection--no PAs left for IRM to get. In fact, the Smithsonian has a PA, repatriated from Mexico and currently in custody of Doyle McComick in Oregon.


eledbetter@rypn.org