If you haven't seen Iron Dave's breifs, well, you should. ;-) His running commentary ont he convention has been great, Click the briefs link!

Rob

Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

I think news briefs should be written objectively and without bias. If "Iron Dave" is going to give his opinions when reporting the news, they should be posted instead in "editorials" on Rypn.

> If you haven't seen Iron Dave's breifs,
> well, you should. ;-) His running commentary
> ont he convention has been great, Click the
> briefs link!

> Rob

The general rule of journalism is to keep editorials on the editorial page. However, I enjoy reading Dave's candid reports. Perhaps the reports could be consolidated after the convention, in the editorials section. Just like L&RP magazine was, RyPN is not a "good news only" house organ for rail museums or tourist railroading, and I think people should be able to speak their mind so long as it's kept civil and without personal attacks.

> I think news briefs should be written
> objectively and without bias. If "Iron
> Dave" is going to give his opinions
> when reporting the news, they should be
> posted instead in "editorials" on
> Rypn.


ryarger@rypn.org

Sam,

I understand your thoughts, but the reason I pointed out what Dave has been doing is that I feel like I am there with him. His call-it-as-I-see-it style has been most entertaining and has kept me coming back for more.

Heck, my back hurt after reading the bus ride tale!

Rob

> I think news briefs should be written
> objectively and without bias. If "Iron
> Dave" is going to give his opinions
> when reporting the news, they should be
> posted instead in "editorials" on
> Rypn.


Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

Regretably, I did not negotiate any particular location with Hume. I had access to a computer i didn't expect to have, made the offer at the last minute, and Hume did what he saw fit to do with them. I don't make any bones about it being a first hand impression of what was going on. BTW, I was careful to ask reputable sources who were there with me to confirm things I could swear I heard but couldn't quite believe!

If you were there with me and disagree, please clarify.

BTW, none of you guys have any firsthand up close and personal information about whether I like briefs or boxers best.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Personally I don't think it's any of my business ... but then again historic fabric is something to be preserved!

As far as the postings go, I certainly don't view them as destructive criticism ... If they are read in the "how can we do better next time" mode you might see some improvement or get some ideas on your next program!


lamontdc@adelphia.net

> Personally I don't think it's any of my
> business ... but then again historic fabric
> is something to be preserved!

This is probably worthy of a series of articles by those with a more philosophical bent, but I was struck by the irony that the best interpretation of a real historic operating roundhouse I have experienced is the one that doesn't act like a museum.

Perhaps - just for the purposes of discussion - it isn't possible to be a railroad and a museum at the same time without doing a compromised job of both?

Another irony to consider - D&S takes a lot of heat in comparison to CATS and EBT for "pandering" to tourists. Which is prospering and running a lot of steam trains in revenue service? Perhaps tourists aren't all bad, and attracting them may be a key to success?

More - D&S actually has built their own museum. The most prominent displays include rolling stock they use for special charters on their line as needed. Aren't they also in the preservation business as well? Their museum includes not only historic artifacts but artwork, so they are reaching the public on many fronts in a very professional manner.

As Spider Robinson said, "God is an iron."

Dave


irondave@bellsouth.net

> Another irony to consider - D&S takes a
> lot of heat in comparison to CATS and EBT
> for "pandering" to tourists. Which
> is prospering and running a lot of steam
> trains in revenue service? Perhaps tourists
> aren't all bad, and attracting them may be a
> key to success?

A prophet has no honor on his own Web site. I refer all to the D&S editorial I wrote after my visit last summer for musings parallel to Dave's--I drew many similar conclusions, some slightly different ones. Catch it on the Editorials page of RyPN.

eledbetter@rypn.org