"The impossible just takes a little longer."

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

I read the quote above in a NY Times reader comment today. It apparently goes back in history a ways. An internet search turns up various supposed authors, but according to an authoritative site, the author is unknown, so Moses himself may have said it first.

Anyway, it's a message about optimism and would be a good motto for railway museums that seem to constantly be up against the impossible.

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2516

Actually, the impossible and near impossible seem to have had their walls breached with some regularity, lately.

Think 4501, 4014, 1509, 611 and 113. Apologies for any misses in that list.

Post Script.

And I have ridden steam on NS on the Horseshoe Curve.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:40 am

That should be a foremost thought in every preservationist mantra.

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:01 pm

The impossible is only impossible if you allow it to be so.

This restored sign pretty much sums up the attitude at TVRM. It originally hung in the Southern Railway's Coster Shops in Knoxville, Tennessee and was hung after restoration in the East Chattanooga (now Soule) Shop approximately fifteen years ago.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:52 pm

Fine.

I want to see you ski through a revolving lobby door while carrying some full-length wall studs and striking a match on a wet bar of soap, while eating saltines and whistling.

Trainlawyer · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:24 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Fine.

I want to see you ski through a revolving lobby door while carrying some full-length wall studs and striking a match on a wet bar of soap, while eating saltines and whistling.

I clearly have serious competition for the role of resident curmudgeon.
GME

rock island lines · **Joined:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:20 pm **Posts:** 487

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Fine.

I want to see you ski through a revolving lobby door while carrying some full-length wall
studs and striking a match on a wet bar of soap, while eating saltines and whistling.

Got the first part figured out. Stand by...

;-)

Rob · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2014 7:36 pm

As found on the Long Island Rail Road during a tour of the Hillside Facility in 2009. Even the "professionals" think the same way.
Rob

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Fine.

I want to see you ski through a revolving lobby door while carrying some full-length wall studs and striking a match on a wet bar of soap, while eating saltines and whistling.

Can I do it on my snowboard eating Club crackers?

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 12:15 am

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Fine.

I want to see you ski through a revolving lobby door while carrying some full-length wall studs and striking a match on a wet bar of soap, while eating saltines and whistling.

Doing the impossible requires that you not bother with the stupid. In fact, evading the stupid is the essence of doing the impossible.

"The impossible just takes a little longer."

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