The pieces referenced have nothing to do with the matter of forum censorship. They are intended to address serious issues that may ultimately contribute to the demise of steam operations in this country-not blaming people for what they may or may not have done or attempting to tarnish the reputation of an individual or organization. The type of censorship referenced is SELF CENSORSHIP-the fact that many of us in the industry decide not to share information that may reflect negatively on ourselves individually or on the organizations to which we belong.

The biggest concern that HRA and the trade have is that there will be a major incident involving a preserved steam locomotive akin to the incident that happened at Gettysburg and that if such an incident does occur, that there are those in the FRA who will use that event as justification to prohibit operation of steam locomotives on lines under their jurisdiction.

How do I know that this is true? Mark Ray has been a dear friend and colleague of mine for over twenty years and he and I have discussed this very topic. To say that those pieces address censorship on a website forum is a gross misinterpretation of his words.

I am sorry. I am not trying to misrepresent anyone. I’m sorry you think that. It was not my intention. I think you miss the connection. If we cannot talk about serious issues a contractor had with an owner, how are properties going to learn to improve the contracting and oversight process?

If you read the thread in question, it was by far a serious, technical discussion of a project gone wrong. It was only later when someone entered the fray and made it all about them did it go off the rails. Why delete the whole thread was the issue raised by many.

If this forum isn’t a place for such discussions, and said discussions are deleted, then where are organizations supposed to talk about this?

The place and time for such a discussion is at professional meetings, such as the Heritage Rail Alliance conferences or between individuals involved in the industry in private-not necessarily in a public forum where just anyone can see the dirty laundry of the industry aired. Do you seriously not think that the FRA and Class One railroads don't read this forum or railfan forums? I can tell you that they certainly do and that public arguments do not help our cause, so far as steam locomotives go.

As for the fray that resulted in the K&T 14 thread, sometimes the best thing to do is refrain from fueling the fire. A fire will burn itself out if starved of fuel or oxygen and the same rule applies to flame wars in threads. How the moderators choose to extinguish a flame war is up to them.

Seeing as some of the documents posted to the K&T 14 thread are from a FRA report which resulted from an inspection of the locomotive, I think it's safe to say the FRA was already well aware of this particular situation.

Alan,

By that logic, political meetings shouldn’t be aired on tv or reported by the news. They should only be discussed in Government buildings by politicians. That way, the lowly public can’t find out any of the “dirty laundry.”

No.

The vast difference is between a private entity doing things with their monies and regulatory oversight (fixing a RR, etc.) versus taxpayer dollars being involved, in employing, paying for, or operating the subject in question. You don't get to demand a FOIA request on a business or taxpayer simply because the fire marshal or health inspector has to inspect it now and then.

Quasi-public operations (like a grant from public coffers to restore a loco, Steamtown NHS, or a museum on public ground like Griffith Park in Los Angeles) are a "gray area."

Restaurants have health reports listed publicly. They are private businesses.
The FRA reports are not private; they are public.