> I would hope that possibly it may hapen that
> someone or some group on the State level in
> PA. would take a hard look and See the
> potential of promoting our steam operating
> railroad resources in a more impactful way
> then it has been done up to now. Tourism is
> strictly business--big business in a post
> industrial economy.

Acutally PA works harder than most at this--it's the only state I know of that has an entire state Web site devoted to promoting heritage railroading:

http://www.parailways.com/parailways/index.jsp


Pennsylviania Railways
eledbetter@rypn.org

No Message

> For instance, don't come to B&M country
> to ride the hack, cabin or crummy. But you
> might get a seat in the buggy!

> Rob

On the Michigan Central in the 1960's it was called a "waycar."

dougnleffler@yahoo.com

> Mother Hubbard was some old Granny in a
> poem.

That's not what your RCT&HS Web site glossary says. It says camelback with mother hubbard in parentheses. Someone on the Reading had to have called them mother hubbards at some point in time. Otherwise, why would the RCT&HS mention it in their glossary?

I would trust steam era/Kalmbach people for accurate information before I would trust new millennium railfans.

Bottom line is that it would be wonderful to see the camelback (mother hubbard) in steam again!

dougnleffler@yahoo.com

Alas, the only places it would be appropriate would be the congested industrial areas of Philadelphia, Reading or Wilmington.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

> Alas, the only places it would be
> appropriate would be the congested
> industrial areas of Philadelphia, Reading or
> Wilmington.

Whoa, could the 1187 run on that street trackage along the waterfront in Philly? Now that would be something to see!!!


hpincus@mindspring.com

> I would trust steam era/Kalmbach people for
> accurate information before I would trust
> new millennium railfans.

Doug,

Don't make that mistake. Both should be judged with equal grains of salt. There are so many erroneous "facts" that have developed from poor data printed in the '40's and '50's.

Two specific fallacies about USRA engines (that the B&O got 2-8-8-2's and that the O&W light 4-8-2's were USRA's) came from books published in the steam era (one by Kalmbach, one not).

If you want to have fun, take a look at how those two errors became "fact." Even in last year's USRA book by Huddleston, he debunks the B&O tale, but repeats the 50 year old O&W fallacy which first made print in Kalmbach's Locomotive Cylcopedia.

The bottom line in ANY history book, is to know the author, know the sources and do your own investigation if you really are interested.

I will tell you, w/o mentioning names, of five active authors (two from the older generation, three not)whose work can be enjoyed for pretty pictures, but not a word can be taken for fact.

Rob Davis



rdavis@rypn.org

> I will tell you, w/o mentioning names, of
> five active authors (two from the older
> generation, three not)whose work can be
> enjoyed for pretty pictures, but not a word
> can be taken for fact.

> Rob Davis

Yeah, I've heard that there are some well respected authors that have NEVER let the facts get in the way of a good story!
M.Nix

2rivers@upstel.net

> Whoa, could the 1187 run on that street
> trackage along the waterfront in Philly? Now
> that would be something to see!!!

The trackage is a lot different from when the 0-4-0's were around and can now handle E-8's + Amfleet but one can imagine!


Electric City Trolley Museum Association