Actually, if you would have read my message a bit more carefully, I mentioned that sectioning the Steamtown 0-6-0 is justified because it is a consumable duplicate. There are other stock Baldwin 0-6-0s preserved and it is not the last one in existence. Acceptable violence is being wrought on the artifact--in this case, it is being done in a controlled setting for educational, interpretive purposes for which the action is more than justified. In museum circles, this vehicle would be known as a "for use" object. My advice would be to enroll in a museum studies class (Collections Management 101) at your local university and learn the language if you wish to speak it.

> Somewhat amused to see your posting a few
> lines above about the urgent need to refrain
> from consuming historic fabric followed by
> this one. How is it possible to section an
> artifact comprosed of historic fabric
> without consuming it in the process?

> Perhaps you have some specific set of
> guidelines about how one determines what
> historic fabric is appropriate for
> consmption - if it weighs the same as a duck
> maybe?

> Dave

> I'm still trying to

> Just please get one from China for this
> purpose!

> like a vintage 1989........no historic
> fabric there!

Now, now... are we saying Chinese late-steam era has no merit?

Just busting chops. It is a little too serious here. Waitress, more lager!

superc@monmouth.com

Let's cut open the Kanawha in Lynchburg like Luke Skywalker slaying the Tauntuan in Empire Strikes Back.

We'll drag the carcass out to Rochelle, ILL and set up barbeque grates in the firebox. The Y pipe will make a great Kegerator, and I bet we can steam clams on the dry pipe.

Whadda ya say? Throw another shrimp on the firebox bricks for me!


Rob, who does like the sectioned 0-6-0 in Scranton much more than he cares to admit.

superc@monmouth.com

> Actually, if you would have read my message
> a bit more carefully, I mentioned that
> sectioning the Steamtown 0-6-0 is justified
> because it is a consumable duplicate. There
> are other stock Baldwin 0-6-0s preserved and
> it is not the last one in existence.
> Acceptable violence is being wrought on the
> artifact--in this case, it is being done in
> a controlled setting for educational,
> interpretive purposes for which the action
> is more than justified. In museum circles,
> this vehicle would be known as a "for
> use" object. My advice would be to
> enroll in a museum studies class
> (Collections Management 101) at your local
> university and learn the language if you
> wish to speak it.

Lawrd almighty. Bloke gets a couple high-falutin' letters behind his name, and suddenly he-all thinks he's some snooty perfesser or whatnot.

Set aside the fact that it's damned difficult to fond a university with a Museum Studies curriculum anywhere, let alone perchance locally. Also ignore the fact that such a course isn't 101 material--my independent study on railroad preservation inventories was rated graduate-level work back in the 1980s. Set aside the fact that I agree with you 95% on what you've been saying on sectioned locos, etc. so far (because I understand the lingo, in part)........

Kurt, no offense, but I think the polyethylene in the photo sleeves is getting to you. I suggest you take a week's sabbatical, go up and pitch in on 1361 at Scranton, and then spend a day chasing Alcos on the Delaware-Lackawanna. You've been cooped up in da office too long.

Hey, at least I didn't suggest you pitch in on the track gang at the WW&F or Ma & Pa........

<:-D


lner4472@bcpl.net

Kurt, I know you to be neither careless nor thoughtless and I apologise if I misunderstood your previous postings. They do seem contradictory. Read them again, one after the other and see if you don't agree.

I must disagree that having two of something means it is fine to inflict damage on one (however well intentioned) to serve purposes which can be served in other ways IF we consider conservation to be our highest and greatest calling.

BTW, not having had the luxury of many years to spend in academia, I was forced to learn my collections management in the business from those who practice it rather than those who pontificate about it from a podium. Probably one of the major gaps in my education was he class on how only one of everything is important. That and diplomacy.

Respect to RR Museum of PA for their fine work and to Kurt but we will just have to disagree on this one. Rather than sectioning, I prefer to slowly deconstruct my use collection through operation and repacement of original fabric as necessary. Let' chalk this one up to cultural differences rather than malice.

Dave



irondave@bellsouth.net

> (snip) It is a good example of the
> kind of learning tool that the public finds
> compelling and most importantly, one which
> enables them to make connections with our
> mysterious technology. I think more North
> American railway museums need a
> sectionalized steam locomotive for
> exhibition purposes. I'm still trying to
> convince my institution that we need one.

And I just happen to know where you could get an 0-8-0 that would be perfect for this purpose. Call Friendly Nick's Used Locos - he's ready to deal!

"The contractor (JDC) who did the job for
> Steamtown has called it a "mercy
> killing". And, yes, it is absolutely
> the best way to see and understand what's
> inside a chooch."

A friend showed me some color photos of the French railway museum, which included a sectioned 4-6-4. It was a bit alarming to see this fabulous, high-efficiency engine cut open, but how else would I have learned that these things had boiler tubes finned on the inside? (Of course, now I want to know, how did they roll `em?) Clearly visible in the photo is a big hole blown through one of these tubes. Probably not enough to qualify as a mercy killing, though. You can learn a lot from these displays.

Incidentally, there's a tiny, live-steam-sized British quarry tank 0-4-0 that's sectioned at the Toronto Science Center.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48840-8482

froboma@mdot.state.mi.us

> Let's cut open the Kanawha in Lynchburg like
> Luke Skywalker slaying the Tauntuan in
> Empire Strikes Back.

"Yes. The force is strong in this one."

> We'll drag the carcass out to Rochelle, ILL
> and set up barbeque grates in the firebox.
> The Y pipe will make a great Kegerator, and
> I bet we can steam clams on the dry pipe.

HMMMM. How about Superheater-steamed clams. Now there's an idea.....

> Whadda ya say? Throw another shrimp on the
> firebox bricks for me!

> :-)

> Rob, who does like the sectioned 0-6-0 in
> Scranton much more than he cares to admit.

You bring the shrimp, I'll bring the beer.....

TJ

peremarquette@hotmail.com