[PRCo] Re: PTM__Equipment__Acquisition

[Fred Schneider]

Jim, you're sounding like me now.   You don't want to do that.

Perhaps ten years ago the Pennsylvania Railroad K4s Pacific that had  
been on display at the Horseshoe Curve was barnstorming.   My dad and  
I went over to York to follow it down the remnant of the old Northern  
Central to the town of Railroad.   This was rather slow running.    
Before they left York, I was conversing with the fireman about the  
line.   He said it was 10 mph trackage now.  (I think it was 50 mph  
back when.)  I asked if they could run a stoker that slowly, and he  
allowed as how he could not.   He would have to hand fire it.

Well, when we got down there, Dad wanted to know if we would stick  
around to follow it back up.   I thought not.   Time to go home and  
have lunch.   I wanted to try to keep in the memory bank those  
memories of charging down the Jersey Coast on the New York and Long  
Branch for whipping from Philadephia to Atlantic City, both behind  
K4s, with the reverse bar notched up and the throttle pulled all the  
way out.

I really don't have a good answer to the quandary Jim.   Maybe that  
is why we have Members Days at museums.   But it still goes back to  
needing hundreds of thousands of dollars just to preserve the stuff  
for members days.

On Oct 21, 2005, at 5:57 AM, James B. Holland wrote:

> Fred Schneider wrote:
> .
>
>
>> When I started at the Baltimore museum 17 years ago I had a lot of
>> people who remembered semi-convertibles. I have not had many lately
>> who even remembered PCCs on the streets of Baltimore. I get a lot of
>> questions about why does it stay on the track, what makes it go, is
>> that the engine (the air compressor) and parents who refer to it as a
>> train or Thomas to their kids. Like it or not, that's our world.....
>>
>
> .
> And this is why I don't like the business end  --  people who  
> haven't a
> clue nor an interest in what they are doing at the museum except to  
> fill
> in some spare time.       Often find the museums to be depressing for
> this reason.       While riding the Montreal style observation car at
> the Edmonton, Canada, museum in 1988, someone exclaimed:::::::
> """Look  --  here comes the Trolley!"""       as we approached the
> siding.       Cheeee, on what was I riding?!       Amusing in a sense
> but Not At All Like Riding the TrolleyCar when it was Really Doing Its
> Work.       I prefer to remember those times I actually spent on
> TrolleyCars without nonsensical chatter which detracts from the ride.
> .
> I do Not like the docent experience  --  I just like to experience the
> ride.       Don't distract me from enjoying the ride  --  talk to me
> some other time or give me literature explaining the car.       The  
> ride
> is too short as it is  --  let me alone and let me savor it.
> .
> For me, all this detracts from the memories and reminds me that it  
> is no
> longer around to enjoy As It Was.       I'd like to keep my  
> memories intact.
> .
> .
> .
> .
> Jim__Holland
> .
> .
> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
> .
> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>
>
>