[PRCo] Re: West Penn Railways

[Derrick Brashear]

On Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 9:15 AM, Edward H. Lybarger <trams2 at comcast.net> wrote:
> I've found the article.  Looks like the gent bought some of Ara Mesrobian's
> seconds and decided they were wonderful.  Bus his knowledge of the system
> (and Pennsylvania) appears to be limited.

It's a shame he didn't talk to anyone who knew better.

> Those "several" 5' 2-1/2" systems he mentions in the first line would
> include:
>
[about 30 systems...]

> Clearly, his definition of "several" is different from mine.  His
> understanding of the Coke Region geography is tiny (he missed the existence
> of the second parallel main line and doesn't grasp that the region
> encompassed far more than just Connellsville).

Did Ara shoot when the line via New Stanton and south existed?
Or was he extrapolating based on what he had?

> My purpose is not to pick nits here.  But the big thing that's absent is
> interpretation in its own time.  He's taking what was there in 1951 and
> suggesting that's what it always was.  How egregious.