Dieselbob, not to derail the conversation (sorry about that) but since you made reference to connections between art and commerce (Ford and Rivera) you might want to take a look at the book Iron Muse by Willumson. His focus is on the photography of the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and the connections between the two major photographers (Hart and Russell) and their employers the Central and Union Pacific railroads. What is particularly interesting is the author's descriptions of the uses the two railroads made of the pictures and how the use and interpretation of the pictures changed as the needs of the railroads changed and how they changed again when the pictures were released into the public domain.
Dieselbob posted:The biggest problem I see is that people just don't tend to be curious enough. I want to know EVERYTHING, and I ask questions, do research and read books to LEARN. Just because it went out of use before you were born is not an excuse to not know SOMETHING about it. Too many people just want tostare at Faceplant all day or watch another inane TV show about some pointless topic. My Brother-in-Law works as a clean up engineer in microchip production. That is a subject that I could not POSSIBLY know less about, but he has gotten me some behind the scenes tours to show me what he does, and he told me I asked better questions than many of the people that WORK there. The brain is the world's most powerful tool, and shouldn't just go to waste. I pride myself that when I meet someone and they tell me what they do or where they are from, 99% of the time I can come up with a relevant comment or question. I once scored brownie points at a dinner party at my wife's bosses house because I made a comment about a book on the coffee table about the Mexican artist Diego Rivera. I no NOTHING about art, but I had read the history of the Ford Motor Company and knew that Edsel Ford had commissioned Rivera in the 1930's to do frescoes on the walls of the Detroit Institute of Art, and a huge controversy ensued. I also knew that he was a devout Marxist and that he was married to the artist Frieda Kahlo. A little unrelated knowledge can go a LONG way. As NKP779 pointed out above, the reporter was GIVEN all of the pertinent information. All that was required was a couple minutes of time and a couple semi-intelligent questions to be 100% factual AND interesting enough to hold the audience. Honestly, I don't know that much about steam locomotives, but EVERY time I am in the presence of one, I am studying the machinery, tracing pipes and examining the valve gear to learn more. If I get in the cab, I'm asking questions until I wear on my welcome. In my opinion, you cannot POSSIBLY know too much, no matter what the topic.
Bob, You hit the nail square on the head. I, also, want to learn about subjects that I find interesting but am unfamiliar with. I rely on various sources to get information: books, historical documents, old newspapers and even broadcast media. If I hear something on the radio or TV, and it catches my attention, I take note and add the information to my mental files. Yes, I do double check the information for accuracy. I usually try to corroborate information from several sources before I consider it accurate. It makes my skin crawl when someone thinks they have all of the answers because they "Googled It".
I have been a professional pipe organ builder for almost 35 years. I am often asked how long it took to learn everything about the trade. My response is "I don't know. I'm still learning." I learned a long time ago that just when you think you know it all something you didn't know will bite you in the a--.
Tom
Good point Tom. I have always said, the day I know everything about something is the day I give it up to go learn something else.
I received a steam train set about 1947, and have been a railroad fan and modeler since, and since l only care about steam and it's era, have a bookcase of relevant books, and know a little bit about it, l know diddly-squat about diesels and have no desire to learn. Needless, to say, there are a great many other specialties l know little or nothing about. Some of the above WAS funny.
Many years ago, someone wrote a piece (for Railfan & Railroad perhaps?) about the reporting errors that came out when the last GG1s were retired. Several reports said they were steam engines for example. The piece very humorously covered all the errors. But at the end, he made an serious point. Remember, these are the same reporters telling you about government, politics, court decisions, police incidents, etc. etc. - what if they're that wrong about everything they report??
(p.s. as someone working in state government, I've seen many times where reporters have messed up reporting on something involving the legislature or some new proposed law that's about as far off as the GG1 or Lima / Shay story....)
Mistakes will occasionally occur, but a FREE and unrestricted press is essential to the health of our democracy, especially in the current climate.
(p.s. as someone working in state government, I've seen many times where reporters have messed up reporting on something involving the legislature or some new proposed law that's about as far off as the GG1 or Lima / Shay story....)
I am a retired career state government employee.
IMHO, if reporters got the essence of some new government action wrong, it's probably because information about that government action was presented to them in an unclear way. I think there are also times when the information is intentionally presented to them is incorrect or incomplete.
Let's not take this thread into politics.
Tom, I couldn't help but take note of your profile photograph. Is that the Wanamakers organ console? I am most involved with the Wurlitzer (my old OGR Forum screen name) here in Syracuse at the NY State Fairgrounds since I was old enough to enjoy silent films. I am now past president of the museum that owns it and have served as Supt. of the Empire Theatre where it is located for 25 years. www.empiretheatre.org or https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseWurlitzer
I too am constantly annoyed by members of media of all sorts for not getting facts straight. It is also frustrating when people on "history sharing" facebook group pages constantly posting pictures and then the uninformed posting incorrect statements with a photograph as fact they know nothing about! There is more wrong information on the internet today than that was ever printed in books!
Pine Creek Railroad posted:Farmer Bill,
I love it "Shay it ain't so" Great comment!
Born in the very late 40's I know what a Shay Engine is, and I know my Great Grandfather operated one, however most people from the 60's on up, have no idea what a Shay Engine is or what it was used for.
PCRR/Dave
Clark's historical picture of my Great Grandfather bringing the logs off the Pa Mountains, in Potter County, Pa. Just outside of Galeton.
I read this whole post, and if any of you folks have never seen or watched a real "Shay Steam Locomotive" operate, I would suggest you making the trip to Cass, Wva.
Cass Scenic Railroad has a great opportunity for a person to see living breathing American History in action, and all the way to the top of the mountain if you want to ride that far...
Now all of this talk is about the "Shay Locomotives", in which Cass has several of them to witness their operation. Then they also have a "Heisler Steam Locomotive", which is in it's second year from it's complete bumper to bumper restoration, and boiler certification. Then there is another engine called a "Climax", that the Cass Shops are finishing up a complete "bumper to bumper" restoration, and when they put it in service sometime this month (May/June), it will be a "3 Truck" Locomotive, as it was just a 2 truck powered locomotive, since it's original building...
Next year, will bring about the reopening of the old "Durbin Line" that will give those interested the option to ride round trip from Cass along the Greenbrier River to Durbin, and back. The river flooding back in 85/86 washed just about all of this line completely out, and thru due diligence of the Cass Gang , it will be open for operation once again, Fall 2018/Spring 2019
.....
If you have any interest in seeing any of the original 3 types of geared locomotives in action, then Cass Wva is a definite stop for you. One other thing if you happen to be a Science Astronomy person, then by all means please take the time to go over the mountain to Green Bank Observatory, it's roughly -10 miles from downtown Cass.....There are great accomodations in Cass, and staying in one of the old Company Houses near the Depot, is a real treat/experience...!
Cass is indeed THE place to ride and observe geared locomotives - the 4-wheel drive equivalent of steam locos! My visit was in 1995 and it was a memorable one!
"Just the facts, ma'am." - Sgt. Joe Friday - from early TV show, "Dragnet". LOL!
645 posted:Brandy posted:Now all of this talk is about the "Shay Locomotives", in which Cass has several of them to witness their operation. Then they also have a "Heisler Steam Locomotive", which is in it's second year from it's complete bumper to bumper restoration, and boiler certification. Then there is another engine called a "Climax", that the Cass Shops are finishing up a complete "bumper to bumper" restoration, and when they put it in service sometime this month (May/June), it will be a "3 Truck" Locomotive, as it was just a 2 truck powered locomotive, since it's original building...In the interest of getting the facts straight (subject of this thread after all!) the operational Cass Heisler is currently based at Durbin, WV on the "Durbin Rocket" excursion while the Climax normally assigned to that line is being overhauled at the Cass shops.
645, I started to post that concerning with the Heisler being up at Durbin, but didn't take the extra time. Thanks for pointing that out. I don't know if they will take the Old Durbin Rocket(aka Climax) when finished back to Durbin, and bring the Heisler back to Cass, or what all of the plan changes are....
I haven't personally made it to Cass at all this year, but planning a trip probably within a month, and will do the Steam Shop visit as well. If they are still doing that, but heard last year they had ceased/stopped the Shop Visits in the early mornings.....????
JR Junction Train & Hobby posted:Tom, I couldn't help but take note of your profile photograph. Is that the Wanamakers organ console? I am most involved with the Wurlitzer (my old OGR Forum screen name) here in Syracuse at the NY State Fairgrounds since I was old enough to enjoy silent films. I am now past president of the museum that owns it and have served as Supt. of the Empire Theatre where it is located for 25 years. www.empiretheatre.org or https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseWurlitzer
Yes, that is the Wannamaker console. My wife and I took our vacation last year to eastern PA. Went to Strasburg, Longwood Gardens, Nicholas Smith and Macy's. At first, she wasn't too thrilled about a vacation centered on pipe organs and trains. As it turned out, I could hardly pull her away from Strasburg and Longwood Gardens. She found some clearance racks at Macy's. All turned out well.
Tom
