Dear Silver Pilot,
I was astonished to get your reply so quickly! The guides had warned me not to expect it immediately. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure whether to expect one at all. It’s not exactly your volunteers’ job to keep their engines up on their correspondence. I’m relieved that they were willing to indulge us. I quite like the idea of being pen pals! I enjoy writing letters, but I don’t get the chance that often.
Names, I think, give you a sizable advantage when it comes to this type of work (999 and 2903 certainly think so!) Not only does your train have a name, but you’ve also got your own name and so do each of your cars. They hadn’t thought of that when my train went into service, but that’s the thing about being the first: they have to work out the kinks on you. In fact, they had to change my train’s name to the Pioneer Zephyr because they didn’t know they were going to end up making so many Burlington Zephyrs. They had to differentiate me – again! It’s a good thing though. A name is the start of a story and a story is what keeps us interesting.
I’d be happy to tell you any of my stories, but being a Zephyr yourself (and the C&S was a subsidiary of Burlington so the Texas Zephyr does count), you probably know all my usual yarns. I wouldn’t want to bore you with the stuff I tell the guests! I could tell you about the museum though.
I live on the lawn in front of the east wing. They have me and my cars arranged next to U-505, a German U-Boat. He was captured during the war so he’s technically a POW, but he says he is treated well considering. The idea is that we are both examples of diesel technology so they have us contrasting each other, but I think it’s just that I make him look bigger.
At an angle behind us, they set up the steam engines, 999 and 2903. 999 used to pull the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad’s Empire State Express. She’s famous for being the first locomotive to go a hundred miles an hour (the claim is disputed, but she says that just adds to her mystique). 2903 worked for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway pulling their express. He’s the biggest engine I’ve ever seen! He’s both strong and fast. He could go ninety miles an hour pulling passengers or he could pull a hundred freight cars at once.
There’s a Stephenson’s Rocket around here too, but I’ve never met him since he’s set up indoors. I’ve never heard a bad thing about him though. Apparently he’s quite charming. From what I gather, he’s a replica built specially for the museum as a display so he never saw rail work. The steam engines are a little dismissive of him for it, but I can’t say a word against that. The first year of my service life was standing there and letting people look at me too. He comes from the same Works as the original Rocket so he has that distinction going for him at least.
I’d love to hear about your Texas Zephyr and about your museum. I’m sure you’re sharing that yard with some personalities, even beyond your cars.
Speaking of them, you may have to give them time to get used to the idea of you (but you will have time in abundance!) They were built for 9904 – her name was Pegasus – so they’ll feel obligated to stay loyal to her, even if she’s no longer with us. Have I heard it right that they’re missing some of their consist? They used to be seven cars, I remember that much. If they’re stand-offish at first, that’s to be expected.
They’re still new to preservation too. The guides said they were only bought by your museum near the end of last year so they won’t know how lucky they are yet. I’m told you’re still in working order. They’ll get to go out on a run every so often then.
This job demands a change in perspective. It’s difficult at first because one compares how things are to how they were. It can feel like a demotion in the beginning. It took me a few years before I realized the difference is between how things are and how they could have been. Once you understand that, then you can see what you’ve got to be grateful for.
It might take them a while and they might not all come around at once. I have no doubt though that they will eventually consider themselves fortunate to have you as their engine.
The job is to mind the past, but there’s still a present and a future, you know.
Your friend,
Pioneer Zephyr