Dear Pioneer,
Oh gosh! That business about the drawing was as controversial here as it was over there. After they heard 999’s comment about her being art and science, Venus and Vesta had a lot of opinions about how to tell if an engine or car is art or not.
Vesta says our whole train is art first and foremost because we (she might have been including me, but I didn’t ask) were designed to be seen as one continuous machine from the outside. Our fluting is a bit like people’s clothes and without it the illusion is ruined, so if the man didn’t have his clothes on how could that be art? Venus said she’s heard the inside of a machine called art before and that the way each piece is designed to fit with every other piece is beautiful to some people. Vesta said that was the science part and that the closer you get to the inside of something, the more science it is. Venus said you’d have to go under a person’s skin for the science to start happening, the art doesn’t stop at the clothes.
I think I’m inclined to agree with you and 2903 on this one. I’m just glad it means you’re getting more people to come and look at the art and/or science that is you and your yard!
That’s really lovely of the BN to send your old passengers the brochure they remember. It’s nice that it’s not just the passengers and volunteers who want to keep those memories alive, but the railroads (and transit systems!) too. I know it’s not all for philanthropy since money changes hands all the time over us, but plenty of stock here at the IRM survives because the people at the railroad want us to be around in the future to remember the old days.
Our newest acquisition can attest to that firsthand! Remember last letter when I mentioned there had been some hinting about a new arrival? Well, she’s here: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific 265. That’s a bit of a mouthful so she just goes by Old Smokey. She’s a 4-8-4 Alco and the whole steam department was excited to finally be able to move her here this month. She was quite excited to arrive in turn.
The Milwaukee Road donated her to the city of Milwaukee after her end of service back in 1956. She says her exhibit was the talk of the town at one time, but since then it’s been hard for the city to raise enough money to keep it looking nice. That’s where our museum stepped up to offer to take her on. She says she’s looking forward to being under a roof, but more so to having other engines for company again. Having another engine around here with a name is nice! It means the people who donated her really did love her, the city and the railroad both.
Her story isn’t unique though. There’s probably a dozen reasons to preserve an engine over scrapping them, but at least one of them is that the railroads appreciate what their engines meant to the passengers at one time, even if they’re going by a new name. Whether it’s sending an old brochure through the post, helping run a fantrip, or entrusting entire trains to museums who care about them, they’re still providing service. Venus says that’s called a “legacy”.
I hope when I get to run again I can help contribute to the Zephyr legacy too.
Your friend,
Pilot