Dear Pilot,
My guides assure me that it is no trouble at all to find out about solar panels for us, or anything else we might want to know about. I could practically hear them shaking hands with your letter writers through the page at the part about how asking questions helps them be Useful too. More importantly, I’ve also been assured that if our curiosity is not Useful, they will let me know.
As it is, they like that I’ve taken an interest in the rest of the museum. Apparently I have been talking to guests about the exhibits they’ve seen or suggesting ones they haven’t, even though I haven’t seen them either. I hadn’t noticed! That’s a bit embarrassing: I’m meant to be explaining my own exhibit. The guests like it though. I suppose the museum is more exciting if the exhibits themselves are eager to refer you to each other.
I’m told the Rocket does this too, playing up the other exhibits in his hall. I’ve only ever heard accolades about his approach to the job so that’s some relief. I wish I could meet him. He sounds quite personable.
If I am being even more Useful at my job now then, it is because of you. I wouldn’t be asking about inside at all if not for your letters. Mine would be quite boring compared to yours if all I could report was no changes in the yard, especially now that we’re heading into the winter season and closing up for the cold. So please do keep asking questions if you take a particular interest in something. We are – all of us – grateful to be kept busy.
Speaking of winter, the Culture Bus will be halting services for the holidays, but they plan to bring them back next spring. The ice cream parlor will be closing for the cold as well. There will still be plenty going on indoors though. I hear we’re getting two new trees for Christmas Around the World this year: Latvia and Korea. I hope they take pictures of the decorations so we can see like when they added Lithuania.
It’s great news about your charters! Your street cars sound like real assets to your museum. I hope they are telling their passengers about all of the rest of you, haha.
The new concession stand sounds wonderful too. 505 particularly approves. She says it’s important to anticipate your passengers’ – or visitors’ – needs and have everything ready should they ask. It’s the mark of a good host. She would know: she used to have our buffet grill. Her cook could have a hot sandwich and a cup of coffee or even a plate of spaghetti ready in mere minutes. She also kept cigars and cigarettes in stock, playing cards if a passenger got bored, or aspirin if one had a headache.
Granted, our passengers were a bit more of a captive audience, but 505 insists that people appreciate being able to buy practically everything they might need or want, even if they don’t. It makes them feel secure to know it’s available. I’d never really thought about it, but I suppose it’s a little like knowing when we arrive at a terminus that there will be somewhere our train can stay for the night.
For us articulates, it’s always a question of having enough track for all of us to sit on. A roof over that track was always appreciated, but not guaranteed. Luckily, stainless steel looks just as beautiful in moonlight as it does everywhere else.
I do like hearing that you and your train consider yourselves to be a unit that should not be separated even if you are technically able. It sounded a little rough going when we first started writing to each other. You were bought to match with them so you always understood your disposition and I am glad that the feeling has become more mutual now.
You would all look rather silly if you weren’t weathered equally, you know.
Your friend,
Pioneer