Too Much Money, Too Much Arrogance, Not Enough Brains
Sept 5, 2016 7:22:07 GMT -8
Origanalist likes this
Post by acptulsa on Sept 5, 2016 7:22:07 GMT -8
It has been the problem with government since time immemorial. Yet another case study:
This is the former Santa Fe number 1316, as operated by the Texas State Railroad years ago:
This is her today:
So, how did this happen? The sad tale is told here:
Don't let the name of the forum fool you--she isn't narrow gauge.
The Texas government decided that the way to preserve the engine was not to preserve it, but to completely replace the boiler. And the way to replace the boiler was not to replace it with an equivalent, according to the same design, the way a restorer would do, or even to get in touch with anyone who knows anything about steam locomotives. Instead, the way to preserve this engine was to get a stationary boiler company to build a boiler according to their own notions, made of thicker steel which cannot and will not expand and contract the same way, and tears itself apart every time it heats up or cools down.
And when throwing money at it hand over fist doesn't work out so well, to just leave the chassis rotting in the weather for a decade, because some taxpayers might get mad if they throw even more money at it. Besides, they already got their kickbacks from the boilermaker; who cares what happens to it now?
This is government. This is your irreplaceable heritage in the hands of a government. Any questions?
This is the former Santa Fe number 1316, as operated by the Texas State Railroad years ago:
This is her today:
So, how did this happen? The sad tale is told here:
Don't let the name of the forum fool you--she isn't narrow gauge.
The Texas government decided that the way to preserve the engine was not to preserve it, but to completely replace the boiler. And the way to replace the boiler was not to replace it with an equivalent, according to the same design, the way a restorer would do, or even to get in touch with anyone who knows anything about steam locomotives. Instead, the way to preserve this engine was to get a stationary boiler company to build a boiler according to their own notions, made of thicker steel which cannot and will not expand and contract the same way, and tears itself apart every time it heats up or cools down.
And when throwing money at it hand over fist doesn't work out so well, to just leave the chassis rotting in the weather for a decade, because some taxpayers might get mad if they throw even more money at it. Besides, they already got their kickbacks from the boilermaker; who cares what happens to it now?
This is government. This is your irreplaceable heritage in the hands of a government. Any questions?
