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(erielack) Van Sweringen Fest

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed our weekend in Cleveland for the Van 
Sweringen/AMC meeting.

The presentations I attended were terrific -- I especially enjoyed "meeting" 
John J Bernet, but also learned all sorts of things -- as well as had some 
things I vaguely knew of come into sharper focus. It was my first visit to 
Cleveland since the early 1970s when I drove out there to ride the 
Youngstown train. Those 8mm sound movies of the E-L were just stunning --  
being able to see and hear that commuter train again was simply wonderful.

Heck, I even enjoyed the Penn Central and Conrail movies.

I think it also points toward a way of expanding interest in our favorite 
subject (not to mention our favorite hobby horses <g>) in that a broadly 
conceived series of "clinics" (presentations) if properly promoted could 
draw a crowd that we would not normally see at a strictly railfan-oriented 
program.

Tom Dixon's program on rail archives was interesting -- again setting 
thinking on a broader range o issues in our efforts to preserve (and 
protect) the past.

That many rail historical societies have archives in various states of 
organization and accessibility and usefulness (nd our issues with the 
University of Akron), it might be useful to have some sort of conference for 
archives people. I see the Martime people have the same issues, by the 
way -- and although some collections **had** accessibility and funding --  
that's going away for them, so maybe a broader base would be helpful 
(Baltmore, San Francisco and New York archives have all been closed in 
recent years).

As for other subjects that could attract a broader base of people (and with 
a particular E-L focus but sometimes other nearby roads) might include the 
development of transportation of fresh meats and vegetables for larger 
cities, the history of the milk industry, delivering the mails, the railroad 
express business, anthracite, and  railroads and suburban development. At 
least these are subject I'd do a presentation on as part of a larger 
meeting/convention/symposium devoted to a specidic subject.

A hearty cheer for NOARS and everyone involved in putting this together.

Jim Guthrie


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