Fortunately, I have been trained to put aside my guilt in the furtherance of worthy causes. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to complete my education by figuring out how to spur someone to pontificate about the virtues of the free market, forced open-access rail system as it relates to decline of the EL in the 1970s. [(-D]
Gabe
I’d be careful with that Cliff’s Notes stuff. I’m as much a last minute crammer as the next guy, but most railroad knowledge is written in blood, or at least red ink. Free advice is worth the cost…
LC
RWM, and pretty much all the experienced railroaders on this forum have worked long and hard to dispel myths, correct misperceptions, and generally help everyone better understand the world of railroading. My thanks for that. I’m a better railroader for it, too. I’d prefer that no railroad rules be written with my blood.
FM and company may have been antagonistic and divisive, but they brought out a lot of knowledge from others who argued the other side of the issue.
I also want to thank RWM for being factual and decisive, and for being THERE when we need him. Your posts are not only informative but fun to read! - a.s.
Besides, all the hardcover book sellers/resellers have just experienced a healthy last quarter due to a blip in the sales of copies of J. Vance’s tome. RWM’s influence is boundless!!
[(-D]
I read to page 67 by this morning.
-Crandell
I fully agree that RWM knows more about railroading than anyone I’ve come across. Just as importantly he can organize his knowledge into writing that we can understand. The fact that he’s willing to spend time on this forum is something we should all appreciate.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that he’s always right. (It’s a joke!) If there’s one criticism I have, it’s that while he understands and articulates the problems and difficulties very well, he sometimes misses the opportunities.
As to missing FM and Michael Sol, I do kind of miss them. Kind of in the same way I miss my ex-wife, her mother, or a toothache.
I agree but let me add probably the most important thing:
While disseminating the information, he always remains the gentleman.
–Mark Meyer
I would also like to thank RWM for his help to me.
Special thanks goes to him and PDN for helping me get pointed in the proper direction on my research paper in the past months. I got the highest grade possible on it and the history teacher actually learned from it. Thanks to you both!
Ditto to everything everyone has already said. RWM has a superb command of the language which makes me realize just how poorly I turn a phrase. It also feeds my tendency to procrastinate. Even when I know the answer (or part of one), I just wait on RWM!
In that vein - see also the poster of the sinking/ sunken ship (a tanker ?) with only the bow still showing above the ocean, against the background of a pretty sunset, at:
http://www.despair.com/mis24x30prin.html
with the caption: “It Could Be that The Purpose of Your Life Is Only to Serve as a Warning to Others.”
One of my favorites - though I try hard to avoid exemplifying it !
RWM reminds me of law school professor Prof. Kingsfield (as played by the legendary late actor John Houseman) - though you’d have to be familiar with the 1973 movie or subsequent TV show “The Paper Chase” to know about that, I suppose. To paraphrase the running line there: “You come in here with a skull full of mush and you leave thinking like a [railroader].”
RWM - let me also ask this open-ended question: What would you like to see done differently or better to improve your interaction with the Forum - anything from how posts are made or what is asked to what you like thinking about - or not, as the case may be. No guarantees that anyone will comply, of course . . . [:-^]
Thanks again. I too owe you a couple of cold ones (anything) and a good meal, if you ever get out this way AND have the time.
Many thanks to all of the various more knowledgable forum members who have added to my knowledge, confirmed that I had things right, and regularly and politely blew me out of the water when I had some weird notion that was quite wrong.
I too am impressed with RWM and others here…the calibre of people here in general is very high. This really bodes well for the industry. If these people are running things then railroads do indeed have a bright future.