Comments on: Boneyards http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/ Mass Transit's editor, Fred Jandt, speaks weekly on critical issues facing the public transportation industry. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:57:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Tom Hingson http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-581 Tom Hingson Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:08:42 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-581 I too am a fan of recycling. Having said that I have a slightly different story. A couple of years ago a well meaning person offered the City an old streetcar that had been languishing in his blackberry patch for several decades. It sounded good on the surface, save a piece of history and all. We did a quick analysis of the cost of restoration and then tried to figure out where we could place the car. It just didn't work out and we didn't think it was the best use of tax payer's money. Keeping buses in service seemed more important. We hoped a private group interested in restoration would step up but that didn't happen. It seems everyone expects government to maintain history as well as the present while looking to the future. I'm still looking for volunteers. I too am a fan of recycling. Having said that I have a slightly different story. A couple of years ago a well meaning person offered the City an old streetcar that had been languishing in his blackberry patch for several decades. It sounded good on the surface, save a piece of history and all. We did a quick analysis of the cost of restoration and then tried to figure out where we could place the car. It just didn’t work out and we didn’t think it was the best use of tax payer’s money. Keeping buses in service seemed more important. We hoped a private group interested in restoration would step up but that didn’t happen. It seems everyone expects government to maintain history as well as the present while looking to the future. I’m still looking for volunteers.

]]> By: Norman Mars http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-516 Norman Mars Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:45:11 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-516 Thanks for making me aware of this program. I too greatly enjoy the history channel and the discovery channel, and believe it or not, it was my 16-year old son that got me interested. I'll definitely watch for "boneyards." I'm a "nut" about antique cars, and especally antique buses. If I had the extra money, I'd love to restore some old buses. I'm always thankful for those that have done so and display them. Thanks for making me aware of this program. I too greatly enjoy the history channel and the discovery channel, and believe it or not, it was my 16-year old son that got me interested.

I’ll definitely watch for “boneyards.” I’m a “nut” about antique cars, and especally antique buses. If I had the extra money, I’d love to restore some old buses. I’m always thankful for those that have done so and display them.

]]> By: Lew Silecky http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-515 Lew Silecky Thu, 05 Jul 2007 20:11:57 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-515 Fred; I too watched this programme as I am also a bit of a DC junkie. I was also amazed as you were as to the recycling efforts. What really blew me away is that these rail tracks and ties are over one hundred years old, and boy if they could talk! And speak of fence posts, that company in Illinois makes 6-10 thousand posts a day! Awesome! Lew Fred;
I too watched this programme as I am also a bit of a DC junkie. I was also amazed as you were as to the recycling efforts. What really blew me away is that these rail tracks and ties are over one hundred years old, and boy if they could talk! And speak of fence posts, that company in Illinois makes 6-10 thousand posts a day!
Awesome!
Lew

]]> By: Bruce Goldberg http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-512 Bruce Goldberg Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:00:08 +0000 http://www.masstransitmag.com/interactive/2007/07/05/boneyards/#comment-512 Maybe there's a lesson here for not just transit, but for the American public in general. We are the most wasteful society in the history of mankind. When was the last time most of us had an applicance repaired? We just go out and buy a new one. We toss computers into the trash. Repair/refurbishing and reuse is something that makes sense not just from the economic standpoint, but also from the environmental standpoint and from the standpoint of not using up the limited resources that our planet can offer us. Maybe there’s a lesson here for not just transit, but for the American public in general. We are the most wasteful society in the history of mankind. When was the last time most of us had an applicance repaired? We just go out and buy a new one. We toss computers into the trash. Repair/refurbishing and reuse is something that makes sense not just from the economic standpoint, but also from the environmental standpoint and from the standpoint of not using up the limited resources that our planet can offer us.

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