[luisflierl26]

BAD NEWS – see below

Hi Pete and David,

I’m so sorry for the delay on this, but I’m afraid I received some bad news today. Unfortunately, management did not approve moving the mobile office/storage trailer to the Museum of Transportation for use by the Missouri Pacific Historical Society. Please accept my deepest apologies.

Thanks and best,

Molly

Molly Butterworth

Cultural Site Manager

Museum of Transportation, St. Louis County Parks

Phone: (314) 615-8211

[luisflierl26]

I’ve now done three interviews. I’ve used my Panasonic video camera for them, although I actually now think the video on my SLR is better than my video camera. I just have only used it for short clips filming the kids, never tried to run it for an hour, so I don’t really know about the batteries on it. I can pug in the video camera which is nice.
I’ve also run into you never know where you will be filming, so I am now hauling a whole case of extras with me – extension cords, three prong adaptor for two prong electric, lighting, extra light bulbs. I’m adding something after every interview.

As for software, yes that is a good idea – a better idea is to find someone who knows how to do it. Video editing is tricky & time consuming. I find it tedious and annoying and hate doing it.

We need a plan on how we are going to do these. Do you want me to set up an MPHS Youtube account so we can upload the videos?

Also, I think the videos need to be edited down to about 10-15 mins each – no one wants to sit through an hour interview. Many of the questions asked you get a yes or no answer with no supporting story, and could be cut down. Also cut out all the don’t remember answers. AN edited version will be easier to watch and more enjoyable.

[luisflierl26]

I think a lot of the depot and structure diagrams would be good too. We just need someone to start looking through the stuff and naming and selecting the good stuff.

[luisflierl26]

How has the RSVP responses been?

[luisflierl26]

I have quite a few in the caboose to start on which should last a few months. Plus we may have 3 55 gallon drums of them at Tyson.

[luisflierl26]

I would be interested in having a copy of this drawing for the MPHS Archives. Would you be able to scan and email it to me? If not, could you send it to me and I could scan it and return it.
Thanks,
David Huelsing
MPHS Archivist

[luisflierl26]

We would also like a copy of

The Texas and Pacific Railway: Super Power to Streamliners, 1925-1975 by Joe Collias

[luisflierl26]

Under the buzzsaw it says “The Hottest Line in the West” The other side of the bottle has the Tabasco logo. Two of these bottles were recently donated and are in the caboose. Now I have the 6 pack.

I’d be curious if anyone has more info about how long these were used. I assume these were used in the dining car.

[luisflierl26]

What file format do the posts need to be in? jpeg or pdf?

What is available depends on how much work you want done before posting. Do you want items that are tagged with locations, types of equipment, etc?
We have well over 5000 digital pictures from various sources, but most are unsorted, uninventoried, unnamed, untagged.

We also have over 2000 drawings. Many stations, assorted equipment. Also lots of smaller structures, bridges, turntables, etc… Again nothing inventoried or tagged.

Microfilm scans? Again, needs lots of work.

We are approaching the 50,000 file mark in the digital archive, and that does not include the latest CD from Harper.

Another thing to consider is the lost opportunity cost of selling some of the drawings, and other technical items – many of the societies have downloads, reprints, and cds of these items available for sale.

[luisflierl26]

I would like to see this stuff available as well. I just feel it is my responsibility to advise some of what I’ve learned while researching some of this stuff. Frankly having the content available online would simplify research requests.

UP has never bothered us about anything we have done before

[luisflierl26]

I’m all about free access, and I really don’t care too much about copyright laws. Some people are big on that stuff, but I’m not. Unfortunately ignorance can bite you in the ass.

If we make it freely available – it will be shared on other sites, social media, etc…. thus what is the point of the members only section if it will get shared anyway.

Second – we really don’t hold the rights to anything in our collection. I have no accession records that state we own the rights to anything when it was donated. Many of our items the rights are still owned by the railroad or the builder, or the original photographer.

Illinois Central HS is currently fighting issues regarding misuse of digitized files, and are limiting access.

MOT is currently unable to digitize and make available ACF drawings since technically the image still is owned by ACF, even though the drawings were donated years ago…. This relates to County lawers saying they can’t do it, not ACF.

There are currently legal issues regarding “The Image” of artifacts in museum collections. I understand there is an issue going on between NS and VMT over “The Image” of 611 and 1218 and MOT is now involved with the image of 2156. That relates to its use on t shirts, prints, posters, etc….

Many museum websites have online databases that are view only, you can look, zoom in, etc, but you can’t print or download from them. I think that is what we need.

Barriger just dumped all its photos online for free, and Nick thinks it has been a good thing – BUT they legally hold the rights to those photos and can do that if they want to. We don’t really hold the rights to anything in our collection.

I guess Vince’s advise was to just put “All Rights Reserved” on everything. The question is is do we go with that advise, or do we do more research.

[luisflierl26]

Once it gets moved, there will be lots of work to do

If you have any local contacts with mobile home movers, or licensed electricians, that could be useful.

Once it is moved and electric is installed, I’m hoping we can do a membership push for volunteers to help tear out carpet, and fixtures, etc. Tear out the kitchen cabinets and plumbing fixtures (no water available anyway). We may want to consider reinforcing the floor due to the weight of the shelving. I’m thinking putting most of the collection in the two bedrooms, and opening up the living/dining area into work space with tables, scanners, etc…

Here are some photos if you have not seen it (if we even get permission to have it).

[luisflierl26]

I think anything that goes in this area we need to implement some controls – either by watermarking, only using thumbnails, or getting the software that is view only with no download.

As for content, we have over 2,000 drawings scanned – just need to go through them and find some good ones. Note – very few of the files have been organized, tagged, or named.

As for photos we have over 5,000 in digital format from various sources. Again, nothing has been sorted, named, or tagged.

[luisflierl26]

Sounds good Charlie. Right now I’m more interested in how best to store them, then work on identifying, scanning, tagging, etc….

[luisflierl26]

Still waiting for approval from St. Louis County. Molly is working on it. We can’t put anything on site without their permission.

We will probably have to deal with permits, transferiing of title, etc…

I would like to put down a contract pad, but at least we need to put down a heavy gravel base underneath it.

We will need to hire a moving company to move it, I need to get bids.

We will need to hire a licensed electrical contractor to do electrical work

Once moved, there will be some tear out, cleaning and remodeling work to do.

I would hope we could get it moved by fall, because that is when they are going to start scrapping busses and the other leftover trailers.

[Author]

Posts