(erielack) A sad day for DL&W folks

[MajorDRMUS_@_aol.com]

To all,

I just read the e-mail stating that DL&W #470 had been sold to the American 
Orient Express gang.

As a Lackawanna fan and modeller, it makes me sad to know that another little 
(but important) piece of the Lackwanna has passed into oblivion.  Yes, the 
Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western merged in 1960, but we all know 
that what really happened was the DL&W was absorbed by ( and dismantled by) 
the Erie management.  

Why? Two reasons, really.  One, a devastating hurricane, otherwise known as 
an Act Of God.   Two, NJ officials who were pro-highway, pro Detroit, pro-oil 
company, pro-"American freedom" and anti-socialism (read, inefficient 
travel).  Were they on the take from these constituencies?  Maybe. Were they 
over-reacting to "big" railroads and the stories they read in the national 
press at the time?  Maybe.  Were the NorthEast railroads over-built and 
over-saturated in terms of potential customers? Maybe. Were the NJ-Port 
Authority managers idiots with no forsight about transportation issues?  
Definitely.  All you NJ commuters out there know whereof I speak.How's the 
traffic on I-80 these days? 

So, I withdraw my pledged $200 that may now go for an Erie car. Good luck 
with your project, really and sincerely. I do hope you accomplish your goal. 
But count me out.  A gentle reminder - the E/L name, and henceforth, perhaps, 
the Erie/Lack list, is half Lack.

Doug M
(Can't wait to see the response to this one - thanks for reading my 
soapbox...)

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