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High Line locomotive sculpture: NYC or not?

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The following is two responses posted by somebody on the Narrow Gauge Discusssion Forum.  Apparently this guy was defending the project because he is close to it or involved with it:<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  [Quote begins] I'm on the way out the door - but I thought I'd chime in here for a second. You may want to watch what you say before you make posts like this. I have worked FOR YEARS on this project AND I read the NGDF. I'm a life-long "foamer" and am well aware of the plight of many of our favorite NG roads. As long as I worked on this effort, it was ALWAYS private money. A few very wealthy gentlemen in the Los Angeles area wanted to fund this. As such, given that it was their money - who are YOU to tell them not to spend it? The project stalled out over the last 18 months - the NYC developments are new to everyone on the team. That said, this engine is far from "Half …….. - I'd suggest keeping your mouth shut about other people's work unless you have actual facts. Jeff was insistent from the start that the engine be as accurate as possible. Most every appliance on the engine has been newly modeled in digital 3D using scans of existing parts (I believe from NM, TX and CA). There was a mandate at the outset that even details like the raised manf. stamp on a 3/4" bolt head be replicated. Will anyone ever see this? Nope. But Jeff is a stickler for details. Now - is this thing going to cost of a lot of money? Yup. Is it art? Depends on who you ask. (Would I spend my money on it? Not a chance. There are several 3-foot engines I'd place far higher on the list! Then again, that's the point isn't it? It's not my money.) Based on non-disclosures I know can't answer some of the technical questions I'm sure are going to be asked. The politics of funding for the arts aside I can tell as one railfan to another this engine (as a representation of a steam engine) will be far from half-……...<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> [The following is in response criticism about hanging the locomotive from the drawbar]  <o:p></o:p> As I understand it (and this is where the "ART" part of all this comes in) the thought goes something like this... ...we are accusomted to seeing powerful and large steam engines speeding down the rails... forward. But what if an engine was held back... as if some giant hand had reached down from on high and, much like the comment about the mouse, plucked the engine from its rails. By hanging the engine from the draw bar - the intent is that the engine, will all of its power, yearns for the rails. That it is violently and sternly continues to fight its way back to the ground. Back to the land so that it can then "speed off" as it was intended to. Don't forget - this "sculpture" is active. I have forgotten the exact speed, but the wheels turn up to 40 or 50 mph! There is steam that is exhausted, the whistle works, etc... all of this happening in the sky - as patrons pass directly under the engine. I don't know about all the symbolic stuff - the engine, a symbol of power, fighting to regain its footing back on earth... but there is a kernel of coolness if you ask me in being able to stand directly under a steam engine as she shimmies and shakes, running gear a blur, only feet above your own head. (Not necessarily "rail fan" cool - but general cool) I dunno - somewhere out there are a few video interviews with Jeff talking about his vision and the above... he can do it far better justice than I can. Maybe someone can find them?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>
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