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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by M.W. Hemphill Kenefick didn't really explain in his talk why Perlman didn't take an active role; in fact, Kenefick sort of talked around that key fact. The consensus from most people that I've talked to is that Perlman was tired and ill by that time, and had just burned out. I'd like to see better evidence for that, because without that evidence I still regard this as an unexplained mystery of railroading history. [/quote] Not that I am claiming to know anything about anything at all, but I do recall reading a little about this, in a book specific to NYC history. Though I cannot recall the title, so if you wi***o impeach the validity of the claim,..I haven't a leg to stand on. But anyway, as I recall from the book, one of the big head bumpings between the two (Perlman and Saunders) was over the purchasing policy of new motive power. According to the book, Perlman during the last days of NYC autonomy was of a conservative perspective on the matter, convinced that the "worker bees" always asked for more than was actually needed, and consequently he made a practice of shearing off the size of whatever quantity was requested.. When the two great minds were forced to ponder such an ocassion for the merged entity, a conflict so intense ensued that ultimately Perlman threatened to resign.... Saunders, allegedly in response, insisted that is exactly what he should do. Pondering,....but if the balance of power after the merger were such that Perlmans ultimate last resort was merely a threat to resign, a threat that his adversary was only too happy to be "prey" to,.... it appears that Perlman may have been "compliant" because he had no other real choice? I'm guessing of course, but that seems to take the mystery out of it....
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