Irony of Don Phillips March column

[Anonymous]

If there is any significance to why the year 1926 is the curio puzzle in the breakoff point of railroading's coverage in the Smithsonians exhibit, what else could it be otherr than that year was one in the same that the US Highway route system was put into effect. Perhaps the most significant message is in what they didn't say?

[espeefoamer]

When I visited the Smithsonion in 1995,there was a series of models depicting the history of motive power.The newest model,described as a "modern high horsepower locomotive",was a Reading GP 30.

[overall]

Perhaps we could direct some feedback to the smithsonian itself? Does anybody know of a website or e-mail address for them?

George

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by overall

Perhaps we could direct some feedback to the smithsonian itself? Does anybody know of a website or e-mail address for them?

George

Generally,each exhibit will have a "primarily responsible" curator, as a form of "exhibit manager" that You might try,

If I'm not mistaken, they have an "800" number info line that goes on and on, and on with options....(good luck)

but, the point I was trying to make is that I suspect it is not so much an oversight (the 1926 cutt-off date) as it is a subtle statement in itself.

If you are at all familiar with the mess the national roadway system was prior to the implementation of the US Route numbering system, then you see why Railroads were the easiest means of transportation, they had a distinct advantage, travel (or shipping) could be planned in terms of destinations, not how you got there.

Prior to the Route numbering systems you had things like "The Lincoln Highway" that often was not well marked, nor consistently named State to State. Or you had monstrousities such as two "Dixie Highway"- s, that each started in separate locations (Mackinac mich, and Chicago if I recall properly), and ended in two separate parts of Florida entirely, while criss crossing each other and each sharing some common roadway along the way. ...(Imagine, being your first time on the road, and being forced to decide which way to go where the dixie highway crosses the dixie highway, and your instructions say "Follow the dixie highway through Tennessee till you see the Motel with the big Willow tree")...

It is for this reason that I suggest the 1926 cut off date might be more intentional than Mr Phillips realizes....

[Anonymous]

Just a thought, but there is still a relic of this unique form of bewildermentt alive and kicking in Southern California.

If you've ever had the pleasure of being a first time driver in Los Angeles, When some one tells you to Take the Santa Monica Freeway to the Harbor freeway, and your maps all have the more modern route numbering system, several of which routes appear to go over to the harbor,..etc

Or one of my personal favorites, when a not so well connected local will tell you "Take the 91 east till you get to the San Diego Freeway, and take it north to..." When in fact the SanDiego Freeway is the name of the southbound lanes only, and the northbound lanes have another name entirely...

Just some examples...