[Accrs] 150th and the Fair

Wed Jun 12 09:31:02 PDT 2019

Phil,

I burned a transcontinental railroad documemtary DVD to go in the drive-in.
I will put it in tomorrow when I show up to fix all the light bulbs.

Thanks
-Joel

On Tue, Jun 11, 2019, 3:54 PM Alameda County Central Railroad Society <
accrs at mail.accrs.org> wrote:

> Message From: Phil Edholm  pedholm at pkeconsulting.com
>
>
>
> Hi.  This email is for everyone that is volunteering at the fair this
> year.  We will have an orientation on Thursday night at 7 if you can make
> it. Can also go over it during open time on the weekend.
>
>
>
> As you are aware, we have focused on the 150th anniversary of the
> Transcontinental railroad as our “theme” for the fair this year.  To
> emphasize that, in our exhibit we will have:
>
>
>
>    1. A banner at the entrance to introduce the celebration
>    2. Two audio/multimedia stations that have a message about the
>    Transcontinental railroad and the impact on California/Alameda County. Note
>    that there is an override at the conductors chair.  Each system has a
>    “kill” switch to turn the playback off if they walk away or kids get
>    funny.  If you hold he button down the recording will not play. If you have
>    not listened to these it would be good.  There are also volume controls on
>    the electronics package for each station.  The HO volume is inside the door
>    at the harbor and the O is above the fold up bridge.
>    3. With each of the stations there are three photo cards that have
>    additional facts about the railroad and impact on California.
>    4. The back display case has been reworked with a display about the
>    transcontinental and the California Zephyr.
>    5. The scavenger hunt has a bit of a 150th flair.
>    6. The back of every scavenger hunt card is a fact sheet about the
>    transcontinental – it is at the bottom of the email.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Each of us has an opportunity to engage the public about the
> transcontinental, the 150th, and the impact on America, California, and
> Alameda County. Each of us can have a few facts to use to talk to the
> public and engage. For example, you could say:
>
>
>
>    - Isn’t it amazing how they wen over 2,000 miles of wilderness to
>    build the railroad?
>    - Did you know that the Central Pacific coming from the west was 80%
>    built by Chinese immigrants? Estimates are up to a thousand Chinese workers
>    died building the line.
>    - Do you know why the Central Pacific had to use Chinese laborers?
>    Answer – because all of the Americans headed for the silver fields in
>    Nevada to get rich. Also, the work was both back breaking and very
>    dangerous.
>    - The Donner summit crossing required 17 tunnels, bored through
>    granite with pick axes and black powder.  Of course they used nitro
>    glycerin that could explode at almost any time.
>    - The Central Pacific and Union Pacific were paid by the government in
>    land.  They got right of ways up to 50 miles from the track.  In the end,
>    they owned land equivalent to Texas.
>    - Before the railroad it took 3-6 moths to get to California and up to
>    5% dies trying to make it. It was easier to get to Europe from NY than
>    California in 1860.
>
>
>
> The following are things to read or watch to get more info.
>
>
>
> Reading:
>
>
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad
>
> https://railroad.lindahall.org/essays/brief-history.html
>
> https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad
>
>
>
> Videos
>
>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvQyBcbHJkg  This is a history channel
> video that is recommended
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ9aHj8A-8A
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicZIB8gCJk  This is long
>
>
>
> In addition to the 150th celebration, we have business cards to give to
> prospective members.  When you are on duty, get a few cards and give them
> to anyone that expresses interest in joining.  This is the card, so you can
> point out the map on the back and encourage them to come on a Friday Night.
> The front and back are attached.
>
>
>
> The key point is to engage the public on the 150th and on the passenger
> trains of the golden era, with a focus to the California Zephyr. When you
> are volunteering, take the time to engage the public.  If you do a little
> reading/watching, you will have great facts to have a talk. The public
> expects us to be excited about railroading and the 150th is a once in 50
> year opportunity to talk about a major historical railroad event.
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: The 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad First known
> as the “Pacific Railroad” and later the “Overland Route”, construction
> started in 1863 and was completed on May 10, 1869. 1776 miles of track were
> laid connecting Sacramento, CA and Omaha, NB, meeting at Promontory UT,
> completing the first transcontinental railroad. Irish laborers, Mormon
> workers, and Chinese immigrants were among those who worked to complete the
> railroad. By the end, over 11,000 workers were Chinese. The last tie was
> laid and nailed together by a spike of solid 17.6 karat gold, called the
> Golden Spike. Leland Stanford invested heavily in the railroad. The Golden
> Spike is now located in the Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University.]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Phil Edholm*
>
> Mobile 408-832-5618
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Accrs mailing list
> Accrs at mail.accrs.org
> https://mail.accrs.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/accrs
>
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