[Accrs] 150th and the Fair

Wed Jun 12 09:34:42 PDT 2019

Hi Joel,  

Thanks so much. That is great. You might remember I showed you the disk in the player is stuck, so hoping you will be able to get it out. 

Paula
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 12, 2019, at 9:31 AM, Alameda County Central Railroad Society <accrs at mail.accrs.org> wrote:
> 
> Message From: Joel Clark  clark.joel.a at gmail.com
> 
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> Phil,
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> 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
>> 
>> 
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>> 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.
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>> 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:
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>> A banner at the entrance to introduce the celebration
>> 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.
>> With each of the stations there are three photo cards that have additional facts about the railroad and impact on California.
>> The back display case has been reworked with a display about the transcontinental and the California Zephyr.
>> The scavenger hunt has a bit of a 150th flair.
>> The back of every scavenger hunt card is a fact sheet about the transcontinental – it is at the bottom of the email.
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>> 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:
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>> 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.
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>> The following are things to read or watch to get more info.
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>> Reading:
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>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad
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>> https://railroad.lindahall.org/essays/brief-history.html
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>> https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad
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>> Videos
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>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvQyBcbHJkg  This is a history channel video that is recommended
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>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ9aHj8A-8A
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>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicZIB8gCJk  This is long
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>> 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.
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>> 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.
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>> Phil Edholm
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>> Mobile 408-832-5618
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