Informed but opinionated commentary and analysis on urban transportation topics from the Secret Worldwide Transit Cabal. Names have been omitted to protect the guilty.

Our Mission: Monkeywrench the Anti-Transit Forces

 
HUFF, HUFF, PUFF, PUFF, IS RANDAL O'TOOLE A STEAM RAIL BUFF?

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"Truth passes through three phases: 1) It is ridiculed. 2) It is violently opposed. 3) It is accepted as self-evident." Albert Schopenhouer. In the United States, rail is currently passing through Phase Two.


From the Cabalmaster:

An October 2002 article published by the Tri-City Herald (Kennewick – Pasco – Richland, WA, see www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/1023/Story1.html) describes an excursion train pulled by restored Spokane, Portland & Seattle steam locomotive 700. The article quotes a “locomotive crew member” named Randal O’Toole.

The locomotive is based in Portland, OR, not far from the Bandon, OR, home base of the well-known (if slightly acerbic) author and transit critic of the same name.

Are they one and the same?

Is Randal O’Toole, author of The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths, founder of the “Thoreau Institute” and “American Dream Coalition” websites, also (gasp) a . . . a . . . RAILFAN?

Say it ain’t so, Randal!

(Otherwise, we may actually laugh loud enough to reveal the location of Line’s End™, the (very) secret (very) hidden retreat of the Secret Worldwide Transit Cabal. Think of it . . . a blowhard like O’Toole a STEAM BUFF!)

posted by The Cabalmaster, Master of All Transit-dom 10/29/2003 04:48:00 PM