This is a picture from Wikipedia of the SS John W. Brown, one of the two surviving out of over 2000 Liberty Ships built during WWII. One of the Liberty Ships was named after Otto Mears, a key railroading figure in Colorado

Reader Norm Delucchi sent this comment:

“Reading my copy of Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle – I questioned an item – going to my reference library I found that the SS Otto Mears (Hull # 2157) was built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond #2 Yard, Richmond, CA, not Matson Navigation of San Francisco as stated on page 90.”

Norm is correct. I might also note that in researching this, Wikipedia states that 2710 of these handy, easy-to-build cargo ships were built during the war years, not quite measuring up to the “over 3000″ on page 90. That still a lot of ships! Out of all these ships, only two are still seaworthy, the SS John W. Brown (pictured) and the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, the latter being preserved as a memorial in San Francisco with occasional trips at sea. The SS Otto Mears itself was launched in 1943, sold private in 1947, and wrecked and scrapped in 1967.

How’s that for information in a book about railroads! Check out Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle: The Rio Grande Southern, the Ouray Branch of the D&RG and Otto Mears’ Silverton RR, in our catalog for $19.95 + shipping. You can be assured that Otto Mears was a railroad guy; it’s interesting to learn of the ship built twelve years after his death that was finally scrapped when Mears would have been 128 years old.

My mom bought the first two Great American Broomsticks as a gift for me at [ARRL Amateur Radio] Field Day. I started reading #1 Sat night and had to be very firm with myself to go to bed so I could get back to the mesa the next morning. I finished up this afternoon (Mon.) I love the first person style and am trying to decide whether to save book two for a day or two so I can savor book one longer—or if I just won’t sleep tonight!

I’ll be watching for #3. Thanks for writing them and thanks to my mom for being sharp enough to snag them for me.

Thanks for the kind words, Pam. And Broom 3 is now ready for order!

The Ridgway Railroad Museum's book is earning plaudits from the narrow gauge railroading press. Click on image to go to order from our catalog.

From the NG&SL Gazette Review, Sept/Oct 2009:

This book describes three of the 3-foot gauge railroads that once ran in the Silverton, Ouray, and Ridgway areas of Colorado. There are stories, short histories of the area described, maps and black and white photos. These include “Ridgway Street Names,” “The Legacy of Robert M. Ridgway,” “The RGS Through Telegrams,” “Unusual Spikes on the RGS,” and an item about a runaway RGS flatcar. The book also describes the Ridgway Railroad Museum, and the narrow gauge equipment located there. Included are D&RGW Boxcar #3130, Stock Car #5574, and Drop Bottom Gondola #702. Articles also describe the restoration of Caboose #0575, Goose #4 and the re-creation of Motor #1. All great reading!

From the Colorado Railroad Journal, Sept 2009:

The 110-page volume contains 40 carefully researched short articles by seven museum members, along with 60 photographs, maps and drawings. The articles contain information available nowhere else. Some of the topics covered include history of each of the museum’s railcars, snow fighting on the narrow gauge, life working for the railroad, locations along the featured routes, the Corkscrew Gulch turntable, Ouray depot, water tanks on the narrow gauge, Ouray to Ironton by rail, the Ramona townsite affair, dispatcher’s train sheets, and many more.

Check out the book in our catalog.

But…I will be at the Reno regional Mensa event in October. For sure with Broom 3!

Broom 3 is “almost” done. It’s been “almost” done for quite some time—months even! It seems there’s one little bit that didn’t satisfy a key reviewer. He thought it irrelevant. I thought it vital to set up the central problem that’ll be addressed in Broom 4. So…I’ve rewritten most of it, but still have a couple chapters to go. Once that’s done, Broom 3 will go into production, which means creating cover art and sending it off to the printer.

I was invited to Pittsburgh, but my schedule just won’t permit it. However, my good friend Randy Cassingham will be there. Ken Wright has prevailed upon me to set aside time in October to be in Reno for the Reno-ssaince Mensa Regional Conference. I’ll be there, reprising some of my Denver material but mostly focusing on Broom 3. (I may also take the test to see if I qualify as a Mensan, but I think I already know the answer: No!)

I’ve been neglecting Broom 3 a bit since I’ve been working to publish Mary Ann Dismant’s very sweet reminiscences of her childhood in Denver many years ago, plus publishing the local Railroad Museum’s new book on narrow gauge railroads in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. But now nothing stands in the way! Look for it soon.

I’ve been getting the free weekly subscription for a while now, since Randy C. talked about it in his “this is true” newsletter. When you told us you were reducing the cost of the books, I immediately went to the website to buy it. Before I did, however, I realized how much I am enjoying the little snippets once a week. If I bought the book, I would lose the weekly e-mails, and I decided I didn’t want to do that. Thanks!

Arlene, not to worry! You are welcome to stay on the free chapter a week e-mail list. But you can do both. I sold both books to a Mensa Convention attendee, who wrote me to say he was signing up for the free chapter a week e-mail list to “relive” the experience. You can too! Your purchase supports this site and the free list. I’m glad you’re enjoying the flying broomstick experience!

Hmph. Interesting question. I did a search on Google Images for broomsticks, and not a single image showed anyone flying in reverse. So I must assume that having the tail behind you is the standard position. But, as I note in my books, the broomstick is as happy going backwards as forwards, so I suppose what you propose is possible, although I would put it in the category of aerobatics, plus it would put the control area behind you. —Dave

Thanks Spock! —Dave

Thanks, Don! Your comment about the “amazingly realistic descriptions” is one I get frequently. And the next book is Book 2: The Missing Wand which will be released July 4, 2008.