Treasures New & Old; "From Glory to Rust"

A couple of days ago, a friend sent me a long e.mail with a link to a video of dozens of old abandoned steam engines. He is a train enthusiast and thought maybe I am, too.

I watched this parade to the end. These sad remnants of past glories were photographed in their pitiful situs and present humiliation. Sic transit gloria mundi—thus passes away worldly glory, or something like that.

Well, in those 15 minutes of the video, I learned more about rusty metal than I ever thought possible.

I fear that for me trains have about the same mystique that automobiles have: Trains may, if all goes well, t...