Let me remind you (and myself) about how awesome my program is...
Okay, after trying to work out what's causing me stress (and regrets) on paper on a blank white screen a few minutes ago, I need to remind myself about why I'm putting myself through this stress: namely, that museums are awesome places, particularly their back rooms. Here are some neat things I spotted behind the scenes at the Science and Technology Museum...
Trains! They have an entire train yard back there... I had to ask how they moved some of these massive locomotives there. The answer was that they apparently had to build a set of train tracks leading into the building! And that the museum itself had been built around some of the ones on display... which will probably be on display there forever because it would cost far too much to move them.
We have a run-down version of this caboose at Fort Edmonton. Observe and compare with second shot...
Train from the 1890s with awesomely shaped chimney in for restoration.
Note my awesome classmates and the Victorian fireman's hose in the foreground.
An early McLaughlin's touring car. Our guide told us that their collection leans towards the luxury vehicle side of things as they are of course more likely to survive. This one also has acetylene instead of electric headlamps.
We weren't allowed to touch the artifacts, but I think that anybody would be tempted to try to get on this one. I think that it's from the early Edwardian period.
A gorgeous touring car.
I almost shrieked with joy when I saw this (I contained myself). It's a 1929 Ford Model A, one year newer than the one I drove for a chunk of the summer at Fort Edmonton. This one is a gorgeous green colour with its original convertible roof attached. Because they were made on the assembly line, I recognizes all of the features, from the door handles to the steering wheel. It made me really nostalgic for this summer. Compare:
I would be remiss in not including a photograph of one of the pennyfarthings. There were also tandem bicycles on which the riders pedal side by side instead of one in front of the other too.
A Ford that is half-restored down the middle. I saw a similar one at the Reynold's Automotive museum in Wetaskawin, showing the state the car came to the restorers in, and after restoration.
A good old Tin Lizzie...
One of the fanciest cars they have, and a bit of a celebrity. One of two identical Buick-McLaughlins, it was especially made for the 1939 Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. Its roof is slightly higher than normal to accomodate the plumed headdresses of the royal party. Whenever one was in use, the other one would be driving to the next destination so that when the royals took the train they'd always have their car waiting for them.
Royalty sat in this very seat!
One final image: a few dog statues from HMV (His Master's Voice), lined up all in a row...
We saw SO MANY awesome artifacts. I couldn't photograph them all, and some of the photographs I did take didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. My only option is to get qualified and work in the backrooms of a museum like this all the time.
Trains! They have an entire train yard back there... I had to ask how they moved some of these massive locomotives there. The answer was that they apparently had to build a set of train tracks leading into the building! And that the museum itself had been built around some of the ones on display... which will probably be on display there forever because it would cost far too much to move them.
We have a run-down version of this caboose at Fort Edmonton. Observe and compare with second shot...
Train from the 1890s with awesomely shaped chimney in for restoration.
Note my awesome classmates and the Victorian fireman's hose in the foreground.
An early McLaughlin's touring car. Our guide told us that their collection leans towards the luxury vehicle side of things as they are of course more likely to survive. This one also has acetylene instead of electric headlamps.
We weren't allowed to touch the artifacts, but I think that anybody would be tempted to try to get on this one. I think that it's from the early Edwardian period.
A gorgeous touring car.
I almost shrieked with joy when I saw this (I contained myself). It's a 1929 Ford Model A, one year newer than the one I drove for a chunk of the summer at Fort Edmonton. This one is a gorgeous green colour with its original convertible roof attached. Because they were made on the assembly line, I recognizes all of the features, from the door handles to the steering wheel. It made me really nostalgic for this summer. Compare:
I would be remiss in not including a photograph of one of the pennyfarthings. There were also tandem bicycles on which the riders pedal side by side instead of one in front of the other too.
A Ford that is half-restored down the middle. I saw a similar one at the Reynold's Automotive museum in Wetaskawin, showing the state the car came to the restorers in, and after restoration.
A good old Tin Lizzie...
One of the fanciest cars they have, and a bit of a celebrity. One of two identical Buick-McLaughlins, it was especially made for the 1939 Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. Its roof is slightly higher than normal to accomodate the plumed headdresses of the royal party. Whenever one was in use, the other one would be driving to the next destination so that when the royals took the train they'd always have their car waiting for them.
Royalty sat in this very seat!
One final image: a few dog statues from HMV (His Master's Voice), lined up all in a row...
We saw SO MANY awesome artifacts. I couldn't photograph them all, and some of the photographs I did take didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. My only option is to get qualified and work in the backrooms of a museum like this all the time.