The Train Trestle........

[the stranger]

It could always be the most historic door stopper in the world

..seriously.
I have a great colour shot of Clint standing on it.
I was going to have it mounted in a deep (strong) frame, under the picture of Clint standing on it,  and have a card masked along with still, explaining what exactly it is...
Well, that's the plan Kinda, sorta..
I have a better view of it in my head
-Stranger-

[Blu]

.....WKC, no I have yet to travel out to Devil's Gulch, Nicasio (sounds like a good name for a town in a western) where the trestle was taken --in 40 foot sections.  Actually, I will be contacting him shortly --or he, I.  I hope this doesn't fall through for some reason.   I mean he could put it up for sale on EBay, and possibly make a pile of money on it.

-Blu    

[the stranger]

 

Why don't you knock it off with the negative waves  Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here.  Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?

ODDBALL

Let's stay Positive Blu

-Stranger-

[Philo Beddoe Jr]

.....WKC, no I have yet to travel out to Devil's Gulch, Nicasio (sounds like a good name for a town in a western) where the trestle was taken --in 40 foot sections.  Actually, I will be contacting him shortly --or he, I.  I hope this doesn't fall through for some reason.   I mean he could put it up for sale on EBay, and possibly make a pile of money on it.

-Blu    

Hi Blu,

Do you think they have successfully marked and set aside the correct  section for you?

If the folks out at Devil's Gulch do deliver the goods, I'd like to put my name down for a piece too (if they haven't all already been spoken for).

A note to the webmasters, if the heavens do smile on Blu's efforts, then I suggest a special tribute link in the Dirty Harry section of the website to: 'Blu, the Patron Saint of Dirty Harry fans'.

What do you think?

WKC.

[Blu]

...O.K.  wkc, you're on the list.  No, I think Mark P. is busy with other things to bother with it, without me pushing him.  He said, and I quote, "It isn't going anywhere".  I left a message with him again today....  Before you make me a patron Saint of DH, looks like I'll have to 'pay the devil his due'....

.....I'm goin' to Lago !!!!

-Blu    

[philo]

Paint the town red Blu !!!

Seriously fingers crossed on this. Stranger and I were talking about this the other night and wished Clint could have done something with it.

As far as I am concerned this is a famous piece of material.


Philo .

[Blu]

......Well, I imagine someone at either Malpaso or Warner Bros. has had an opportunity to read this thread by now.  I agree, that turning it over to them (perhaps via a charity auction) would probably be the best thing to do with it, but to my knowledge no one else has contacted our salvage company to purchase it.   I am virtually certain now that the section in question is that which spanned lane #2.  The body of available evidence, testimony, and my own (careful) study of the film and the area, points to the second lane in from the south end of the trestle.   Personally, I thought they could have it encased in acrylic, and placed in the entrance walkway to the Hog's Breath Inn or the Mission Ranch, or Malpaso Headquarters.

....But, if they don't want it, they don't want it.

-Blu

[Blu]

                                                       

....Alright folks, harvest time is over.  I have heard back from Mark P..  I am going out to Devil's Gulch Ranch this week to secure the piece(s).  Mark said the piece alone will cost $150.  If I have him cut each piece, it will be $25 per piece --by torch, which looks a bit messy, but O.K.  Or I could pay him the $150 for the length and have it cut elsewhere (Zappetini) for about $10 per cut --by torch.  I imagine it might cost a bit more to have a clean cut by band-saw since it's hardened steel --or y'all could have this done yourselves if you want.  Your pieces will come with a notice of authenticity signed by Mark P. and myself, as witnesses .   As well, I can have either 6" or 4" pieces cut.  


...So the total cost will be:
               
                     shipping cost + $25-$30  

....We could reduce the cost a bit, if we could get a few more orders.....

         Philo, Stranger, KC, I have your addresses.  I need addresses for Vik, (your new address), Brendan (Nightwing), D'Ambrosia,  WKC, and BDC28...I will send you each an email.

-Blu    

[Philo Beddoe Jr]

I think if the operator is skilled enough, a torch cut could look good.  It would have a nice knarled/melted edge look.  I think this would have more 'personality' than a clean band saw cut.  But then I am no metals engineer .

What do you all think?

WKC.

[Blu]

...That's what I was thinking WKC --it would have a more 'rugged' look to it.  The ends could be sawed or ground/ filed flat later if anyone wants a neater look to it.  

-Blu

[Blu]

.....Well folks, I have some good news and some not-so-good news.  I went out to Nicasio today and secured about 8+ feet of rail from the trestle, along with Mark P's signature on the Certificate of Authenticity.  I also retrieved several spikes and bolts from various couples and mounting plates.  I was however, unable to verify with certainty where this particular piece  came from  -- in relation to where Clint was standing (over lane #2).   Mark said he was pretty sure that this length was from the section he told them to set aside....It was the shortest piece in the pile.
     However, I later called the contractor (W.K McClellan) that dismantled most  of it, and spoke to a rather interesting fellow.   He said that he possessed 10 feet of track (ties and all)  taken from, presumably the  center of the section which passed over  lane #2 --which he himself is certain is the one Clint was standing over.   This is in accordance with my own determination of where he was actually standing.
      As well, he said he had about 50, 1" pieces of this section cleaned up, mounted on felt, and engraved with some history of the rail and also with a reference to Dirty Harry.  He said he gave away all but one of these "paperweights" to his friends, at a cost of about $50 apiece to him.  Apparently, he still has the main body of this section, which he's saving for a "commemoration" of some sort.  So, I can't really verify how close our piece was to this section.  
       The other interesting thing he said was that he sent one of these "paperweights" to none other than,
       THE MAN HIMSELF.....Can you beat that ??

     Apparently, Clint already has a piece of it !

     So, unless any of you have any objections, I still plan to send on the chunks from our section.  I do still need lengths from several of you...BDC28, etc....

-Blu

P.S.  I could , as something of a consolation, throw in a bolt or spike if any of you want one.  The bolts (I have 4) came from our section.   The spikes (I have 5 or 6) came from other sections, I believe.  
           

[Philo Beddoe Jr]

Well Blu,

I appreciate your honesty and the EFFORT you have gone to for everybody concerned, so everything is OK with me to go forward.  I won't say no to a bolt if you can spare one .

Best,

WKC.

[philo]

Ditto from here.

I don't need a bolt or spike.

Thanks for all your help.


Philo.

[Blu]

...O.K., will do.

    The other thing that guy said, was that there is a piece of wood from the trestle up for sale on EBay.  As well, there is the rest of it stacked up in Nicasio, to be recycled for various landscape projects.

 For all we know however, some of those
"paperweights" may end up on EBay.  I think the City of Larkspur was given a few of them as well.
-Blu

[vik]

well done Blu

just the trestle will do

i to appreciate the effort

[Blu]

  Alright, I had the rail cut up, and still have about 4 feet left over.  It was cut by band saw ($12.50 a cut)  The guys at the iron works convinced me that  it would take a while to grind smooth if anyone ever wanted that.  Sorry WKC --no torch cut.  But the pieces are good for engraving now.  
     
     Brendan, D'Ambrosia, and BDC28, I do need your addresses.   The present cost stands at $29+ shipping.   I'm surprised we haven't gotten any more orders.  
     
      The pieces will be shipped shortly.

[KC]

Blu, when and how would you like payment?

[philo]

Great news Blu.

I have just replied to your email. Please let me know about payment.


Philo .

[Blu]

...I will determine each of your respective costs and  send them to you each, along with my address.  Checks/International Money Orders are O.K., but U.S. Cash is of course, the easiest for me.  I believe the exchange rate may work in your favor right now, Vik, Philo, Stranger and WKC, but don't quote me on that.

-Blu

[Blu]

.....BDC28, D'Ambrosia, and Brendan, I'm using the board again to put some pressure on you.  You did order pieces. The procedure is really very simple.

     Here's how we play:

          You send me your addresses and I will send
          you your trestle pieces.
          But if I even think  that you're being followed,
          --The girl dies.[/i]
          Hubba hubba.

-Blu