Talk:Branford Steam Railroad/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Whiteguru (talk · contribs) 09:32, 29 November 2021 (UTC)

Starts GA Review. The review will follow the same sections of the Article. Thank you --Whiteguru (talk) 09:32, 29 November 2021 (UTC)

 

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Observations

   HTML document size: 113 kB
   Prose size (including all HTML code): 18 kB
   References (including all HTML code): 49 kB
   Wiki text: 26 kB
   Prose size (text only): 11 kB (1770 words) "readable prose size"
   References (text only): 7039 B

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, and grammar): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

• My sense is that the Lead might include some reference to recent modernisation of motive power and rolling stock. According to references the re-powering of the SW1001 is expected to render another 20 years service.

• Unfortunately for the railroad, the TIGER grant application was not successful; the state of Connecticut is very good about posting documents online, they are there for public access. I have discovered that the BSRR solved this issue relatively recently by leasing a EMD GP38-2 [1] but I cannot find any reliable sources to substantiate this in the article (in general, basically no RS seem to exist that were published in the 21st century besides state of Connecticut publications). Connecticut is in the process of writing its 2021-2025 rail plan [2] which will likely be a source for this, but it has not been released yet. I'd like to mention the change in motive power, but again I just can't find a RS that mentions it. Trainsandotherthings (talk) 03:19, 4 December 2021 (UTC)Y

1. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (reference section): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

• Article is well scribed and follows Manual of Style;

1. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

• Founding section is fine, good references.
• Damascus Railroad: the reference to trap rock explains a lot. Significant background.
• Charter modification: the eminent domain is important; grade crossings were to have significant impact.
• Shore Line Electric Railway and two years dispute: good references here; a clear background with links.
• New Haven Trap Rock Company: Reference 8 speculates on how Fisk was replaced by Blakeslee and Sons. It is unclear. Do you have sources of how Fisk divested himself of Quarries and assets?

• Unfortunately this seems to have been lost to history as far as I can tell. I can do a bit more digging, but I haven't been able to find out exactly how Fisk ended up leaving the company. I wasn't fully satisfied with not having a good answer myself, so I will look into this further. Trainsandotherthings (talk) 03:19, 4 December 2021 (UTC)

• I think I've found something actually: the Connecticut Public Utilities Commission 1918 annual report lists Fisk as the president of the Meriden, New Britain and Hartford Railway Company, a planned street railway (trolley/tram line) [3]. I still don't know how Fisk left the New Haven Trap Rock Company, but I can at least figure out he moved to something else and didn't just drop off the face of the earth. I'll incorporate that into the article. Trainsandotherthings (talk) 03:26, 4 December 2021 (UTC)Y

• Dieselization: Reference 28 goes into good detail about the funding, Co-generation locomotives and refurbishment, replacement.
• Article has a good "readable prose size".

1. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

• NPOV is preserved in this article.

1. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

• Page created on 21 April 2008
• Page has 89 edits by 39 editors
• Majority of edits in 2021
• 90 day page views = 467 with an average of 5 daily views
• Examination of page history does not reveal vandalism or edit-warring
• Page is stable

1. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have fair use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

• File:Branford Steam over CT 80 085.JPG = Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
• File:EM DSC 0855 (2732591103).jpg = Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
• File:Aerial view of Tilcon Connecticut quarry and Lake Gaillard, July 2019.JPG = Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
• File:General Electric 44-ton switcher.jpg = The Old and Weary !!!! = released with attribution: Attribution: Harvey Henkelmann
• File:Branford Steam Railroad yard, December 2015.jpg = Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
• All images have fair use rationales and appropriate description.

1. Overall:

• A neat, crisp article about an industrial railroad in Connecticut.
• References are good, images have free use rationales and appropriate captions.
• One minor query about Fisk and divestment. Upon clarification, this should go to GA. --Whiteguru (talk) 02:59, 4 December 2021 (UTC)

• @Whiteguru: I believe I've addressed your point, is there anything else you'd like to see changed before promotion to GA? Trainsandotherthings (talk) 17:38, 5 December 2021 (UTC)
• Thank you for digging in and coming up with that history and those solutions. You are right, is misleading, I had thought the TIGER grant was successful. Leasing a GP38-2 is a short term option; however, it may end up doing long-term damage to their balance sheet. Climate change and mitigation may yet end up making decisions for the state of Connecticut.
• Good work, and we pass this to GA status. --Whiteguru (talk) 19:54, 5 December 2021 (UTC)

 

 Passed