Boxcar Dispatches to Nobody
Added 2021-10-29 15:10:49 +0000 UTCA random and unintentional video made whimsically one day in Arkansas, exploring the human urge to write messages and drawings to nobody in particular, in places where many won't see them, and just where the human urge to record and create comes from, and what might motivate it.
Russel Butler was a switchman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad for over 40 years. During this time he wrote his "Dispatches" on the sides of rusty old railcars tens if not hundreds of thousands of times - messages to everybody and nobody in particular. In this episode of CPBBD we ask him how he got into it, why he did it, and how it all came to be.
Comments
This video really hit some high notes for me, a great conversation with a fascinating man. Mostly just came here to say his much I appreciated your recent podcast with The Naked Botanist. I had to do it in three sittings because of the length of and density of new (to me) information, but I feel like it was easily one of your best so far. It also made me realise just how much I have learnt from you the last few years, especially in terms of botanical nomenclature.
2021-11-28 19:26:16 +0000 UTCEverything about this video is good. The tour of the burned down machine shop. The late fall blooming plants. The interview with Russel, hearing him talk about his life and seeing his art. The history of why people put images on railroad cars. The existential comments. The message at the end. Thank you.
2021-11-09 04:16:33 +0000 UTCyou two in the burnt up shed! Russell is an inspiration. Thank you for documenting and posting that!
Dominique Frost
2021-11-05 01:20:32 +0000 UTCBig fan of the railroad content. Recently got my hands on a copy of Bill Daniels 'mostly true' and was very pleasantly surprised to find your feature in there. Good stuff.
2021-11-03 03:15:20 +0000 UTCThis is a cool divergence. Thanks for sharing.
Clayton Grey
2021-10-29 19:11:12 +0000 UTCThanks for featuring this guy, it's a unique topic. The YouTube Algorithm has been blowing up train hobos recently so maybe there is some audience overlap? Shoestring The Hobo travels all over but he doesn't know much about plants and poops in grocery bags if you want to do a collab.
Gordon Chin
2021-10-29 18:45:21 +0000 UTCi really like these glimpses into your previous life
initfo
2021-10-29 16:39:47 +0000 UTC
