Landsteiner posted:Here's what Lionel has on its website about the Phantom IV:
"THE LEGEND CONTINUES...Two decades ago, a cache of mysterious documents, renderings, and diagrams were discovered in an old farmhouse in Pratt's Hollow, Missouri. To this day, we know very little about where the original papers came from, but it appears they were the work of a highly secretive railroad group called the Pratt's Hollow Design Society (PHDS). It is our belief that this clandestine group of professional railroad designers secretly collaborated in the 1920's to develop a modern locomotive that would replace the automobile.
......
The Pratt's Hollow story is imaginary, and the spectacular trains in the Pratt's Hollow Collection never really existed-but they should have!"
Pratt's Hollow Design Society is abbreviated PHDS. I think Lionel's real meaning here was a subtle reference to someone who has a Ph.D. - a Doctor of Philosopy Degree - and in this case, in the field of engineering. Apparently, according Lionel's explanation, the design of these trains was attributed to a secretive group of "legendary" engineers with these advanced degrees. It fits with their claim at the bottom that the Pratt's Hollow story is imaginary. I think they were "pulling your leg" and the story is meant to be understood as "tongue in cheek." I'm not sure this reply was worth the time it took to write but I couldn't resist...
MELGAR
