In the not-too-distant past, most information passed through societies via mass media. The technological hurdles and the cost of sharing data prevented it from going niche. Now, larger and larger contributions on all topics are made by interested individuals via the Internet.
At one time, detailed information on many worthy topics was not gathered nor was it possible to share widely. Now, ordinary people have the prerequisite tools to disseminate facts on topics of personal interest. These changes are routinely taken for granted but alter the whole concept of knowledge and its assessibility.
TRAINS IN SRI LANKA
In preparation for our month in Sri Lanka later this year, I wanted concrete information on the railway system there. On several occasions, as far back as the 1980's, we travelled on Sri Lankan rail. I knew the origins go back to the British era and trains have at least 145 years of history in former Ceylon. At present, the system squeaks and groans under its own aging infrastructure. Still, a rail system makes so much sense for the island. Although the country has flooded onto highways in the last three decades, rail really could hold the key to a sustainable future.
Anyway, suitable information abounds. Wikipedia is a good place for an overview. People with a special interest in the system, contribute ideas too. Even the official website, provides some basic facts. For example, one can find that it's possible to travel hundreds of kilometers down the coast or through the mountains for the equivalent of a few dollars. Lastly, there are a surprisingly interesting collection of nearly 400 photos in a Flickr group among thousands with tags of "sri lanka" and "trains". It has an interesting collection of current and archived photographs. Some are obviously by amateurs while others are quite professional. See some in this slide show.
Sri Lanka Railroad Scenery pool on Flickr.