Fredericton, New Brunswick – Despite decades of research, a Fredericton man says that autism didn’t exist in his day and that he would like to show us a replica map he created of the 1920 Caledonian Railway,
“I think it’s all blown out of proportion in the media,” Louis Wetmore said in an interview with the Beaverton. “Just like when the Caledonian Railway created an alliance with the English London and North Western Railway to help open its main line between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Carlisle in 1848. The papers said the railway was going to be sold to the English but the Scottish merchants argued this would open up new lines of commerce to London and grow the Scottish economy.”
Most developmental pediatricians, child neurologists, child psychologists, psychiatrists, and speech-language pathologists agree that the rate of autism has not increased. It’s a reflection of improved methods of diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder in children.
“Some of these kids just have their quirks. Some like comics. Some like hockey. Some will memorize the date each station along the Caledonian opened.”
When asked, Wetmore confirmed with The Beaverton that the Edinburgh station, Waverley, opened 17 May 1847.
“Maybe it’s a trend. Like how there are all these mental illnesses lately. In my day, we’d just say you were weird.”
When asked if his interest in railways extended to Canadian routes, he became visibly uncomfortable.
“No.”
Wetmore expressed regret that his interest in one specific railway in Europe is not shared by his family.
“My daughter isn’t really a train person.”
At press time, Wetmore’s daughter was still describing the elaborate city she built in Minecraft.
