I spotted a thread by sponge at et-center with a link to some interesting info about the real Siwa Oasis, and the real Railgun (called Dora). Some of you may have seen it before, and if so I’m sorry, but I had never seen it and I found it quite interesting.
It is, unfortunately, written in French, which isn’t a problem for me, but may be for you.
http://www.real-et.com/railgun/rail.htm
http://www.real-et.com/oasis/oasis.htm
Some more info about fueldump and goldrush is found in the et-center thread, along with some comments from the quorum of witless idiots.
http://www.forums-center.com/viewtopic.php?t=8589&start=0
–Mortis