It never occurred to me that someone might create a museum for tow trucks, especially as their reputation has been diminished by those whose job is to haul away our parked vehicles: you return to your car, find it gone, figure it's been stolen, take a taxi to some faraway lot where you'll be charged a small fortune to get it back. An indignity that's happened to many of us.

Surprisingly the International Towing & Recovery Hall Of Fame and Museum turns out to be a fascinating place. Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it features restored antique wreckers and equipment, industry-related displays of collectible toys, tools, unique equipment, and pictorial histories of manufacturers who pioneered a worldwide industry. Equally anxious to honour the people who made it so, the museum includes a Hall of Fame "to display the roots of the profession." But what really caught my eye when checking the Web site was "The Wall of the Fallen," a monument dedicated to men and women in the towing industry who have lost their lives in the line of service.

Think about it. They toil 24 hours a day and when the weather's at its worst, that's when they're busiest. They endure gruesome accident scenes. Their workplace is often the very edge of a busy expressway, cars whizzing by within inches. They suffer considerable abuse, sometimes physical, from car owners incensed at having their vehicles towed. It's a dangerous occupation.

On the lighter side, I couldn't resist illustrating the article with a model VW tow truck from my own collection. I bought it for my sons during a period when we lived in Europe and somehow it survived. Thanks to Nigel for making me aware of the International Towing & Recovery Hall Of Fame and Museum, and if you're ever in Chattanooga put the museum on your list of places to visit. Just be careful where you park.