Graffiti in the 1950s

[rogerhensley]

From the Railroads of Madison County memory pages:

In days gone by, maintenance workers marked a car good (or bad) with a chalk mark or initials. Over the years, some of these marks became drawings and were notable and recognized nearly everywhere trains ran. Of course, some marks were put on the cars by others and varied in content. This was long before today's 'Taggers' took to painting the sides of hoppers and boxcars with their 'art'.

One of the best known of the Boxcar Artists was Herby and his mark was seen on cars coming through here. It is my personal favorite and I created this black and white from a photo of his mark.

The boxcar artist known as Herby passed away 12-9-95. His sketch depicting a character wearing a sombrero sitting under a palm tree has adorned the sides of thousands of boxcars. His memory lives on as other artists are rebuilding his older sketches that have faded and memorial sketches are now starting to circulate.

Enjoy and remember!!

- Copyright 2003 Roger Hensley -

[tstage]

I thought this was an interesting question. From my limited recollection, I'm guessing that the modern "graffiti movement" didn't really start taking off till the late 60's & early 70's. Now it's so common place but I don't remember seeing hardly any photos out of the 50's where there was graffiti on rolling stock. Good thread. [:)]

Tom

[orsonroy]

Graffitti hasbeen around for thousands of years (look at Pompeii), but until the advent of spray paint, it was all pretty much subdued. In the 1950s, taggers were limited to chalk, rocks, or cans of paint and a brush.

Chalk marks on freight cars aren't technically graffitti; they're yard crew shorthand for car routing information. For the 1950s, chalk marks should be on just about every car on your roster. Sunshine and Westerfield make decals of chalk marks, or you can make your own by using a VERY fine line paint pen, marker, or artist's pencil.

I've actually seen more 1950s graffitti on engines than on freight cars, with the crews naming a specific engine or picking on a specific crewman. Writing on a smokebox front with a piece of coal, or cleaning the soot off the tender side seems to be especially popular. I've got photos in my collection of OC, P&PU, PRR, and NYC engines with crew graffitti on engines.

[joseph2]

Some cars were chalked with "BOZO TEXINO" and J B King esq.

[Anonymous]

I have lived along the SP in oregon during the 70s thru the early 90s and have viewed a lot of Grafitti over the years. It didn't seem to erupt until the 'Gang" culture spread out of LA and the need to leave ones mark as a territory boundry became a gang necesity. Before the artsy bad spelling blotches of the modern era, grafitty seemed to be small and personal. I remember specifically the well chalked signature of "Water Bed Lou" I have always wondered who he was and how he came to put his signature on so many RR cars
Jennifer

[Jetrock]

While graffiti wasn't as prevalent, it was definitely there--but typically done with chalk or charcoal rather than spray paint. "Kilroy Was Here" and various hobo signs would appear on cars occasionally. I have a couple of old decal sets with circa-50's "graffiti" which includes a "Kilroy" and some hobo-appropriate markings.

[leighant]

not much in the way of spray paint graffitti as such. However, cars were marked with chalk to show switching locations, and some railroad employees would add their own signature or trademark drawing. One signed "Herbie" with a sombreroed guy under a palm tree was chalked on hundreds of freight cars, don't remember the years for sure. And there was a Frimbo somebody. Remember reading about them in 1950s Trains magazines and "Railroad Man's" magazine...

[Big_Boy_4005]

I would agree with that assessment. Back in the 50's "artists" had to work with brush and bucket. Trains were not the easy targets they are today. Just think about how many more employees were around back then.

[Anonymous]

Was there graffiti on trains in the 1950's? [}:)] I never see any layouts with graffiti on freight cars that is set in the 1950s.