Hi folks, hoping someone can help me with a photo from my grandfather's time at NYCRR. It features a STAMP with the name and address of Jerry Pinkepank on the back and the handwritten note: "NYC GP-7 derailed at Lansing, Mich December 1960." Does anyone know of how my grandfather (Harry Evans) might have obtained this stamped photo?
That's logical. However, the pic is small - approx. 3x5 inches. It seems more consistant with other family photos than what I imagine a collectors photo would be. But you could be right - thanks.
NYCRR grandkidThat's logical. However, the pic is small - approx. 3x5 inches. It seems more consistant with other family photos than what I imagine a collectors photo would be. But you could be right - thanks.
Jerry Pinkepank PhD. was a railroad consultant who specialized in track and train force dynamics. I know he wrote several articles for various magazines over the years, including Trains.
Jerry Pinkepank was also the author of the first "Diesel Spotters Guide", published way back in the mid 1960's. The range of the articles he wrote for TRAINS covers a diverse number of topics, including the Belt Railway of Chicago in September-October 1966 and the St. Clair and Detroit River Tunnels in September-October 1964.
If Jerry Pinkepank met an NYC RR employee at the derailment site, he may have been asked for a copy of the photograph. A postcard size photo would be easy to mail. Jerry probably made his own prints in that era (as many of us did) so he could make any size he liked.
So it is likely that NYC Grandkid's grandfather was at the derailment and was given the photo by Jerry Pinkepank.
M636C
I believe Mr. Pinkepank is still alive*, so you're able to and might want to ask him !
*In the current May 2010 issue of Trains, the pair photos of the Cascade Tunnel area that accompany the 'Letter to the Editor' from Robert Downing at the bottom of either page 3 or page 5 are both credited to Mr. Pinkepank as of sometime in 2009, if I recall correctly.
- Paul North.
Is the news of Jerry Pinkepank's demise, a fig newton of someone's imagination?
Let hope that it is!!!
Mr. Jerry Pinkepank is very much alive and healthy.
Thanks for the info!
The 3X5 size was common in the 40s,50's,60's,etc.It was also very common for the owner of the negative to print photos for friends and to sell them.They typically put a rubber stamp on the back with information such as location,date,class of locomotive,and address of photographer.You can usually tell a original photograph from one that was duplicated by a detailed explantion written in pencil on the back.A example would be "Train 502 leaving Chicago at 12:30 pm with 18 cars.Train was making 30 mph at milepost 12".They might have the camera settings also written in pencil.Sometimes when you bought photos from the photographer they would write a little information on the back but in general it was easier for them to stamp it and just write the date,location,and train number instead of writing a detailed story about that day you typically find on the photographers personal collection.
Another thing you might find on those smaller photos is a photo taken of a photo.It was a easy way to duplicate a photo back then.Just put the photo on a white sheet of paper,get a close up and photograph it.You would be surprised how many photos of photos there are out there.You can tell this by looking at it the borders as they are often not square or distorted.
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