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What's To See In A Photograph? Discussion:

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Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:50 PM

The river next to the mountain and track is similar to the renovo area as well

 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:52 PM

I just noticed the fire house crossing the tracks over to the 5713

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by doctorwayne on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 9:45 PM

dknelson
I also noticed the two different styles of handrail support on the side of the locomotive: 3 of them are a sort of gooseneck support.

Those three with the extra material do double-duty as lift rings, when the hood needs to be removed for heavy maintenance, like this...

Wayne

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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 10:02 PM

rrinker
 I wonder what interesting piece is to the left, lots of people seem to be taking pictures of it.

Well, here's a companion photo probably taken within minutes of the first one:

PHOTO THREE:

 8x10_PRR_display by Edmund, on Flickr

Have at it, folks! Lots to see here Whistling

Regards, Ed

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 8:03 AM

 The first loco next to the narrow guage one on the flat car is indeed 1223 - look on the tender, just above the coupler, you can see the number when at max magnification. Can't quite make out the number on the next one over - 6408? 8408? That's not one of the ones that ended up in the RR Museum of PA. 

                                 --Randy

 

 

 


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Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 8:39 AM

rrinker
That's not one of the ones that ended up in the RR Museum of PA. 

Could it be the I1 that ended up in NY?

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by dknelson on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:17 AM

That was a different era of railfanning to be sure.  People are on top of freight cars, cabooses, tenders.  And some seem to be wearing dress shoes!  The perfect shoe for wearing in a railyard.  And heavy long cloth coats are not the easiest thing to climb a caboose ladder while wearing I suspect. 

And yet it looks to me like the majority of these folks are NOT carrying a camera.  I do note the guy in the center of the photo glaring back at the photographer. He has camera and what I assume is a camera bag.  

It is true that we "benefit" from railfan photos taken during that era that "incidentally" show the tops of freight cars and otherwise were taken from the no tresspassing zones.  Some of the most famous rail photographers took pictures during that time that clearly were snapped from signal masts and bridges, or from the tops of freight cars on sidings. 

Any actual railroaders at this event must have suffered from bad cases of "bit lip syndrome."  

The "wavy" look of the sides on the boxcar is something not even metal sided models seem able to replicate.  I seem to recall reading that it was CorTen steel that did that.  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:25 AM

If it was today:  I see lawyers.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 12:36 PM

rrinker
Can't quite make out the number on the next one over - 6408? 8408? That's not one of the ones that ended up in the RR Museum of PA.

Someone already identified it as 6408, which is one of the 'improved' J1a 2-10-4s.  Why one of these did not 'make' the Northumberland collection is an ongoing mystery to me.

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Posted by Wolf359 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 1:21 PM

Anyone else notice that unusual looking doghouse on the rear of the J1a's tender? I've never seen one in that position or of that design.

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Posted by rrinker on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 5:44 PM

dknelson

That was a different era of railfanning to be sure.  People are on top of freight cars, cabooses, tenders.  And some seem to be wearing dress shoes!  The perfect shoe for wearing in a railyard.  And heavy long cloth coats are not the easiest thing to climb a caboose ladder while wearing I suspect. 

And yet it looks to me like the majority of these folks are NOT carrying a camera.  I do note the guy in the center of the photo glaring back at the photographer. He has camera and what I assume is a camera bag.  

It is true that we "benefit" from railfan photos taken during that era that "incidentally" show the tops of freight cars and otherwise were taken from the no tresspassing zones.  Some of the most famous rail photographers took pictures during that time that clearly were snapped from signal masts and bridges, or from the tops of freight cars on sidings. 

Any actual railroaders at this event must have suffered from bad cases of "bit lip syndrome."  

The "wavy" look of the sides on the boxcar is something not even metal sided models seem able to replicate.  I seem to recall reading that it was CorTen steel that did that.  

Dave Nelson

 

 The lady to the right of him looks like she's carrying a small suitcase - and no, it's not an oversize purse, she clearly has a purse on her left arm.

                                          --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by PC101 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 8:49 PM

In the ''companion photo'' posted May 26, 2020 at 10:02pm.

Look at the three guys on the far right of photo at the rear of the tender, left guy going up on the tender has a two point hat/cover and bomber jacket with fleece collar, middle guy has a officer's hat/cover and bomber jacket with fleece collar and third guy on right has a two point hat/cover and long coat. I thought maybe Boy Scouts till I made out the bomber jackets w/fleece collars.

 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:08 PM

Two pictures back.

The Fathers young boys sure seem to be curious about the Pennsylvania Tender trying to climb up it as typical young kids usually do.

The photograph froze the moment in time.  I wonder if either of the kids made it to the ladder and if the father let them or if he had to chase one of them up the ladderWhistling

 

One will never know?

 

It took me a moment to catch on but I like the thread Ed! Yes

 

 

TF

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Posted by PC101 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:27 PM

Photo posted on May 26, 2020 5:54pm. The young boys with the pant cuffs folded way up on their jeans.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:46 PM

PRR Box Car, left, stencilled NEW 12-51.

I did NOT know the meaning of the Diamond stencil on tank car domes.

Thank You.

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Posted by PC101 on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:59 PM

In photo #2, lower left corner, the boy walking away from the camara, hat, over coat with a dark collar and sneakers, arms kinda up in front of him, (hands together ?).

In photo #3, the boy closest to and walking towards the photographer, same dress and hands together.

Now where is that lady with the big suitcase? EDIT: I had the photos numbered wrong. Still looking for the lady in picture #2.  

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:04 PM

NDG
I did NOT know the meaning of the Diamond stencil on tank car domes.

We're here to share info, AND to have fun.

Here's a crop of the activity in right-hand side of photo TWO:

 PRR_Openhouse-crop-1 by Edmund, on Flickr

See the camera on the tender endbeam? Those guys in long coats look like railroad brass to me, posing for a picture? The almost new EP20s, 5713 trailing, seem to have a train-in-tow. Did they bring folks out from Pittsburgh? Columbus?

Also a better look at the "Three-man" doghouse and the ID plate on the tender of the 6408.

I have one more photo of this day to post. It is of the Queen Mary, FD1 flat car which was built in 1952. I'll post it early tomorrow.

Sure would like to get some background on what is happening here.

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 10:13 PM

Oh yeah I do.

I did not notice the camera before Ed!  Interesting the things you can miss.

I'm not too familiar with old cameras but it looks to me like it's pointing at the dad and the two sons.  If it is, I wonder if the lower kid got his face up there and a smile on it before the timer snapped?

 

Whatever happened, I sure would love to have that picture! Smile, Wink & Grin

 

 

TF

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, May 28, 2020 3:32 AM

PHOTO FOUR

Same location. The distinctive town hall in the background may provide a clue?

Some of the same cast from the other scenes. What's the fellow doing on the penthouse. The FD2 is probably the best piece of playground equipment these kids have ever had.

 PRR_QueenMary by Edmund, on Flickr

1951 Ohio plates on the '49 Packard Deluxe. The "Queen Mary" flat car was built in April, 1952 but there certainly would be some overlap. I seem to recall Ohio plates were not issued in 1952 to conserve steel for the Korean War. A window sticker was issued instead. Note the effective "weathering" where the smoke jack passes through the "window".

Cheers, Ed

 

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Posted by FowlmereRR on Thursday, May 28, 2020 3:52 AM

In all these photos - Hats! Almost nobody wears hats these days, but old photos usually show a majority of folk, men and women, wearing hats - and kids too in these. Do your average Preiser figures have hats? Probably makes authentic period dress difficult to replicate for modellers.

Bob

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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, May 28, 2020 5:02 AM

dknelson
That was a different era of railfanning to be sure

Indeed.. As a teenager I been in locomotive service areas,in signal towers and a NYC roundhouse, spent time in a switch tender's shanty and a crossing guard shanty.

Was I trespassing? Nope.. It was by invitation. Railroaders was far more friendlier back then.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, May 28, 2020 7:17 AM

PC101

In photo #1, lower left corner, the boy walking away from the camara, hat, over coat with a dark collar and sneakers, arms kinda up in front of him, (hands together ?).

In photo #2, the boy closest to and walking towards the photographer, same dress and hands together.

Now where is that lady with the big suitcase?  

 

 Right in the middle, walking away from the camera, next to the receeding hairline guy with the camera bag on the ground who is looking back at the camera.

                                    --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Thursday, May 28, 2020 7:50 AM

Quite the heavy hauler indeed.  I've only seen one of those once before and remember describing it on Show Me Something a few months ago.  I have quite a few depressed center heavy weight flat cars but sure would like to find one like that.

What is that guy doing up on the roof by the boarded-up window.  I can't really tell if that double cylinder looking thing is something he set down on the edge or if that's some part of the building?  Closer look appears to be a roof vent like the others to the right.

I see the Smoke Jack, looks like a funny place for a wood-burning stove.  Maybe it's a condemned building and someone's living in there.

 

 

TF

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, May 28, 2020 8:10 AM

The town hall looks like a library or a Catholic school to me. 

Henry

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, May 28, 2020 11:59 AM

The photo was taken JUST as a kid is jumping off the coupler of the flat car (which is coupled to another heavy duty flatcar to the far right)

The building has mostly bricked or boarded up windows but an open dock with something in the interior so I am thinking - warehouse or freight house of some kind.  Glass windows to far right include venting with a stack.  Guy on the roof is maybe taking pictures too.  Maybe talking to someone inside?

When going to an event like this you'd want your wife along with two big purses - just in case a marker light or builder's plate happens to become, you know, loose or something.

Dave Nelson

 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, May 28, 2020 12:05 PM

Would that structure on teh roof be the top of an elevator, or just stair access to the roof?

Henry

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, May 28, 2020 2:51 PM

 

 

Lads-a-leapin'

The camera also caught this fellow (sans hat, the rebel!) in mid-leap:

Photo Three:

 PRR_display-leap2 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Photo Four:

 PRR_FD1_leap by Edmund, on Flickr

BigDaddy
Would that structure on teh roof be the top of an elevator, or just stair access to the roof?

Being that it is brick, so justifiably must run all the way to the ground floor I'd say your right about it being a freight elevator shaft. Roof stairway access could be a lighter-sided structure.

Track fiddler
I see the Smoke Jack, looks like a funny place for a wood-burning stove.  Maybe it's a condemned building and someone's living in there.

We're in coal-territory here. Coal stove, I'm sure. Probably the boss-man's office (windows still have glazing). Perhaps this is a remaining building of a larger complex and the steam heat boiler was torn down or otherwise removed.

If indeed it is Wellsville there were many pottery and brick producers along the Ohio River here as well as many steel fabricators.

 

BigDaddy
The town hall looks like a library or a Catholic school to me.

Youre absolutely correct. City Hall looked like this:

 Wellsville_PC-color-2 by Edmund, on Flickr

Now look at the "Parochial School" building. Center hall, stairway. Tall arched window. I believe this is the building.

 Wellsville_school by Edmund, on Flickr

 

 PRR_Wellsville-crop by Edmund, on Flickr

 Cheers, Ed

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, May 28, 2020 3:29 PM

Thanks to Ed's close-up of the kid jumping off the coupler, I just noticed the rather interesting handwheel for the brakes on the flatcar.  

And you have to love the poling pocket ... on such an enormous car. 

Dave Nelson 

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, May 28, 2020 4:00 PM

dknelson
I just noticed the rather interesting handwheel for the brakes on the flatcar.  

     — and in case anyone is not familiar with the "Queen Mary" those four trucks were salvaged from, IIRC, a pair of PRR 180P76 Coast-to-Coast tenders. The car now resides in the Railroader's Memorial Museum in Altoona.

Thanks, Ed

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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, May 28, 2020 5:06 PM

 Brake wheel looks like a Peacock. See article in MRH 11/2013.

I've seen that car in Altoona. Neat place to visit. Not the biggest museum but there are definitely some interesting things to see there. And of course it's not far from Horseshoe Curve.

                            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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