May 28, 2009 (Thursday) Proto Photo topic

[3rdrail]

On April 20, 1957, I planted myself at the Virginia end of the Long Bridge and waited for some rail traffic. Here's what I saw.

First RF&P E8 1014 came off the bridge with a southbound passenger train:


Then a PRR local headed toward the bridge, powered by a single Baldwin BS10 switcher:


The other end of the local. An unusual 40 foot mechanical reefer and one of the ubiquitous N6b cabin cars that seemed to end every PRR local freight until the 1960's:


Next week? PRR FF2 No. 4, and the NC&StL.

[wm3798]

Ten years ago, Conrail as we knew it ceased to be...  Here's a few shots I took at the Curve shortly after the break up...
in the spring of 2000, but before too much black paint got splashed around.  In fact, most of the power hadn't even been re-numbered...






Lee

[Caleb Austin]

Just back from the UK, heres a couple more pics from the trip...


This guy seems to have the "Everything is totally lame" look down very well as a English Welsh and Scottish
freight creeps through Carlisle.


A very large yard just outside Chicago from the air.

[Guilford Guy]

I've been uploading videos from Folkston, from back in February when I was visiting relatives in the area.
This train had quite the consist. Spartan Cab GE, Wide Cab GE, SD40, SD60I, and GP38-2(may be 40-2, but it only appears to have 2 fans from this view)

/>And then a southbound coal.

[Bob Bufkin]

Potomac Yard about 15 years after the shots taken at Long Bridge:







Took those shots from a bridge abutment where the old W&OD used to cross over RT 1 in Alexandria, Va. 

Oh, and by the way, PC was still using those Baldwin switchers out of Benning Yard.

[pedro]

A very large yard just outside Chicago from the air.

That's Bensenville (MILW/SOO now CP)

[Caleb Austin]

That's Bensenville (MILW/SOO now CP)

Ah, thanks, I was wondering. I thinking it was of soo heritage since there seems to be a soo loco near the overpass, but you never know...

[davefoxx]

Love the RF&P shots, guys!  Thanks for sharing.

DFF

[Bob Bufkin]

Figured you like those Dave.  Here's one (quality not so good).  The only time I caught an RF&P F unit in a train.  Fixed the photo best I can.  Looks better now.

[wm3798]

Ahh.. The Run Fast and Push!

Lee

[The Donkey]

Here are some "grab" shots I got in October 1979 in my hometown here. The
quality is crappy of course (Kodak pocket cam) & I was 13.

Westbound CR crossing the curved bridge. Note the car kind of hiding under the bridge-
I never noticed this until scanning, & I think a few teens may have been sharing a
"Cheech & Chong" moment.  :


CR cab at the end of a westbound piggyback:


Chessie ACF:


Chessie Autorack-note the green CR (double door?) boxcar to the right. From what I
understand, there is only ONE Chessie lettered rack left, & it's supposedly stored at
Walbridge yard close to Toledo.


I always loved B&O boxcars:


B&M 40'-note to the right what appears to be an ex PRR X58:


I was really scraping the bottom of the barrel for these-I'm pretty sure all my old
stuff has been posted by this point. Looking back now, I really wish I took more
pics.

[Wlal13again]

Ahh.. The Run Fast and Push!

Lee

Rich Folks and Pedigree.....

[davefoxx]

Ahh.. The Run Fast and Push!

Rich Folks and Pedigree.....

I heard it was the "Rich Folks & Preachers," which coincided with the nickname of the narrow gauge Potomac, Fredericksburg & Piedmont Railroad (PF&P): "Poor Folks & Preachers."  Some of y'all might recognize another incarnation of this line, as it subsequently became the Virginia Central Railway at or around the time of the line being standard gauged in the early part of the 20th century.

Dave Foxx