Grandpa on the UP

SteamDonkey74 Sep 19, 2012

  1. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    My Grandpa was a freight conductor. Until recently I had no idea we had any photos of him at work. These shots are from the 70s, most likely at Albina Yard.
     
  2. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I had thought he looked a little too clean in these shots, and my aunt confirms my suspicion that these were from his campaign literature when he ran for state representative. The work is real, but he wasn't on shift right at this point apparently.
     
  3. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I know this one is sort of tangential, but that is clearly a UP caboose in the background. The photo date says 1981 so he would have been retired at this point.
     
  4. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    My question now is what is this rail-car or speeder or track inspection thing here in this photo? Judging from the age of the girl (either my mom or her sister, can't tell from this distance) this would have been late 50s or early 60s. I think it's UP but maybe not, and if it isn't I will see if I can delete this post.
     
  5. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    This would have been around the time he was transitioning from "bumming around the country" during the Depression to going to work for the railroad. He was a bit more unruly then. The freight conductor he became would never suggest posing while standing in the middle of the tracks. He became much more cautious and safety-oriented.
     
  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    This isn't the UP M-100, which was a knife-nosed McKeen. I don't seem to be able to post the pic, so here's a link to it:

    http://digital.denverlibrary.org/ut...2&DMHEIGHT=414&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMROTATE=0

    Even so, I hope you don't pull the pic. You've got my curiosity up, and I want to try to find this thing...
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Please leave it.

    Seeing the other beyond it, I would guess a track inspection car or some type of geometry vehicle.
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    On board a Centennial/DDA40X. Sweet!
     
  9. taz

    taz TrainBoard Member

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    If I'm not mistaken, that photo is actually the California Western (Skunk Train) motorcar #M-100 and the photo appears to have been taken at Willits. If you look closely at the background, on the left just behind the rear end of the #M-100, you'll see another motorcar which appears to be CWR #M-80 (which was involved in a collision with #M-100 in 1964) but it's hard to tell for sure...

    Great photo!! As others here have said, even if it isn't UP, it should stay...

    Taz
     
  10. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    THANK YOU for that info, Taz. I was really stuck on this one. I have this and others in my TB Album "My Grandpa" and I had no idea what to say about this except that I could guess the date based on the size of my mom or aunt in the photo. I was so glad to get this CD of photos last week from my aunt. We're getting up close to the one year anniversary of his death and then in November what would have been his 98th birthday. He was one of my best friends and I miss him.
     
  11. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yup! I just picked up one of these on sale with the same exact number. Bachmann did a nice job on these overall, especially given the price point.
     
  12. paperkite

    paperkite TrainBoard Member

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    Pretty cool, those of us that had relatives that worked the rails, I bet, wish we had pics, I know I do , pure treasure indeed ! Thanks for sharing.
     
  13. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    I was about to say the same thing
     

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