My thought in starting this thread is two-fold. One, this is a salute to all the men and women who are out there every day making it all happen. Secondly, I have seen model railroad layouts that lack life because people are not included. I hope this thread also gives some good ideas for depicting people on our layouts. So, here is the kick-off picture for this thread.This is Danbury Railway Museum volunteer Bill Britt painting a bumper built by the Hayes Company. [ 11. January 2004, 14:28: Message edited by: Peirce ]
I agree Peirce....we all need people. Here are a few photos from my collection. Trackworkers keeping the Swiss railways running like clockwork....in all weathers. The long arm of the law !! The old style signalman. Best wishes, John.
Good idea for a topic, Pierce Excellent and varied photographs John. Will have a look through mine and see what I can find>
Thanks, Alan. This is also a challenge to myself to go out and shoot more pictures including railroad people. John, excellent pictures.
Here's the mail pick up going westbound at Patchogue, NY LIRR circa mid-1950's. Interesting details and anyone venture a guess on the year based on the cars in the commuter parking lot? I'll submit 1954 to start it off! <img src=http://www.nyandw.com/images/mailatpatlirr.jpg> Best, Steve Lynch http://www.nyandw.com/lirrcontents.htm www.NYandW.com
There are a couple of 1955 Chevy's in the photo. The white one in the foreground and a two-tone one across the street.
That's not a mail pickup in the LIRR photo, it looks like it's the Conductor picking up train orders!
Thanks Pierce, I'm one of those people out there. John, the photo of the Swiss trackworkers - have they skis? Love the signalbox shot. The way it used to be... Gary. Signal Maintenance in 1:1
Gary, The shot of the steam special passing the Midland Railway signal-box was taken in 1983 but I'm pretty certain that it still exists although I imagine the old signalman has probably retired by now I might be wrong but I can't see Railtrack paying out for a re-signalling project on such a lightly used line. I think the Swiss trackworkers would welcome a little of your Aussie weather at times Take care, John.
There are still a lot of manual switches out in the world, and there always will be. So, people are needed to operate them, as shown here. [ 11. January 2004, 14:30: Message edited by: Peirce ]
Good picture, Pierce I had a look through one of my albums today, but not one photo included people I cannot think why I have omitted this very important element! I know I have some so will look them out. One thing is sure, from now on, I will make a point of including railroad personnel when photographing trains
I have to admit I shot this picture after I started this thread. In a way, I put out the challenge to myself as much as to others. I will have other pix coming, but I want to see what the rest of you can do with this theme.
Here are a couple of photos of one of the regular drivers (engineers) on the Nene Valley Railway, a preserved line near to where I live. The locomotive is a Nohab built 2-6-0.
Have we run out of "people pics"? The Severn Valley Railroad. A preserved line which has a boiler shop, and does boiler work for its own locomotives, and locomotives from other owners. Here is a guy tapping holes for staybolts in a firebox. He looks quite a character, and certainly has a LOT of holes to tap!
Alan, when you are assigned the job of tapping stay-bolt holes, or climbing inside and bucking rivets from inside the boiler, or chipping rust on the outside, time eventually passes, because it all pays the same. The thrill of working for the railroad fades rather quickly when you are the new hire and all new hires get the privaledge of being "dust man" shoveling soot out of the smoke box while someone else operated an air hammer on the outside. You come out the first days with your eyeballs looking like lemonds on a "One Arm Bandit" (Slot Machine)! It is like standing in a huge bell and haveing a jack-hammer pounding on the outside! I am hard of hearing now from that. [ 19. December 2002, 15:50: Message edited by: watash ]
Guess who's been sorting through those old shoe boxes ? I took this shot about 40 years ago with my trusty old "Kodak Brownie" It shows a gang of rail workers changing the face of my local station for ever. The guys with the crane are removing the crossover turnouts linking the up and down mainlines whilst the ones in the foreground are disconnecting the turnout rodding. Shortly afterwards the sidings and signals were removed and the signalbox was demolished. All that remains today are the two mainlines and the high level footbridge. This bridge is known locally as the "Rickety Bridge" and has a sleeper (ties) decking through which the exhaust from the steam locos used to blast. Many a young lady was caught unawares by the blast from a heavy freight Ahhh !! Happy days. John.
Here is a driver 'oiling round' a saddle tank locomotive at the Cottesmore industrial railway. This preserved line only operates small locomotives previously owned and operated in private industries, like coal mines, iron ore workings, etc.
Great photo Alan of a tedious but essential job. I think us Brits have really taken to this thread as I have just found another suitable photo taken at Derby in 1982. The London bound train (45102)has just had a crew change and the drivers are either discussing the state of the loco or the previous Saturdays football match Note the railfans at the end of the platform.
