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4/24/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Rick Erben
Dates:1/1/1960 - 12/31/1989
Album Info:Railroad scenes from a different era
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Reading Schuylkill Menu
Title:  Reading Schuylkill Menu
Description:  3% sales tax! Making me hungry right now!
Photo Date:  1/1/1962  Upload Date: 2/5/2012 2:41:57 AM
Location:  Philadelphia, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  288   Comments: 0
Broad "Tower"
Title:  Broad "Tower"
Description:  Not a tower in the usual sense, and more accurately a "block and interlocking station" in Pennsy parlance, Broad controlled suburban movements from Suburban Station, Philadelphia through 30th Street Station-Upper Level and the east end of the Powelton Ave. coach yards. The 130 lever-frame US&S Model 14 interlocking machine was operated by two leverman. Seated behind the desk, front to back, are the Asst. Train Director, Train Director, Operator and, apparently, two yardmasters (one may have been breaking in). Broad was located beneath city streets in Suburban Station and ran a lot of trains through the day - being quite the beehive during rush hours. Date is approximate.
Photo Date:  1/2/1962  Upload Date: 2/4/2012 1:16:30 AM
Location:  Philadelphia, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  606   Comments: 1
B&O Eastside Yardmaster
Title:  B&O Eastside Yardmaster
Description:  Back in the day when visiting railroad facilities was more welcomed than taboo, my Saturday routine was to visit PRR employees during first trick and then I would walk down the B&O to Eastside in South Philly where there were a number of friendly gentlemen who allowed me to absorb the operations. Here is yardmaster A.D. Kane pondering his yard. To his left is the back of the CTC machine that controlled B&O territory in the area. Around dusk there was a good chance I could hitch a ride back toward 30th St. Station on a B&O drag headed for Belmont yard. The good old days, for sure.
Photo Date:  1/27/1962  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 2:55:30 PM
Location:  Philadelphia, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Yard,Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  437   Comments: 2
Lining em up at "AR"
Title:  Lining em up at "AR"
Description:  The operator at "AR" Gallitzin intently watches for a move to clear with hands ready to slap crossovers and turnouts for another train. All you had to do was refrain from talking too much when they were busy and most ops were pleased to have visitors. I was fourteen at the time, with my Brownie camera. My notes indicate that in the span of some 30 minutes the following movements were on the board: Eastward - five sets of helpers, lite engines for CA-10 with a dead unit; AN-16; a Hollidaysburg Shop Extra for the H&P Secondary; Coal Extra; No.32; Westward - TH-1 followed by TH-3; GWC-1, JET-1, an Ore Extra, BC-5, HW-3 and a Hopper Extra.
Photo Date:  5/19/1962  Upload Date: 2/5/2012 2:14:13 AM
Location:  Gallitzin, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  374   Comments: 3
Snapping the First Class
Title:  Snapping the First Class
Description:  No.25 - The Duquesne - with a pair of U25C helpers and three E units with 22 cars and healthy head-end traffic is coming out of Scotch Run Curve at MP 241 on this first day of September, 1966 at a time when renumbering of locomotives had begun for the pending Penn-Central merger. PRR helpers on the point were referred to as "snappers". Note the lead E unit still has its trainphone antennas.
Photo Date:  9/1/1966  Upload Date: 10/11/2012 12:47:54 PM
Location:  ALTOONA (HORSESHOE CURVE), PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  PRR 6514(U25C) PRR 6516(U25C) PRR 4206(E7A) PRR 4117B(E7B) PRR 4276(E8A)
Views:  2689   Comments: 2
PRR 2317
Title:  PRR 2317
Description:  PRR 2317 and what appears to be one of the early U-25Bs highballing out No.4 track at Granville, PA in the fall of 66.
Photo Date:  10/23/1966  Upload Date: 2/4/2012 2:17:47 AM
Location:  Granville, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  PRR 2317(GP35)
Views:  8324   Comments: 4
Pennsys last November
Title:  Pennsys last November
Description:  Symbol freight MD-16 (Edge Moor-Greenville) with an unusual number of GG-1s starts onto the High Line passing Arsenal Block and Interlocking Station on a rather dismal morning. This was your view from the east window of the block station, with the passenger tracks on the other side of the tower. An excellent place to see a lot of traffic pass by and make a wage simultaneously.
Photo Date:  11/21/1967  Upload Date: 7/18/2012 1:16:35 AM
Location:  Philadelphia, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  PRR 4827(GG1)
Views:  1045   Comments: 4
West Coast Clipper
Title:  West Coast Clipper
Description:  Harsimus Cove to Conway symbol freight NWC-1 - the "West Coast Clipper" (Chicago connections from Conway) passed McVeytown, PA on a rainy morning in May of 1968 - Penn-Central being 3 months old at the time.
Photo Date:  5/12/1968  Upload Date: 10/11/2012 1:16:11 PM
Location:  McVeytown, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  PRR 4366(FP7A) PRR 3546B(F7B) PRR 1477(F7A) PRR 2404(RS27)
Views:  2814   Comments: 1
The idyllic Middle Division
Title:  The idyllic Middle Division
Description:  Symbol freight PMC-3 follows the placid waters of the Juniata River as it rounds the bend at old Tuscarora Station near MP 148 with 78 cars. Check those Katy gons on the point.
Photo Date:  8/12/1968  Upload Date: 10/11/2012 1:25:25 PM
Location:  Tuscarora, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  PRR 6076(SD40) PRR 6057(SD40)
Views:  1698   Comments: 2
Picking up an "OS"
Title:  Picking up an "OS"
Description:  Well, this is nostalgic. Here I am in March of 1971 seated at the US&S CTC machine at a time when I held one of the best jobs imagineable - second trick at Thorn Block Station, 35 miles west of Philly. It appears that I am writing down an "OS" for a train passing Dale or Glen interlocking on the Station Record of Train Movements. My senority dated to PRR and regardless of the merged PC the atmosphere was all Pennsy from the 11KV trolley wires outside the window to the electro-pneumatic switch machines and position light signals. It appears there are several Form 19 train orders in effect - perhaps some are slow orders that had begun to increase at a troubling rate, although this was generally fast railroad. Photo by Ed Weller.
Photo Date:  3/1/1971  Upload Date: 10/11/2012 2:10:43 PM
Location:  Thorndale, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Night,Signal,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  498   Comments: 4
Morning freight
Title:  Morning freight
Description:  DRGW No.187, the morning connection off the BN at Denver, is now winding upgrade along South Boulder Creek near Tunnel No.29. At the time this was along my route home from work on the Grande in Denver.
Photo Date:  8/1/1976  Upload Date: 7/18/2012 12:29:27 AM
Location:  Pinecliffe, CO
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  322   Comments: 2
Early Conrail
Title:  Early Conrail
Description:  CR 6269 leads a westbound around the curve from Marysville as it passes Banks Block and Interlocking Station. Penn Centrals legacy of trackwork is still evident at this time. Conrail was anything but home free at this point, but there was sure a lot of diversity.
Photo Date:  4/15/1978  Upload Date: 7/18/2012 12:22:03 AM
Location:  Marysville, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  CR 6269(SD40)
Views:  440   Comments: 0
Climbing out of Dalys Hole
Title:  Climbing out of Dalys Hole
Description:  We are in the cab of Amtrak No.6 and I am taking a road trip prior to qualifying as train dispatcher in Cheyenne. East of Riner, we meet UP 3488 roaring up the grade out of Dalys Hole, west of Hadsell.
Photo Date:  6/30/1978  Upload Date: 2/5/2012 2:29:44 AM
Location:  Hadsell, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  InCab,Action
Locomotives:  UP 3488(SD40-2)
Views:  333   Comments: 0
West Green River Dispatcher
Title:  West Green River Dispatcher
Description:  Dispatcher George Hunter contemplates the railroad between Green River and Granger, WY with fountain pen at the ready for OSs. The smaller panel on the left controlled Strawberry to Ogden. The 4th Sub of the Wyoming Division had some 46 miles of CTC and 126 miles of ABS double-track territory. One of the speakers was for the radio and operators; the other for the Curvo annunciator - an open mike near Wahsatch where eastbounds would roar past, thus giving the DS an idea where his train(s) were between Echo and Altamont.
Photo Date:  7/1/1978  Upload Date: 2/5/2012 2:21:59 AM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Station
Locomotives: 
Views:  409   Comments: 4
3985 reborn
Title:  3985 reborn
Description:  UP Challenger 3985 was on static display at Cheyenne, WY for many years. Then some employees got the notion it might run again. Here, in September of 1979, a burro crane has laid panels to the Challenger, the fence has been removed and geep 327 shepherds the locomotive, with prodigious oiling of valve and driving gear, west to Tower "A" for a reverse move back towards the roundhouse where the capable steam crew will embark upon the process of readying the sleek beauty for many years of excursion service.
Photo Date:  9/10/1979  Upload Date: 2/5/2012 2:36:11 AM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Steam,Action
Locomotives:  UP 327(GP9) UP 3985(4-6-6-4)
Views:  3249   Comments: 3
UP 6918 in full stride
Title:  UP 6918 in full stride
Description:  Exhibiting what was more or less standard hotshot power at the time, a pair of Centennials sandwich a "fast forty" high geared SD-40-2 heading west on No.2 track between Cheyenne and Wycon, WY.
Photo Date:  12/1/1979  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 3:27:37 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  UP 6918(DDA40X)
Views:  880   Comments: 1
UP 6926 leaving Cheyenne
Title:  UP 6926 leaving Cheyenne
Description:  The westbound van fleet hit Cheyenne in mid-afternoon and here DD-40AX 6926 is in charge of what is likely the OMN (Overland Mail Northwest) as it heads into the grade across Sherman Hill.
Photo Date:  12/1/1979  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 3:18:26 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 6926(DDA40X)
Views:  396   Comments: 2
Auto Railroad Overland
Title:  Auto Railroad Overland
Description:  Once the mail and van trains passed, the westbound afternoon fleet also included the ARRO, a consist of auto parts and set-up autos for GM in Warm Springs, CA. The train ran as Rock Island No.57 from Chicago to Council Bluffs and as SP symbol UPWSA from Ogden, with connections off CR, GTW, C&O and B&O at Chicago. On its heels would be the California Livestock. Here the ARRO is arriving at Cheyenne after a quick trip from North Platte.
Photo Date:  12/1/1979  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 4:08:22 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 8079(SD40-2)
Views:  649   Comments: 0
Christmas Day 1979
Title:  Christmas Day 1979
Description:  UP 6925 has a westbound hotshot rolling through Borie, WY where the grade over Sherman Hill stiffens appreciably. I decided not to crop out my 1978 Pontiac Grand-Am parked nearby. Christmas notwithstanding, the railroad is running trains and I would likely be going to work later that night.
Photo Date:  12/25/1979  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 3:35:46 PM
Location:  Borie, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 6925(DDA40X)
Views:  859   Comments: 0
Westbound on P-3
Title:  Westbound on P-3
Description:  The four mainlines through Cheyenne were generally full most all of the time, and at this time we were putting some ninety trains a day through town on the busier days of the week. Yet another manifest is getting ready to head over Sherman Hill.
Photo Date:  1/31/1980  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 4:11:06 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 3381(SD40-2)
Views:  349   Comments: 0
Recrew on P-2.
Title:  Recrew on P-2.
Description:  Centennials generally showed up on general manifest in an eastward direction as power was excessed back toward North Platte, however, one would occasionally be consisted in a westbound freight as is the case on this outfit recrewing at Cheyenne.
Photo Date:  2/1/1980  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 3:59:23 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  UP 6914(DDA40X)
Views:  551   Comments: 0
The California Livestock
Title:  The California Livestock
Description:  Hot on the heels of the westbound van trains came the CLS with its head end block of hogs - business which lasted until the mid-nineties. The train would be stopping out west of Rawlins to pick up additional hog traffic that came up off the Greeley Sub and was set-out online for the CLS later in the evening. There are a couple fast forties augmenting the imposing DD-40AX and the train will really roll across the high plains.
Photo Date:  2/1/1980  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 3:55:39 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 6927(DDA40X)
Views:  718   Comments: 1
Anomaly at Borie
Title:  Anomaly at Borie
Description:  It is unusual to see a westbound general manifest using the steeper alignment over Sherman Hill via Borie. Most of them use No.3 track via Speer and Harriman with its 0.8% gradient. Every once in awhile ,however, a westbound will have ample power (>2hp/t) and a light enough consist to use the steeper but shorter route over the top at Sherman, as is the case with this fellow at Borie amidst the typically bleak landscape of wintertime.
Photo Date:  3/1/1980  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 4:16:15 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 2449(C30-7)
Views:  330   Comments: 1
UP 8044 West
Title:  UP 8044 West
Description:  The grade begins right in town and here a westbound van outfit with a snoot fast forty accelerates into Sherman Hill and a fast trip to Rawlins.
Photo Date:  5/1/1980  Upload Date: 2/10/2013 4:13:30 PM
Location:  Cheyenne, WY
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  UP 8044(SD40-2)
Views:  584   Comments: 0


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