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(erielack) Re-No Photos Anymore?
- Subject: (erielack) Re-No Photos Anymore?
- From: RJFlei_@_aol.com
- Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:20:10 EDT
List,
I haven't taken any photos of the big RR's for probably 25 years. I find
the choice of CSX and NS quite boring. Today's RR management also seems to be
hostile to railfans. The locos are pretty generic, too.
On the other hand, shortlines offer some variety in motive power and
color. They seem to be much more friendly. You can ask a question and not feel
"under the gun".
Ahh, the old days. Used to be so nice in the "good old days" of
railfanning. The days of Erie Lackawanna, B&O, NYC, PRR, Youngstown Northern,
Youngstown Southern, P&LE, B&LE, Akron & Barberton Belt, AC&Y, and N&W (NKP and W&LE).
All this was in easy driving distance from my home.
Locally there was EL, PC (NYC & PRR), P&LE, B&LE, YN, and YS.
ON EL I could go to Leavittsburg, Warren, Deforest,Youngstown, Latimer,
LIsbon, Akron, Shenango, Newcastle, Sharon, and Meadville to take pictures.
On the PC (NYC) it was Younstown, Latimer, Ashtabula, Stoneboro, Carson,
Andover, and Dorset.
On the PC (PRR) was Warren, Niles, Girard, Youngstown, Struthers,
Lordstown, and Ashtabula.
On the B&O was Warren, Youngstown, Newcastle, Newton Falls, Painesville,
and Fairport Harbor.
You see, in the "good old days" of railfanning there was a lot of variety
and locations to visit. Often you'd see interesting old equipment sitting in
yards. I remember going to the B&O yard at Deforest on day and seeing an old
Whitcomb locomotive. Took pictures of that one, for sure. I could go to the
yardmaster at DeForest and ask permission to take pictures. He'd say OK, just be
careful. I'd also let him know when I left so that he knew I still wasn't out
in the yard somewhere.
On the PC in Niles one time there was a US Army engine in the yard with
wheels connected by siderods.
Before we had scanners, you could go to a tower and ask the operator if
anything was close and that would be OK. Of course, there are no more towers. I
could have had a job on PC as an operator. Whew, I'm glad I didn't do that!
So that's the way it was when railroading was still interesting and not
generic. Those were also the days when you could see EL piggyback trains
paralleling Ohio SR 5 at 55 mph. between Warren and Cortland.
Rick Fleischer
ELHS 1426
Cortland, Oh.
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