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(erielack) Ballast edge

>From Archives_@_Railfan.net
>Message-ID: <000c01c6d0d8$648551d0$7a01a8c0_@_paul>
>Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 06:45:23 -0400
>From: "Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>
>Subject: (erielack) Erie Centennial Train 

>Does anyone know the location of the train? Presumably somewhere along the four 
>track main between Ridgewood and Suffern. The photo has been retouched: the too-perfect
>knife edge on the ballast looks like it has been created with a shading technique,
>and the lines in the ballast to the left indicate a spur may have been removed.

>Paul B

>From: "rdukarm" <rdukarm_@_adelphia.net>
>Subject: (erielack) Erie Centennial Train 








>NOTE: This message had contained at least one image attachment.
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>http://lists.elhts.org/listthumb.cgi?erielack-09-04-06

Erie_Centennial_Train_JL_1951.jpg (image/jpeg, 2848x3284 1022252 bytes, BF: 9.15
>ppb)

>List,

>Here is a fairly well publicized John Long photo of the
>
>Centennial Train which I had handy.


Paul and List:


I think that sharp ballast line is not retouched and heres why. My grandfather worked for the Erie from 1912 - 1959 and was section foreman at Lima, Ohio. Like a lot of old time railroaders he took a lot of pride in his work.  He told me they used a long piece of string as a guide to make a perfect straight edge on the ballast. Keep in mind during most of his career the M of W Dept. did a lot of work by hand as the modern track machinery of today did not exist . 

I realize that knife edge ballast line looks too perfect so it is understandable why some would think the photo was retouched. Here is a photo my grandfather took during the 1920s at MP 59 which is about 7 miles west of Lima, Ohio. This photo is the original yellowing fading print that is unaltered and has never been near a computer until today! Show this to the guys in your local M of W dept. and tell them the ballast edge was lined up with a string - they won't believe it but it should be good for a few laughs.


PA




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