Erie steam engine with Japanese style drivers.

[sizemore]

Great photos (minus the one with the Camry).

T

[Chris333]

I'm not entirely certain why, but I find myself staring at this photograph for long periods of time. There is some kind of classic timelessness about it, perhaps because it's a summarization of the transition period in a single image. I love big, brutish steamers with feedwater heaters over their brow, and the E/F cab design has never been bettered. It's compositionally great, creating a wonderful visual metaphor with the steamer in the lead but the diesels coming up from behind.

The diesels are ABA F3 sets first bought for passenger service in 1947, so they are only a year old. Soon the E8's would come and the ABA set would get another B for freight service. The K5 would be gone in 2 years. Erie got rid of their steam quick once the diesels were up and running. The F-units are pulling a through train to Chicago while the K is on its way to Cleveland. (Probably just left the P&LE from Pittsburgh) From here they will pass the Brier Hill yard, then through Girard, Niles, and Warren. (about 1/2 of Erie's Pacific's were scrapped in Warren) On the west side of Warren is Leavittsburg where the 2 mainlines joined and separated again. One line headed up to Cleveland and one headed to Chicago. There was a freight line (the original A&GW) that by-passed Youngstown altogether, but I guess most PAX trains would stop thru town.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ProtoPhotos/photo#5198548924620977218
http://www.railsandtrails.com/Maps/P&LE-1960/P&LE1960MapYoungBuf-150.jpg