Thursday Proto Photo, Jul 1/10 - Happy Canada Day

[Lenny53]

Boat train at Matane, Quebec

[Bob Bufkin]

Reading Lurgan Line, Lees Crossroads, PA.  Rutherford bound early morning freight around 1975.

[davefoxx]

Sorry for the poor quality, but these shots are from a camera phone.  First up is this eastbound CSX single-stack container and TOFC train on the Philly Subdivision in Newark, Delaware on Sunday, June 27, 2010 with ES44DC #5358 on the point.  I was actually out on my bike when I heard the locomotive blow for the road crossing nearby.  I had just enough time to get to the sidewalk and pull my cell phone out:


This is Wilmington & Western 0-6-0 #58 preparing to haul another load of tourists.  This shot was taken earlier this spring and I forgot I had taken this picture.  Now, I live practically around the corner from the W&W, so, hopefully, I can find the time to take a ride.  I'm hopeful that I can convert my wife and/or five-year-old step-son into railfans.


Enjoy,
Dave Foxx

EDIT: Whoa!  Out of curiosity, I looked up the history of this steam switcher.  According to the Wilmington & Western's website, No. 58 is over 100 years old, originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia in October 1907 for the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad!

[wm3798]

Has the W&W repaired all the flood damage from a few years ago?  I seem to recall they took quite a hit.

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think they have Lee, and Dave, if you find yourself with some free time, I'd strongly recommend looking into volunteering there.

They're a great bunch of guys and I know I learned a LOT from my few times there (like the TRUE value of a tie inserter in August).

[davefoxx]

Lee, to the best of my knowledge all of the damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 AND Tropical Storm Henri in 2003 was repaired.

Ed, great idea!  Since I work five-to-six days a week that might be tough to do on a regular basis, but that would be really exciting to be a part of keeping the operation running, not to mention access to behind the scenes.

Dave

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Absolutely Dave.

For example, how many people can say they've been inside the smokebox of a 100+ year old steam locomotive, removing bolts that probably haven't turned since it was built? And now, whenever I see 98 (their 4-4-0), I feel a connection.

[asciibaron]

Absolutely Dave.

For example, how many people can say they've been inside the smokebox of a 100+ year old steam locomotive, removing bolts that probably haven't turned since it was built? And now, whenever I see 98 (their 4-4-0), I feel a connection.

so you are the one that hit it with teh Conrail stencil  ;D

[asciibaron]

this should make Ed all weepy



bigger here http://asciibaron.dyndns.org/images/NS_38Q_Mondell.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

so you are the one that hit it with teh Conrail stencil  ;D

But it's on the INSIDE! Where nobody was ever supposed to see it... lol

And yeah, 38Q, that's a catch. Shoot those fightin fifties while you can, they're rebuild fodder these days.

[wcfn100]

Steam is back this year on the Georgetown Loop.

Jason

[Chris333]

No proto, but after seeing Dave's post I had to look up the Wilmington and Western. Then I saw their 4-4-0 and my A.D.D. kicked in thinking it looked like a Model Power shell. So I spent the night filing away the shell for a clean slate:

I'll make it close to the W&W loco, but I hate that Mississippi Central tender 

[davefoxx]

You never cease to amaze me, Chris, and I'm happy to have been the cause of the inspiration to build a 4-4-0.  Please keep us posted on this cool project!

Dave Foxx