Collecting Cabooses

Thanks to Scott Woods, president of the Greenville Railroad Park: "Those cars were acquired about 40 years ago when the Park started. There's no one left from those days. When I joined 17 years ago, I went thru the records we had to come up with signs to put on our rolling stock." This is what he wrote and posted on the signs in front of the cabooses. "1 of 60 built in 1948 by Wheeling & Lake Erie at their Toledo Ironville shops Steel framed caboose is 34'- 3" long & weighs 22,700 lbs Became Nickel Plate #705 in 1949 Became Norfolk & Western #557705 in 1964 Caboose was donated in 1989 by Norfolk Southern to Richard Rowlands, Hubbard Ohio Donated to the Park by Rowlands, repainted by Trinity Industries, and placed here in 1992" AND "Built in 1959 by the Union Pacific at their Omaha shops Was used all over the UP system Special trucks make this a high speed caboose for priority freight trains Donated by the UP, repainted by Trinity Industries, and placed here in 1992"

The post card was published by Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialities in 1997.

What do you mean by "Dashing Commuter"?

The locomotive pictured on the front of this post card is an ALCO model C420 built in 1968. It is pictured in a fresh paint job with the colours of the Long Island Railroad. This view is at Oyster Bay Yard in February of 1976.

Some would say that this paint scheme makes the engine look “dashing”, which would fit nicely with the slogan of the railroad: “Route of the Dashing Commuter.” I am sure that this is what they meant by the slogan, not the commuter dashing to catch the train because he or she is late!! The details about the ALCO C420 locomotive are gleaned from this website. I recommend that you go to this website for any railroad-related questions: https://www.american-rails.com/420.html American Locomotive's first new Century models was the C420. It was a four-axle design that offered sufficient horsepower. The C420 was meant to be a less powerful version of the C424, which was being produced at the same time. As John Kirkland points out in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Two," it was essentially an extension of the earlier RS32. On a broader perspective, the C420 did prove one of Alco's more successful in the Century line and could be found on numerous railroads. The Alco C420 used the builder's new 261C prime mover that was much more reliable over its earlier designs. The model began production in June of 1963. As the designation suggests, which was a completely new system unveiled by Alco, the "C" stood for Century, "4" regarded the number of axles, and "20" referred to the horsepower), the C420 could produce 2,000 horsepower and fuel efficiency. They found buyers among several Class I railroads.

The post card was published by that elusive publisher, Railcards.com

Let's Go to France!

The pictures on the front of these two postcards do not feature trains and locomotives; but they do feature a set of rails that have been abandoned by a railway company. The rails have been revived by the “Velorail de Point-Erambourg” company. The company does not operate locomotives; it operates (or rather, the tourists operate) velorails – a pedal-powered sidecar that can fit up to four people.

This operation is headquartered in the old train station and the grounds include some static displays of locomotives and train cars. My wife and I visited this location while we were on vacation in France several years ago. We did not ride the velorails. This is the official website of the tourist attraction. https://www.rails-collinesnormandes.fr/ It tells us that, “During your outings with family or friends, come and ride on the rails of the Suisse Normande! Go to Pont-Erambourg, 2 km from Condé-sur-Noireau, and discover the picturesque Noireau valley (to the Gouttes tunnel, in the municipality of Pont-d'Ouilly) by railbike for a 13 km round trip, lasting 1 hour 45 minutes.”

The post cards are sold to tourists like us in order to support the enterprise. The top left-had corner says that the Velorail of Pont-Erambourg, in Swiss Normandy is open from Easter to All Saints’ Day on weekends and public holidays except in July and August, it is open every day. The publisher information is written sideways; it says: Friendly for the development of the railway Caen-Flers Railway Station of Pont-Erambourg Then it shows us the Address and contact Phone number

Dependable Lifting

The picture on the front of this post card shows the Soo Line’s steam crane Number W2 hard at work picking up a derailment at the Soo Line’s Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Yard. The derailment was in front of the Soo Line’s yard office. The photo was taken on February 16, 1958. “What is a steam crane?” you ask. Our friends at Wikipedia tells us that in the early days of the railways, locomotives and rolling stock were small enough to be re-railed manually using jacks and tackle, but as they became bigger and heavier this method became inadequate. Enter into this situation the steam crane and cable winch. Appearing around 1890, the cranes (the proper rail terminology is “Derrick”) increased in size, commensurate with the rise of steel Pullman cars, so by 1910 steam cranes reached their peak of development (on the railroad). Many of these 1910-era cranes were so useful and powerful, that they remained in service until the 1980s. The combination of a quick-firing steam boiler, heavy steam winch, and cable hook could little be improved upon, and thus remained in service. Also, steam engines did not mind being parked for months, with a little care, and were ready to go to work when needed.

This post card was published by Mary Jayne’s Railroad Specialties, Inc. The photograph was taken by A. Robert Johnson. The code in the stamp square tells us that it was copyrighted in 1985.

A Round House on a Rectangular Card

The picture on the front of this post card is an aerial view of Steamtown National Historic Site's roundhouse and yard. Our friends at Wikipedia tell us that the Historic Site is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located on 62.48 acres in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W). The museum is built around a working turntable and a 1902 roundhouse that are largely replications of the original DL&W facilities; the roundhouse, for example, was reconstructed from remnants of a 1932 structure. The visitor center, theater, technology and history museums are built in the style of and on the site of the missing portions of the original roundhouse, giving an impression of what the original circular structure was like. This website below is a good way to find out why some thing or some place was designated to be historical. This website shows us historical markers across the United States and tells us what is written on the markers. Regarding Steamtown the website tells us the information below: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=19833 "The roundhouse was and is the heart of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) yards. Here, mechanics perform daily maintenance on steam locomotives - routine inspections, light repairs, and boiler washes. Hissing steam, pounding hammers, and the drone of engines provide a constant backdrop for the mechanics' work. During the 1940s and 50s, the diesel electric locomotive, with its different maintenance requirements, rendered the roundhouse obsolete. The DL&W removed two-thirds of its Scranton roundhouse in the 1950s. You are about to enter the largest of the three remaining DL&W roundhouse sections. The National Park Service has carefully restored the remains of the DL&W's 1902/1937 roundhouse to working condition. Once again, it is used to house and service steam locomotives."

The post card was published by Steamtown National Historic Site, based on a photograph by Calin Photography. It was printed by Dynacolor Graphics, Inc. There is a bar code where the stamp is to be placed, so this post card was printed after 1974.

It Certainly doesn't look like a Goose!!

The picture on the front of this post card is of what is fondly known as a “Galloping Goose”.

This one was built May 4, 1932, by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad using a Pierce Arrow. Later the body was rebuilt by the Wayne Bus Company and the engine was rebuilt by GMC. It once was used to carry freight, mail, and passengers. Number 4, seen here, was finally converted for the Tourist and Rail Fan. Unfortunately, it is no longer operational. This website gives some detailed history of the entire “Galloping Goose” line of rail cars: http://drgw.free.fr/RGS/Goose/Goose_en.htm I have taken some of those details and added them here. The Galloping Goose (the plural should be 'Geese'), or Motors as they were officially called by the railroad, were for sure among the most original railroad vehicles ever built. They largely contributed to the fame of the Rio Grande Southern and were its most prominent symbol from the thirties until its closure in 1951. These engines, built during the thirties, resulted from the absolute necessity for the Rio Grande Southern, then on the verge of bankruptcy, to cut its operating costs. They were meant to replace conventional steam trains becoming too expensive to operate. They were a kind of hybrid between a car or a bus riding on railroad tracks and a truck. They constituted single-car mixed trains, cheap to operate and able to carry a small amount of freight, mail and express, and the few remaining passengers travelling between Durango and Ridgway. The Galloping Geese were built by the Rio Grande Southern shops in Ridgway, with very little means and a lot of ingenuity, from whatever material was available, spare car parts and other used parts. There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of the weird unofficial nickname (Galloping Goose) of the Motors. One of them claims that the name came from the waddling of the Geese on the uneven Rio Grande Southern track, another attributed the nickname to the goose-like honk of the horn of the Motors, very different from the usual whistle of steam engines. All the Geese have survived until now, except one (of which a replica has been built). Among the survivors, all but one are operational and are used occasionally on the loop track of the Colorado Railroad Museum, on the Cumbres & Toltec or on the Durango & Silverton. Goose #1 Two different Motors of the Rio Grande Southern bore the number 1. The first Motor #1, built in 1913, was an inspection speeder derived from a Model T Ford and may be considered as the ancestor of the Geese. The second Goose #1 was built in 1931 following an idea of the Rio Grande Southern superintendent and its chief mechanic officer in Ridgway. It may be considered as the first true Goose and the prototype of the whole series. She was based on a Buick Master Six sedan, converted to rail operation and fitted with an open platform on the rear to carry and express. She was equipped with a front truck and a single rear powered axle. She is the smallest and the lightest of the Geese built by the Rio Grande Southern. The design of the Motor was an immediate success and Goose #1 soon replaced the passenger steam train between Dolores and Durango. She was scrapped in 1933. A replica was built in 2000 and is today displayed at the Ridgway Railroad Museum in Ridgway. The success of Goose #1 and the cuts in operating expenses it allowed soon prompted the Rio Grande Southern to considered building more Geese based on the same principle. Goose #2 was born in 1931. She is based on the same type of Buick sedan as #1 but runs on two trucks (the rear one is powered) and is twice as heavy as #1. She has space for four passengers and her freight compartment is completely enclosed and bigger than #1's. The livery of Goose #2 was originally of the same black as the Buick sedan she was derived from. All the Geese were repainted silver in 1935 and had kept this colour since then. In 1939, Goose #2 was rebuilt with a 1926 Pierce-Arrow car body and was equipped with a new and more powerful Buick engine. At that time, Goose #2 didn't see much use because newer Geese were put into service, so #2 was most of the time on stand-by duty. Today, #2 is preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum and is operational. Goose #3 was also built in 1931, following #1 and 2. She is 50% heavier than #2 and is longer too. She was the first Goose running on three trucks (the middle one being powered) and to be articulated. She was mostly made of 1926 Pierce-Arrow parts for the body of the passenger section and for the engine. She has a capacity of ten passengers and is rated 39hp. The rear freight and mail section is almost the size of a boxcar and is supported by two trucks. Geese #4, 5 and 7 were built following the same principle (Pierce-Arrow parts and an articulated frame on three trucks). At the Rio Grande Southern closure, Goose #3 was sold to an amusement park in California (Knotts Berry Farm), where she runs occasionally. Goose #4, the Goose on the front of this post card: Number 3 was so successful that the Rio Grande Southern started to build another Goose (#4) the following year (1932). She is almost the same as Goose #3 (Pierce-Arrow parts and an articulated frame on three trucks). She is the only non-operational Goose among those who survived today. She is displayed in the city of Telluride, , the terminal of a Rio Grand Southern branch.

This post card was published by Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialities, Inc. The photo credit goes to William Moore. Evidently it is now part of a collection called the Glen Young Collection. The post card was printed by International Graphics in Hollywood, Florida. It is copyrighted as of December 1, 1985. That is what the number code (30806) in the stamp box tells me.

May I have your Autograph, Please?

The picture on the front of this post card is of the back end of the famous movie train Emma Sweeney.

The “Silver Vista” – the coach at the end of the train – is seen here on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in southwestern Colorado. This is one of the last narrow-gauge railroads left in the United States. The train operates in the Summer from Alamosa to Durango and to Silverton through some of Colorado’s grandest scenery. The move in which the train was featured was called “A Ticket to Tomahawk”. This website https://www.drhs315.org/emma-sweeney-2/history/ gives some very good history about the train and the making of the movie. I have included some excerpts from the website below. In 1949 Twentieth Century Fox produced the color film “A Ticket to Tomahawk”. The premise of the movie, set in 1876, was that to save the franchise of the Tomahawk & Western Railroad, a train must reach Tomahawk along with at least one paying passenger by a fast-approaching deadline – and the competing stage line will do everything it can to prevent it. The problem is that 40 miles of track from Epitaph are missing, because the rails from England were lost at sea. The plan is to pull the train (just the locomotive Emma Sweeny) over the mountains with a team of mules. Anne Baxter is the deputy marshal whose must protect the train. Dan Dailey is the reluctant paying passenger. Walter Brennan is the engineer, and Arthur Hunnicutt is the fireman. Rory Calhoun leads the gang that is supposed to stop Emma Sweeny. Mary Loos and Richard Sale, wife and husband, as well as avid railroad fans, wrote the script, and Richard Sale directed the film. The filming in the San Juans took place over about six weeks during August and September of 1949. The film premiered in Durango and Denver in April of 1950. The 1899 Schenectady locomotive Rio Grande Southern Railroad’s locomotive #20 (4-6-0, Ten-Wheeler), originally Florence & Cripple Creek locomotive #20, acted as Tomahawk & Western’s locomotive #1, the Emma Sweeny. It was adorned with a false funnel stack, a long wooden pilot, a link and pin coupler, and an oil or kerosene headlight box over the electric light with a set of six-point antlers on top. The fancy and colorful paint scheme included three-masted sailing ships on both sides of the tender. The train consist (part of which you can see on this post card) was Rio Grande Southern Railroad caboose 0409 lettered as “Route of the Bloody Basin Cannonball,” Denver and Rio Grande Western flat 1026, boxcar 3745, and combination car 212, all repainted and re-lettered. The train with Rio Grande Southern Railroad #20 was used in shots in Silverton, Animas Canyon, and on the old, wooden Rio Grande Southern Railroad trestle over Lightner Creek.

The post card was published by the Sanborn Souvenir Company, Incorporated in Denver, Colorado. It was printed by Dexter Press, Incorported out of West Nyack, New York. They used their exclusive "Genuine Natural Color" process for the printing. I scanned the back of the post card against a brown background so that you can see that the corners are rounded.