Rare and rarer: A fascinating study in contrasting and distinct nose styles. Wonderful shot, John.
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Of all the railroads in the country, only Pennsy's arch rival, New York Central, could match this pairing.
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Sweet shot!
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I remember a time when I hated these things, a time when I was young & utterly enthralled with steam. As the years have passed, I regret now that I didn't pay more attention them, they are gone forever. I actually miss them! Thanks for the nice photo!
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I started shooting in November 1970, and thought I had some pretty interesting stuff. After seeing this photo, I feel I should go throw all mine in the dumpster.
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David, Take heart, don't be so hard on yourself ! If you started shooting photos in the 70s you have NO DOUBT seen and and photographed, trains & scenes that are pricelessly CLASSIC today. Just check some of the PC, BN, and Southern photos that have been recently posted. The smart fans of the 70s, while moaning the loss of GP-7s and RS-3s on mainline trains didn't fail to point their cameras at the "new" GP-30s, C-420s & Amtrak "Rainbow trains" that are the "classics" of today. Lets see some of those 70s photos you were going to "trash." It was a remarkable era in its own right and will NEVER come again.
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Note the tank cars in the distance back by the the boneyard, they were used to haul bunker oil which burned in the imported Santa Fe steamers that were being used at the time on the Sandusky coal trains. It was cheaper for PRR to lease those unused ATSF steamers than do class repairs on the steam in the PRR deadlines, but they weren't coal burners like on the PRR. In fact, the PRR employees were kind enough to tip us off of impending fire-up of the SF steamers a couple weeks prior. We made note and returned as they were fired up. It was the last hurrah for the SF steam engines, they were retired at the end of the lake season. Today, only scarring of the earth is visible on satellite views of this spot, the roundhouse footprint still visible.
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