Steam & Excursion > Dudley Thickens: WP 171 excursion

Back in the good old days, when everybody had common sense and never did anything foolish or risky for a questionable photograph, Acme Photo Finishers sponsored an excursion over the Western Pacific behind 4-8-2 #171.  When I came across these two Dudley Thickens negatives in the Western Railway Museum Archives depicting the photo stop at Altamont, CA, I couldn't help but think of the "...in the name of all that is steam, please be safe. Don't do anything stupid." admonition from the 611 folks a few days back:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3752574

I wasn't around in 1938 - heck, my parents were only just around by then - but I'd be willing to bet that gravity was just as strong, the ground just as hard, and smooth leather soles just as slippery as they are today.

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Great shots - beautiful engine!  How could anyone in their right mind scrap the last one?

'Shame America is so different today.  School of hard knocks long abandonned....

/Mitch

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> Back in the good old days, when everybody had
> common sense and never did anything foolish or
> risky for a questionable photograph, Acme Photo
> Finishers sponsored an excursion over the Western
> Pacific behind 4-8-2 #171.  When I came across
> these two Dudley Thickens negatives in the Western
> Railway Museum Archives depicting the photo stop
> at Altamont, CA, I couldn't help but think of the
> "...in the name of all that is steam, please be
> safe. Don't do anything stupid." admonition from
> the 611 folks a few days back:
>
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,
> 3752574
>
> I wasn't around in 1938 - heck, my parents were
> only just around by then - but I'd be willing to
> bet that gravity was just as strong, the ground
> just as hard, and smooth leather soles just as
> slippery as they are today.

All true, Evan.  However, i'm not sure that there were as many "ambulance chasing" lawyers back then, as there are in this day and age.

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> Great shots - beautiful engine!  How could anyone
> in their right mind scrap the last one?
>
> 'Shame America is so different today.  School of
> hard knocks long abandonned....
>
> /Mitch

Here is a better shot (at Stockton) of WP 4-8-2 # 171.  These were ex-FEC engines.

KRK

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The guy with his right foot raised kind of looks like HTW.

Another classic from the archives !  Even the ladies were encouraged (?) to climb .
Is that a train order office in a boxcar?

Gosh, I'm wondering what the purpose was for climbing on top of the train. Was there a meet and they wanted a photo of the other train from up there?

Another difference between then and now. No selfies!

KeyRouteKen Wrote:

> Here is a better shot (at Stockton) of WP 4-8-2 #
> 171.  These were ex-FEC engines.
>
> KRK

I remember reading about former WP engines going to
other railroads  Got all excited that mabye another WP
engine survived.  There are four surviving FEC engines,
though I suspect none have WP heritage?

Then there were the DRG Challengers that went to the
Clinchfield and surived late into the sixties, if I recall
correctly.  Or were they too, WP engines?

/Mitch

TonyJ Wrote:
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> Another difference between then and now. No
> selfies!

I suspect that had more to do with the relative rarity of a lens that would take an in-focus picture at arms length in those days. Also the not common use of a long shutter release, and I'm pretty sure almost total lack of timed releases.

The other interesting thing, at least to me, is the relative scarcity of cameras in that group of train fiends. Maybe one person in four, if that, seems to be carrying a camera. And a good many of them with cameras seem to have the camera in its case on the strap. Now maybe that was solely due to the cost and size of film, they could only take one picture now and then, so why have the camera out getting dirty all the time? But does that explain all the people that came out for the trip without cameras?

EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
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> The guy with his right foot raised kind of looks
> like HTW.

Agreed !  And the tall guy, 2nd from left in light colored trousers, could be a young Addison Laflin.

KRK

Might  be Francis Guido looking at the camera

The SP turntable should be in the 2nd photo, off to the left. I cannot see it, so that large metal building must be blocking the view.  
Interesting that the locomotive climbing ladies have even ventured onto the top of the passenger car. A first!
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/15 10:50 by Westbound.

EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
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> The guy with his right foot raised kind of looks
> like HTW.

For the benefit of those not in the loop, what's the name of HTW?

The guy with his "right foot raised" has it sitting on some kind of tool.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> The guy with his "right foot raised" has it
> sitting on some kind of tool.

His foot is on the hook for the water spout and/or oil spout.

 When I started riding Espee and WP excursions in 1957, almost nobody on the train had a camera.  Most chose to watch, listen, and enjoy the trip. You could climb up on ANYTHING to watch and photo, almost nobody cared.  I guess that was because if you fell off the top of the train you went to the doctor, paid for it yourself, and never bothered with lawyers.  If you wanted pictures, you motor-caded. (Kind of explains why I don't have that many photos from those days).  As time went by, everyone started to realize how little time was left and so began the ten-thousand camera trips, but that was generally after all other steam was gone.

Ed

I don't agree with climbing all over the equipment like that.  I can see one of the gals stepping over the safety valves when one lifts.  Jacketing is slippery as is a graphited smokebox.   Just not a smart move.
NdeM ended up with some of the FEC engines as well as NKP 2-8-2s and C&NW 2-8-0s among other things. Cotton Belt also had some of the FEC 4-8-2s.

Oh, the inhumanity!  Where are the reflective vests, and helmets to protect the fans.  Yeah, what a difference from today.  I'll wager no one got hurt there, either, and if they did, they did what Ed said, go to the doc, pay your money and get patched up.  Great stuff, Evan, and thanks KRK for the photo of 171.  

BCHellman Wrote:
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> EtoinShrdlu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The guy with his right foot raised kind of
> looks
> > like HTW.
>
> For the benefit of those not in the loop, what's
> the name of HTW?

HTW=   "Howard T. Wolfe"...   retired 'Telephone Transmission Engineer'-- Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company  (Pacific Bell, et al)

When the "Key System" trains quit running, Howard was there in force, buying all kinds of stuff from small parts to Line Cars.  His famous basement in his Richmond, CA
home resembles the "Stores Department" for the Key System.
Many years later, the WRM at Rio Vista Junction turned to "Uncle Howie" for some parts they needed for a restoration.  YEP--  founded needed parts in his basement !
Amazing individual !

KRK