Nostalgia & History > E.K. Muller: SP "cinderblocks" ca.1955

E.K. Muller's photography in the Western Railway Museum Archives suggests that SP did a commendable job keeping the 4-8-4's assigned to the San Joaquin Daylight spic and span in 1955-56.  The same could not be said of the spit and polish afforded the GS's that drew freight assignments on the same territory.  It's easy to understand how those angled silver noses were better at accumulating grime than the "flat" smokebox fronts on typical freight locomotives, and likewise how certain operating practices probably didn't help matters. 

I'm guessing Muller must have been friends with some of the crews on SP's San Joaquin Valley main line, or maybe firemen were generous with the smoke whenever they saw a photographer trackside.  Or maybe the crew had enemies that lived in Herndon and McFarland, CA.  Whatever the reason, here are a couple of grubby GS-4's stinking up the valley in late '55 and early '56.

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Great looking shots!

Larry

Evan,

You probably told us before, but what camera ans size film did he use.  The clarity you pulled out of the negs at 1000 pixels wide must be fantastic at larger scales.

Nice work,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/15 22:51 by MartyBernard.

MartyBernard Wrote:

> You probably told us before, but what camera ans
> size film did he use. 

Most of his negatives are 2.25 x 2.25 inch squares. 

Thanks Evan! You just made my morming. Off to work with a big smile on my face!

These are some super photos--I too, am impressed with the sharpness.
Brian Stevens

Yes, I think these locomotives looked better with the side skirting removed.

Beautiful images. Number two is my favorite. "Erupting" is the only description for the smoke pouring from the smokestack.
Bob

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing them with us. I really like that last shot, man what a smoke 'screen'. 

~Ryan

He must have bribed the firemen with a cigar or something for the smoke display.   It makes a helluva display, but has to be intentional.
Imagine doing that today in CA.   Using all that water and then producing that smoke.   Oh the humanities.
Great photos and extremely good for 2-1/4 sq. negs.

Thanks Evan for these great images!  No subsitute for bigger negative size, all things being equal.

Don Bowen
Saint Helena, CA

Maybe Rolliflex?  Hasselblad?  Great unaffordable cameras back then.

Those are top-drawer!  Its easy to realize why the end of steam turned off many railfans !

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> He must have bribed the firemen with a cigar or
> something for the smoke display.   It makes a
> helluva display, but has to be intentional.
> Imagine doing that today in CA.   Using all that
> water and then producing that smoke.   Oh the
> humanities.

You of all people should know how strongly that was frowned-upon even back then.