Railroaders' Nostalgia > Photo Collection of SP Coast Division Engineers

JW Haskins
11 Aug 1948
Eng 4443
History San Jose collection

History San Jose has a photographic collection of SP Coast Division engineers at work. The images span from the 1920s to the early 1960s. They appear to be from a scrapbook of the Golden Spike organization as there are many images of social gatherings as well as "last run" images in the mix. Additionally while reviewing the collection, some of the images may have previously posted in the San Francisco engineer's lounge.

Unlike the attached, about half of the images are not identified or have faded writing.

Is there a listing of Coast Division engineers during that time period which may assist in the identification process?

Thanks

Ken Middlebrook
Curator
History San Jose

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CLASSIC!

Can you post them? I think there are enough of us to ID a few. A lot of the engine service guys lived in Wat.Jct & SLO and had to go to the City or SJ to work during the winter or slow times.

Nudge

spnudge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can you post them? I think there are enough of us
> to ID a few. A lot of the engine service guys
> lived in Wat.Jct & SLO and had to go to the City
> or SJ to work during the winter or slow times.
>
> Nudge


Sellar,
Is this photo above Neil's Dad?

V

SLOCONDR

I am drawing a blank on this guy. Are you talking Frazer Neil or Neil Haskins?

Nudge

Boy! Now those were the "good ole days.” 16 hours (15:59) on a "Malley In The Valley."

Not Fraser Neil and I'm not sure if that is Bill Hoskins or not. I fired a helper for Hoskins on his last trip in 1947. Unfortunately he didn't retire, he went home and passed away. I don't remember the cause of death

Same thing with "Hildey" Hildabrand & Elk Mallagh. Never lived to see their first RRB check. There were a lot that never even got to pull the pin and died on duty. Jack Sween, Dick Morris, the list goes on.


Nudge

15:59 seven days a week. Back then most RS jobs had no layover days, pool freight never did have any, and "these old heads never ever laid off or even took their vacation time", (that was allowed back then). They just kept marked up and drew double pay during their vacation time. A-hhhh, what a life... Their wives and kids didn't even know them, much less want the crotchety totally miserable old guys around their homes. Their dogs bit them and they hated everybody and everything. And when I hired out in '77 (12 hr law at that time) these were the guys that trained me. I hated all of them for making my early RR life s-oooo damn miserable, but I gotta admit that what they "MADE" me learn, more times than not the hard way, also made me a pretty fair car hand and rail, and without question saved my life numerous times. These old heads didn't ever want to retire, even if the rear brakeman had to help the conductor on and off the caboose or the head Brakeman had to help the hoghead up the steps and make sure he got to his seat without falling down. Most, if not all, of those old codgers are dead and gone now but this old retired rail will never ever forget the 15:59 old heads that taught him how to railroad, get the work done and get home every day with all of your parts. From what I hear of the new guys working out there today this kind of railroading is but a distant memory that's only to be retold in bars and locker rooms.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/14 19:41 by donsrich.

spnudge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Same thing with "Hildey" Hildabrand & Elk Mallagh.
> Never lived to see their first RRB check. There
> were a lot that never even got to pull the pin and
> died on duty. Jack Sween, Dick Morris, the list
> goes on.
>
>
> Nudge


Mike Kies Van Buskirk

SanJoaquinEngr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> spnudge Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Same thing with "Hildey" Hildabrand & Elk
> Mallagh.
> > Never lived to see their first RRB check. There
> > were a lot that never even got to pull the pin
> and
> > died on duty. Jack Sween, Dick Morris, the list
> > goes on.
> >
> >
> > Nudge
>
>
> Mike Kies Van Buskirk







Van Buskirk was the head brakeman out of San Luis Obispo and rode the second unit from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. When the crew arrived LA, Van Buskirk didn't get off so the fireman went up on the 2nd unit to wake him up. The fireman found Van dead, and it was later determined he had had a hemorrhage in the brain.

Mike Kies was a neat guy and a lot of fun to work with. Mike started getting real bad back pain and finally went and had it checked out. Found out he had cancer and it wasn't long after he passed away.


V

SLOCONDR

I thought that was Ray Hull. He tried to lay off but was told no. As you said, he was found in the second unit, 218 miles later.

Either way, so sad.

Nudge



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/14 20:34 by spnudge.

In the photo, his hand is on the Automatic, the Independent is right above that. So, what is that in front of his knee? It looks like another brake valve.

spnudge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought that was Ray Hull. He tried to lay off
> but was told no. As you said, he was found in the
> second unit, 218 miles later.
>
> Either way, so sad.
>
> Nudge


Ray Hull Sr. took his own life, Sellar. It was Van Buskirk that had tried to layoff but was refused, and then was found dead in the second unit, Los Angeles.

I think you got it backwards.
The Independent is at his knee.

I don't know what the 'top' valve if for.

--Jim Baker

Yes, you have it right. I forgot about RH taking his own life.

On that picture of the hogger, sure looks like he has his left hand on the automatic and the jam is above that. Looks like a 6BL valve. The lower could be an electric brake control for Daylight type cars. The sanding valve is a bit more to the left, small short handle. You can see the 4 lines going into it for forward or reverse sanding, with the handle at the center for off. To the left of that, it looks like a breather funnel for going through tunnels. He looks posed for the picture, the johnson bar is centered, the throttle closed and the back pressure gauge is at zero. (I think) How about it, 49 crew?

That would make it a possible GS engine. I think the booster lever is right below him, near the floor, if it was equipped.

Nudge



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/14 17:49 by spnudge.

The one at his knee is the electric brake control that was used only on the "Daylight" trains.

spnudge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, you have it right. I forgot about RH taking
> his own life.
>
> On that picture of the hogger, sure looks like he
> has his left hand on the automatic and the jam is
> above that. Looks like a 6BL valve. The lower
> could be an electric brake control for Daylight
> type cars. The sanding valve is a bit more to the
> left, small short handle. You can see the 4 lines
> going into it for forward or reverse sanding, with
> the handle at the center for off.
>
> Nudge


Sellar,
According to the header on the OP's photo, it say's the guys name was JW Haskin. Again I have to ask is that Niel Haskin's Dad?


V

SLOCONDR

Perhaps for the electric brake (on the Daylight)????

Gottta love the badge on his cap "S.P.Co. Locomotive Engineer".

Charlie