Steam & Excursion > Railfans Have The Run Of The WP Sacramento Shops-1937!

My how times have changed. In this day in age when Railfans are afraid to stand on public property and photograph a passing train for fear of being run off by a railroad cop, it is hard to imagine the freedom given railfans in the 1930's.

An example of this is shown in this photo taken by W. Sievers of a railfan excursion that visited the Western Pacific Shops in Sacramento, California on October 3, 1937. As you can see, the visiting fans were given the runny of the place! Not only were they allowed to roam through the parked engines receiving overhauls, they could even climb up on top of the engines themselves for a better view!

Yes, times have certainly changed.


Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/14 04:56 by LoggerHogger.

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In 1967 I stopped by the shops one Sunday morning and wandered all over the place, including inside all the buildings, taking photos. Never saw one person anywhere. Yes, times have changed a bit.

A sad commentary of how things have changed, mostly due to lawyers.

Martin, your treasure trove continues to amaze and entertain.

tomstp Wrote:
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> A sad commentary of how things have changed,
> mostly due to lawyers.

That and people doing some really stupid stuff.

tomstp Wrote:
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> A sad commentary of how things have changed,
> mostly due to lawyers.

You DO know Martin is an Attorney, right?

It's our tort system and insurance companies. Lawyers only take advantage of what is presented to them in a legal system that needs a major reform.

Cupolau Wrote:
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> It's our tort system and insurance companies.
> Lawyers only take advantage of what is presented
> to them in a legal system that needs a major
> reform.


And do they ever!

Dick Samuels
Oregon Pacific Railroad

No, I didn't know it but, that would not change what I said if I did know it.

It used to be that a person was responsible for their actions.

Now, it's someone else's fault.

I was last in the Sacramento WP Jeffery Shop (?)when the BART Test Cars were being built an outfitted, 1965-67 'ish.
My slides were not that good, sigh.

--Jim Baker