Steam & Excursion > The moment before departure

One of my favorite photos from my late father's images. This unknown engineer is about to leave SF 3rd and Townsend depot in San Francisco. With his left hand on the throttle and right hand on his stogie, what we see is the movement just before departure in an era long gone, but not forgotten. I'm glad he was there to capture the "moment".

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Your Old Man was something else and I'm glad I was able to know him. "For Chr--t Sake'". Great photo Dave.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

That's a classic pic, well done!

Thanks.

God, I remember those "Old Heads" when I was a youngster working at Albina! I had one of them tell me once... "I don't take no sh*t, and I don't give no sh*t... I'M NOT IN THE FERTILIZER BUSINESS!"
Them was the old days of railroading!

That is a very sharp image too. Thanks for sharing.

Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/23 20:40 by wabash2800.

Very enjoyable SP picture!!

Larry

I wonder how many thousand times my Dad struck that pose?  I think the stogie was a requirement back then,  This is a classic photo!
That's how I remember engineers.  The smell of the cigar smoke blended in well with the smells of the engine.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/23 06:48 by Frisco1522.

Great photo! I bet those guys back then would have more than a few choice words about the state of railroading today, and all of the nonsense we have to put up with now.

How many noticed the kerosine lantern hanging back there on the hook ?

LocoPilot750 Wrote:
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> How many noticed the kerosine lantern hanging back
> there on the hook ?

Never noticed that till I expanded the photo on my tablet. Also, noticed a hook below his hand on the armrest I'm wondering about. What was it used for? it's swing motion wore the paint too. 

Yeah Photobob, that trip to Andesite with him was one memorable experience. "Can you hit more bumps in the road G. Damit " He was quite the character. 

 Classic SP steam portrait. Thanks for the kind words...

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Love that photo.  Can someody translate the sub lettering for this Eastern boy.  I'm guessing class, driver diameter, cylinder specs, ???  SF is home terminal?

Tominde Wrote:
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> Love that photo.  Can someody translate the sub
> lettering for this Eastern boy.  I'm guessing
> class, driver diameter, cylinder specs, ???  SF
> is home terminal?

SF is home for this Pacific . Left tho right 

P10 is class
P-73 is passenger 73 inch drivers 
25 over 30 is 25 inch cylinder diameter by 30 inch stroke 
181 I believe is weight 180,700 lbs 
SF is San Francisco 

I cheated and opened my SP Steam locomotives and tenders book 😂
corrections are welcome as I'm a SP diesel era fan !

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dmaffei Wrote:
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> Tominde Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Love that photo.  Can someody translate the
> sub
> > lettering for this Eastern boy.  I'm guessing
> > class, driver diameter, cylinder specs, ??? 
> SF
> > is home terminal?
>
> SF is home for this Pacific . Left tho right 

Nope. the designation "SF" on SP steam locomotive cab sides indicates "S" = Superheated, while the "F" = Feedwater heater system equipped.


> P10 is class
> P-73 is passenger 73 inch drivers 
> 25 over 30 is 25 inch cylinder diameter by 30 inch
> stroke 
> 181 I believe is weight 180,700 lbs 

Weight on drivers.


> SF is San Francisco 

No. see above explanation.


> I cheated and opened my SP Steam locomotives and
> tenders book 😂
> corrections are welcome as I'm a SP diesel era fan
> !

dmaffei Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tominde Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Love that photo.  Can someody translate the
> sub
> > lettering for this Eastern boy.  I'm guessing
> > class, driver diameter, cylinder specs, ??? 
> SF
> > is home terminal?
>
> SF is home for this Pacific . Left tho right 
>
> P10 is class
> P-73 is passenger 73 inch drivers 
> 25 over 30 is 25 inch cylinder diameter by 30 inch
> stroke 
> 181 I believe is weight 180,700 lbs 
> SF is San Francisco 
>
> I cheated and opened my SP Steam locomotives and
> tenders book 😂
> corrections are welcome as I'm a SP diesel era fan
> !

I need that book.....

Txhighballer Wrote:
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> I need that book.....

Great info book for the SP steam fan. Thanks for the correction HW. 
Great idea to put specs on locomotives for all maintenance crews in plain site.

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The long hook is for the swing-out wing window. It is partly visible in the photo; it has a top corner cut at a diagonal. When the sliding window assembly is slid back a few inches, then the wing window can be swung outwards to act as a windshield for the engineer leaning out from the cab for a better view.

- Doug Debs

Superb image.  A classc shkot!

That's a beautiful photograph in its own right. Did your father do his own darkroom work?

David

Wheel_Lathe Wrote:
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> That's a beautiful photograph in its own right.
> Did your father do his own darkroom work?
>
> David

He kept these negatives in a box until I scanned some of the better images and worked them in photoshop. He was a true SP steam fan growing up next to the tracks in Colma CA. in the 1940s through WW2. His passion for steam, Ocean Shore railroad, and the original mainline to SF is evident in his postings here on TO until his passing in August 2019. I'm glad I gave him his membership to this website to share his images, some good, some not so good, but all of historic value and interest to some. Follow the link bellow to some of his postings. He also did a SPHTS Trainline article on his beloved "Ocean view line" Issue 82
https://www.trainorders.com/images2/index.php?category=0&search=fmaffei&author=1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/23 12:44 by dmaffei.

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