Nostalgia & History > LB 5x7 file #5: Steam help needed

Because of my friend Dick Spain (“isinern” on the TO dial) I have a few hundred black & white images scans in my file from the Lee Berglund collection. Lee passed away a few years back and Dick acquired much of Lee’s B/W material. Roughly half of my scans were from Lee’s own photography, and the rest were scanned from Lee’s collected trader sources. But all of them were from B/W prints. On one occasion I purchased close to a hundred of Lee’s 5x7s from Dick. And on another he graciously let me scan through the rest of Lee’s collection.

I really like the image below, but I have no clue where, nor when it was taken. So I’m arbitrarily guessing “Circa 1940s”. I can only think of 3 Santa Fe locations in Kansas that had both tower & crossing seen here. Hutchinson, Winfield & Peabody. But as far as I can tell the layout is wrong for all 3 locations. The left-hand running might be a clue. I know Lee traveled down to Oklahoma on many occasions, but I’m not at all sure it was Lee’s shot. My weird instinct says this could be from as far away as California, which would make it a trader print. But who knows? Any & all help will be much appreciated!

1. AT&SF 3454 has a full plume blasting skyward, in Stockton, CA*. Nominal guess in circa 1940s.
(B/W 5x7 print from the Lee Berglund collection)

Thanks for the help!
Lance Garrels
santafe199
remembering the late Lee Berglund

*Location provided by "JB" + 3 more consecutive replies below:



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/23 03:20 by santafe199.

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Your first "clue" is that some of the 3450class had the bell "up front". So, were are now looking for a train on the Valley Division , Western Lines, California.
Let us now look for other TO fans.  wag216

It sure looks a lot like eastbound at Stockton Tower?
JB

With the normal headlight, I'd think this to be a pre not post war photo.  My only Official Guide from that era is the July, 1942 issue.  It lists four trains daily in each direction, two of which are the streamlined "Golden Gates".  The others, which presumably this train would be one of, are 1/2 and 23/24.
Here are their times at Stockton:
23   0424
24   0110
1    1840
2    1125
And at Bakersfield, just in case:
23   2220
24   0710
1    1220
2    1735
I love the obscure bell clue....photo forensics at it's best.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

Stockton could explain the track layout, the WP crossing in the foreground and the SP/ATSF interchange track curving off to the left.
But I only know a small fraction of the Santa Fe, if someone could prove it was in Kansas or Texas take their word for it.

I vote for Stockton. 

Definitely Stockton, CA.  I have taken photos from the same spot!  This photo is in a couple of Santa Fe books that I have stashed away.  Photographer could be Al Rose or Guy Dunscomb. 

Given the Stockton location, and (could we say) mid-day sun, I think the train is ATSF #2, with through cars for ATSF #2 The Scout, coming from LA.
Equipment listingsd are a bit skethcy, but I did note through Pullmans for Chicago and New Orleans, this car must have gone via Belen to Clovis.  Also through coaches to Chicago.  And, the winner here is the Cafe-Observation car Oakland to Barstow......of the open platform variety, I'd say.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

Stockton, it is! Thanks gang. I can't explain how my "weird instinct" picked California. I guess even a blind acorn can find a white squirrel now & then...
(or sumpthin' like that   ;^)

Lance/199

wag216 Wrote:
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> Your first "clue" is that some of the 3450class
> had the bell "up front". So, were are now looking
> for a train on the Valley Division , Western
> Lines, California.
> Let us now look for other TO fans.  wag216

Santa Fe's Western Lines were in Colorado, Kansas, Texas. Everything west of Albuquerque was in the Coast Lines.

Thanks for checking my "oopppps".
Coast Lines is right. wag216

Anyone find an eastward steam schedule out
of Stockton at that time of day?

The photo can be found on pg. 157 of Duke's and Kistler's "Santa Fe ... Steel Rails Through California." Al Rose was the photographer. The train is the Grand Canyon Limited according to the caption in the book.

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