Nostalgia & History > California Railfans 1951 - who are they?

A few weeks back, I posted a photo from the Western Railway Museum Archives of SP narrow gauge 4-6-0 #18 with a group of excursionists posed in front of it at Kearsarge, CA on February 10, 1951.  The print doesn't have any labeling other than  the date and "photo by and from Stanley Snook" - and as Loggerhogger pointed out, Snook himself is in the photo.  I've been asking around WRM and elsewhere to see whom we can still identify in the photo.  Attached below is what I have so far - anybody recognize anyone else or have corrections to what's there?

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1. The letter announcing the invitation-only excursion
2. First page of the excursion packet:
 

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Great photos Ev.

#25 is SP narrow gauge engineer Walter C. Ferguson.

#12 is the bus driver for the chartered bus mentioned in your flyers.

#26 is the SP narrow gauge fireman

#21 appears to be the conductor

#5 may be the station agent.

Martin



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/15 05:06 by LoggerHogger.

I have to grin here...notice "male railfans" complete with underline? The reason is obvious, but these days...!

(Not to mention that the EPA or someone would have a hissy fit about contaminating the fields.)

Rebecca Morgan
Jacobsburg, OH

#17 sure looks like Jim Cloney.

No 23 on the engine is Jay Leno.

Nudge

I find it very interesting that so many past and present rail fans once lived in the Sunset District in San Francisco. That's where my Father in Law still lives and when wandering around over there walking the dog, had no idea that I walked past so many former rail fan residences.

Mr. Hudspeth lived in the corner house of 29th Ave and Lincoln Way. I wonder if he was living there when the "steam" passenger line still ran down "H" St (later became Lincoln Way). There were once far more rail lines out that way,I wonder if that had anything to do with the number of past rail fans that lived there?

Gary

Posted from iPhone

spnudge Wrote:

> No 23 on the engine is Jay Leno.

Can't be - Leno hates passenger trains.

I found Gary's not of interest.  I spent my first 5 years as a child living in the Sunset District in S.F.

Martin

The only one I recognize is number 11, Vic DuBrutz (F. V. DuBrutz).

Best guesses:
#6 - Gerry Best
#24 - Dick Steinheimer

EO

spnudge Wrote:
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> No 23 on the engine is Jay Leno.
>
> Nudge

Thanks Nudge . .  you gave me my 'laff out loud' moment of the day!!

Ya gotta love some of these classic comments like this . . .

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

#6 is not Jerry Best.

Martin

I would think that one of the pictured is David Myrick, given his later track record for all things railroad in later life.
I have no idea what Mr. Myrick looked like but wouldn't be surprised if he attended the festivities.

Charlie

Great photos.  I am wondering why today´s railroads do not follow this exemple and invite some railfans to take a ride along their properties. They could  do sortition, for exemple.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/15 15:28 by pedrop.

24 not Stein

Number six, with a tie, jacket and Open Road fedora, looks like an official. The officials assigned to Bakersfield were Trainmaster G.B. Morrill and Assitant Trainmaster M.H. Howard.