Nostalgia & History > UP F3 ABA's at Summit,CA 1948

UP F3A #1431 in the lead at Summit, CA circa 10/48 Frank Peterson original, Alan Miller Collection

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Not much attention was paid to standard F-units on the UP--seemed like more for the ALCO FA's! Atlas mistakenly used F-3 numbers on their Roco F-9's many years ago!

If I were looking at the flags to determine if a following section were operating (green flags) or if this were an extra, what should I decide?
Black flags are not in the rulebook AFAIK.
Thanks for posting, and notice the gentleman on the right, taking it all in from a wheelchair.

Same photo that's in Mark Hemphill's book "Union Pacific's Salt Lake Route" page 155. Very, very good chance that is my grandfather (my dad's dad) standing next to the lead unit...sure looks like him, hat and all. He was an extra board engineer in LA.

Excellent book, btw.




Allen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/17 10:38 by bradleymckay.

railstiesballast Wrote:
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> If I were looking at the flags to determine if a
> following section were operating (green flags) or
> if this were an extra, what should I decide?
> Black flags are not in the rulebook AFAIK.
> Thanks for posting, and notice the gentleman on
> the right, taking it all in from a wheelchair.


Flags look "greenish" to me.

railstiesballast Wrote:
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> ..... notice the gentleman on
> the right, taking it all in from a wheelchair.

Could that gentleman be Barney Root, the photographer of many 8mm movies that SP2778 has posted here on TO's?
The geography and time frame fits. Just a thought.

Charlie

Why is there no "X" in the indicator. The U.P. used to display train numbers just like our friendly SP.

Wasn't Barney Root Tall and Lanky and wearing glasses?
I had met him one day out at OERM when they were working on the Steam locos that Mt. Rubidoux Chapter of PRS had for a time.
Another disabled railfan was 'Elbert' who always was in his place on the Observation Platform of the many fan trips of the time.
Elbert sold Newspapers near the corner of Wilshire and Crenshaw, near the Prudential Insurance Building, in Los Angeles.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

ExStarlightHog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is there no "X" in the indicator. The U.P.
> used to display train numbers just like our
> friendly SP.

Interesting question. One flag stick is bare. The other flag is tattered and doesn't look to be any uniform color. There is some white and some of some darker color. The class lights appear to be white or dark, certainly not green.

TAW

They're on SFe track-- all UP trains
carried engine number in the indicators
while on SFe west from Daggett.

Probably the only regular trains over
Cajon were passenger or mail/express,
so wouldn't expect green flags on
any freight.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/17 15:37 by timz.

Great photo from a great era!
Flags definitely tattered. I enlarged the photo and examined it carefully; there is a flag on the right staff; its appearance is not prominent because of its angle.
Class Light on left side has an appearance of being lit “white”, but I believe the appearance of this class light is really is due to sun light reflection.
ALLEN

Follow-up Comment
After spending even more time viewing this photo, I believe the class lights were actually lit.
Still cannot determine exactly what the flags were.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/17 23:45 by krm152.

I think it was Elbert. Barney used clutches account serious leg injuries. Was with him a lot and never recall wearing a hat.

railstiesballast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I were looking at the flags to determine if a
> following section were operating (green flags) or
> if this were an extra, what should I decide?
> Black flags are not in the rulebook AFAIK.
> Thanks for posting, and notice the gentleman on
> the right, taking it all in from a wheelchair.


They're black flags. Steam powered freight following. Or maybe they're pirate flags. Hot merchandise. ;~)

ExStarlightHog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is there no "X" in the indicator. The U.P.
> used to display train numbers just like our
> friendly SP.

Because they're on Santa Fe tracks!!! They could only display the engine number while on the Santa Fe.