The recent posts by Dave Lewandoski, and Bob Yarger's retirement picture got me thinking about how much I miss those prolific picture postings Bob used to do.

I, for one, happen to believe that we all are a little poorer for the lack of those pictures. For me, they always provided a sort of wistful context for preservation.

When I was out there on the ground, making joints and air hoses, or walking a cut of cars on some God-forsaken industrial siding, the summertime smell of hot creosote weeping out of ties, diesel fumes, sweat, sun-burned weeds and spent dirt was simply unique to railroading.

So when I see a picture of a switch engine sitting there among those long gone weeds, maybe with a little smoke at the stack, all those smells and sounds come back to me. And railroading back in the day becomes a little more real. More present. A reason to exist for that custom-cast kingpost, or drawbar spring, or new source for flexible staybolts, or hand milled piece of car siding somebody's looking for. Don't get me wrong, God bless you all for keeping the hardware from turning to rusty dust. But I think it is possible that your work is even more meaningful for those old faded pictures.

Hopefully, Bob will resume his postings now that he's not as likely to be sitting on a pile of ties with his grip waiting for a ride after going dead on a cold January morning at 3AM.

I believe we'll all be better off if he does.
Stay in the clear, Bob, now that you can finally make all those birthday parties and ball games.