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RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
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Author:  Cordicron [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
http://www.timesleader.com/pittstondisp ... -2010.html
Image
Author:  superheater [ Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
Ed is a real gem and for more interested...

Transit Gloria Mundi has "Ed Miller's Anthracite Traction", which shows the Wilkes Barre and Scranton area light rail systems at their end, which he narrates..

http://www.transitgloriamundi.com/trolley_videos/anthracite_traction/anthracite_traction_home.html

and Morning Sun Book's has a selection of his NEPA photography in "Trackside around Scranton 1952-1976 with Edward S. Miller"

http://www.morningsunbooks.com/anthracitecat3.html#Trackside%20around%20Scranton

Both well worth the price of admission. (I have no economic interest in either company)
Author:  csxvet [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
Ed also deserves credit for for being the pioneer and supreme practitioner in the art of composing scenes that put the streetcar or interurban in the context of its environment, rather than just shooting equipment sitting by a carbarn. Furthermore, he wouldtake on some system and doggedly follow its lines route by route and location by location to catch the fullest flavor of the operation. He was a master that inspired many others in this, including me.

Not only that, but he has always been extremely generous in sharing this wealth. Some years ago I did a pictorial book on Baltimore's streetcar operations in the 1940s and '50s, and if it weren't for him there would be no book, not to mention no good record of any kind of the last years of the Baltimore system. And then there's Washington and the various Pennsylvania systems....but I'll quit there.

Herb Harwood
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
I am pleased to report that the photographic collection of Ed Miller's work was acquired by the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum a couple years ago, with duplicates of works pertaining to Maryland and DC archived in duplicate at the Maryland Rail Heritage Library (and I believe the National Capital Trolley Museum). As I understand it, the move was made pre-emptively, lest the original negatives/slides ended up being brokered on eBay, or worse discarded or given away for a song by an heir.

I purchased rights to use several of his photos in my book Baltimore Then & Now, and I relayed through a fellow railfan his courtesy copy and payment. As I was told, he was confused by the small stack of twenties inside the front cover of the book:
"What is this money doing in here?"
"That's your payment for the photos of yours he used in the book."
"But I didn't do anything...."
"Yes, you did, you took the photos!"
"But..... what am I supposed to do with this money?"
"[rolls eyes, replies sarcastically] You put it in your wallet, and you spend it on food, wine, women, and loose living as you see fit, dang it!"
Author:  Sloan [ Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
I'm glad you raised the issue of rights, Sandy. Too often people cavalierly run roughshod over those who produce intellectual property(photography, publishing, painting, and cinematogrphy.)

Several years ago, I booked a hotel room in Stamford, CT. In the bedroom and in the bathroom...yes, in the bathroom... were pictures shot by the dean of traction history, Bill Middleton.

I wrote Bill, advised him of my discovery, and inquired if he had received payment for commercial use of his works.

"No, I did not," he wrote back. Whether he or his agent pursued the matter further, I don't know.

Stealing one's creative work is just as bad as stealing a bell or a builders plate and it's outrageous.

Sloan
Author:  David H. Hamley [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Correction regarding Ed Miller's photo collection and PTM
Mr. Mitchell is totally misinformed. Pennsylvania Trolley Museum does NOT
have possession of Ed Miller's photographic collection. Ed's collection
will ultimately be preserved in accordance with his wishes and at a time of
his choosing. We regret that statements like Mr. Mitchell's
are causing confusion and misunderstanding among the railway preservation
community.
Edward H. Lybarger, Archivist Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

Posted by David H. Hamley at the request of Mr. Lybarger and PTM Executive Director Scott Becker.
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
My sincere apologies for the misinformation I posted. My sources for the information were numerous people connected with both PTM and BSM. There's something in the works, at least, and I can confirm that the Maryland Rail Heritage Library has digital copies of all his photos of Maryland/Baltimore-related transit photos, as well as some prints (and many large prints on the walls of the Visitors Center, available for viewing as a "Neighborhoods of Baltimore" exhibit).
Author:  robertjohndavis [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
Ed's collection is still with Ed. A PTM member has helped scan his Laurel Line slides, and created a great presentation I saw this past summer. Ed was supposed to give the presentation, but could not travel.

Ed is a living legend, not just for being at the right place at the right time with the right interest, but for being an enthusiastic nice guy. He is on the list of rail historians I have had the pleasure to know - even for a just a little while - that made a very positive impact on me.

Rob
Author:  Dave Crosby [ Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
I'll echo the sentiments above.

Besides being a good photographer and having a knack being in the right place at the right time, Ed has always been more than willing to share his knowledge and images with those who had a similar interest. He went above and beyond helping me find "just the right picture" more than once for my book, Scranton Railroads.

Ed's mind and sense of humor is as sharp now as it ever was. He had me in stitches more than once on the phone recalling stories from his time in the service overseas.

As Ed would say, this isn't his 90th birthday, but the 60th anniversary of his 30th birthday.

Dave Crosby
Author:  Higherspeedrailnow [ Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
I wish Ed the best! I do hope he recovers. So he can get out and see the many new rail systems that will be coming the next few years. I know he'd love to join in the NRHS convention coming in June. Let's hope he can!
Author:  superheater [ Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller Passes Away (Godspeed)
Received this unfortunate news today.

Folks:

Just an FYI for those of you who knew him, Ed Miller, Former Steamtown VIP
and trolley/Rocky Glen enthusiast/expert bar none, pass away early this
morning. I will be out of the office until Monday AM, but his obit should
be in the papers in the next day or so.

Ed was one of the first volunteers I met when I started at Steamtown, and I
well remember a lengthy and interesting conversation about trolleys,
railroads and the history of the Lack. valley with him, Jack Reilly and Irv
Beil.

Please keep Ed in your thoughts and prayers.

Glenn
Author:  robertjohndavis [ Sat Apr 24, 2010 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
Hi,

I just received the news of Ed's passing.

I first met Ed 18 years ago when I was volunteering at Steamtown. He was quite a legend to me, a budding Laurel Line fan. The two Ed's, Blossom and Miller, active at the park at that time were quite a treat to listen to, and one could learn quite a bit from them.

Among the many things that made Ed unique was that his railroad, interurban and streetcar photography of the middle 20th century embraced the landscape. He wasn't just a roster shooter. And while his work is known to anthracite railroad fans and trolley buffs, it has yet to be recognized on the national stage to the extent it deserves. He did more than be at the right place at the right time, he had the eye of an artist.

I am glad to have crossed paths with Ed. Rest in peace.

Rob
Author:  Charlie High [ Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
Here is Ed Miller's obituary.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesl ... =142177583

I only ever met Ed one time when I travelled to Scranton to ride the completed Electric City Trolley line. I was by myself and just before the trolley pulled out an elderly gentleman boarded. The trolley was pretty full and he wound up sitting next to me. Turned out to be Ed Miller. Wow! Talk about a guided tour of the line. His descriptions of the Laurel Line, its former sidings, customers, connections, etc. came alive as we went down the track. How I wish I had a tape recorder or even a pen and paper. He was truly an extraordinary gentleman.
Author:  G. W. Laepple [ Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
I was Ed Miller's conductor during the first summer the Magee Transportation Museum was open, way back in 1966. He operated open car no. 2 with aplomb and great care, but always with an eye toward giving his passengers a good ride. It was a sheer delight to work with Ed, to hear him chatting with folks, many of whom were old enough in 1965 to recall riding trolleys in central Pennsylvania. At the end of each workday, Ed would allow me to operate the open car from the station to the carbarn, a matter of a few hundred yards. That's how I learned to handle a K-36 controller and SA-1 straight air.

But Ed didn't just come around on the days the cars were running. He was there to record the progress of the restoration work performed by the late Ed Blossom, with fumbling assistance from me and a couple of other laborers, from late 1965 on. After I graduated from Bloomsburg in 1969, I got on with my first career, and I didn't see as much of Ed as I would have liked -- but my wife and I looked forward each year to his Christmas card, always with a personal note in his fine script. We'll miss him. Rest easy, old friend.
Author:  Sloan [ Wed May 05, 2010 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RR photographer Ed Miller honored on 90th birthday
http://www.timesleader.com/features/Mil ... -2010.html
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