More shots from back in the day.
Nickle Plate 759, the locomotive that changed the scope of steam railroading in the Diesel era. Seeing the announcement from 765's schedule, makes me wish this locomotive could be groomed to join her once again. That would be a sight!

These are one of the trips to Jim Thorpe, across Lehigh Water Gap, maybe 1969? 1970?





And just as she rolled under my camera...double exposure!



















Enjoyed her while she lasted in that time period. Someone bring her out again...please!

Wow! Beautiful shots! What a great looking locomotive.

Dick, you wouldn't happen to have any audio recordings to go with them from those days do you?

Brian

I was on one of those early CNJ trips, working in the concession car. There was a problem with the turntable at Jim Chunk, and we got back so late that CNJ put a Geep on at Raritan to provide lights. Great memories; when was that trip, anyway?

This was early on, but after the Golden Spike Centennial. Thank you for the compliments. One image in 25 may be worth an accolade, so today's photo technology is far superior in capturing that [u]one[u] shot. The fear I have of digital photography is the potential for accidentally eradicating images (I've done it), and long term storage. The other things include texture of grain, longevity of negatives, color format, negative size, and the list goes on.
I have a good friend who still processes his black and white negatives at home after each trip, yet it sometimes takes weeks to get them done and filed, and printed. You get it.
I have gone over to digital for all the reasons of convenience, speed, and storage. Had these been digital, the chances are they wouldn't be here today. Make multiple back-up disks and store them safely!

One of the most critical lessons I learned in those years was to look beyond the traditional 3/4 view framing. While you get more locomotive in a 3/4 view, they become tedious after awhile. Go low or high when possible. "The odd view is usually the road less taken" (Carl Sandburg, Noted steam photographer :-] ).

That said, look at Stephen Hussar's digital work, and I'd hold it up against anything produced by the darkroom guys.

Yes, she was a great engine and gave us marvelous service. Oh the good 'ole days, lots of open window space, no dismals in sight, track speed welcomed and no bean counters nor lawyers to be seen!!!

Little did we know how far down hill it would go from there.

Anyhow, let's hope by some miracle that 759 sees a fire in her belly again someday!!

Ross Rowland

I strongly second all of that, especially having just watched some video footage of the 765 and the 1225 doubleheaded on the New River Train near Hawks Nest, W.Va. Whooee, what a sight! Only thing better for that place and for me would be double-headed C&O Kanawhas! :-)



Ross' comments and these photos again remind me how much railroading has changed, not only in the business sense, but in the physical plant. Again, take a look at the railroad in these photos, the wooden freight houses and other structures, the pole lines, the jointed rail, the now-vintage signals, the intricate and flowing trackwork visible in one shot. How much of that is gone or changed now?

Speaking of the business side, and perhaps Ross can confirm or correct this, but it's my understanding that the president of the Norfolk & Western at this time--the late John Fishwick--was rather puzzled about the crowds that came out to watch 765 on the last run of the Pocahontas just before the coming of Amtrak. Supposedly he couldn't understand why so many people were out to see this steam-powered passenger train, and that he may have been uncomfortable with the idea that this was getting his railroad all this attention.

I guess he, like too many other business executives then and now, was over-concerned with "business."

At least he wasn't as bad as Stuart Saunders supposedly was, who is said to have ordered that "steam" couldn't even be mentioned on the N&W--which lead to an employee, talking to David P. Morgan, to reminisce about a single "unit" they used to run that could pour out over 5,000 horsepower and hit 70 mph. . .at a time when the biggest diesel units were still under 3,000 hp. . .

Fixed that for ya...

There is a bit of truth to your comment on Mr. Fishwick. We were asked by then VP-Law Robert Claytor ( later CEO) to provide the 759 to power the last run of the Pocahontas on Amtrak eve 1971.

Bob Claytor was an unabashed steam lover and not at all afraid to say so and he wanted their name train to go out in style. Bob spent a good amount of time in 759's cab that day and the next day on the deadhead move back from Norfolk.

I met Mr. Fishwick on the platform that morning to carry out my assignment to welcome him and escort him into 759's cab and give him the $ 2 tour. He was polite but clearly just going through the motions. After his 5 minute 759 tour and a few minutes aboard the PV Claytor Lake exchanging greetings with both Bob's and his brother Graham's wifes and families he was off to his tennis date somewhere in Roanoke. He didn't have to change clothes as he came to the train in tennis shorts and sneakers.

Got the picture??

For us steam lovers he was soon retired and Bob Claytor was soon at the helm and here comes the N&W steam program!!

More in the book......Ross Rowland

The "picture" that I (and no doubt others here) get is that the safety rules that the bosses reprimand or fire employees for not following don't/didn't apply to "big shots." Didn't someone just have a discussion about "dressing professionally"?

I'm in full agreement ADM4th. Mr. Claytor later commented to me that he was sure that was Mr. Fishwick's way of saying "I'm here because I was told to be, but I'm not staying long as you can see I have an important tennis date".

Fishwick was well known to be a VERY serious tennis player, and had no love for steam.

As to leading by example, I'm a big believer in that. Evidently Mr. Fishwick must have subscribed to the "rank has its privileges" theorum instead??

BTW, 759 did a great job and took the 21 car long train up Blue Ridge grade in grand style and on to Norfolk on schedule. Needless to say there were no dismals in sight!!

Ross Rowland