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More from Gunslinger87
Well yet again it has been a while since my last post.
So here is something special from about a month ago. While volunteering at the Southeastern Railway Museum we had some photographers come through on a casual outing. The had asked my why out railway depot was locked when it was supposed to be open. Well I got the key and went to unlock the depot. Once inside one of the photographers asked if I could pose for a few shots.
And so, here I am in an old timey photo. And yes, this is ME!! XD Top Hat and all!
Hope you all like! And please do leave comments.
So here is something special from about a month ago. While volunteering at the Southeastern Railway Museum we had some photographers come through on a casual outing. The had asked my why out railway depot was locked when it was supposed to be open. Well I got the key and went to unlock the depot. Once inside one of the photographers asked if I could pose for a few shots.
And so, here I am in an old timey photo. And yes, this is ME!! XD Top Hat and all!
Hope you all like! And please do leave comments.
Category All / Portraits
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 960px
File Size 190.1 kB
as a telegrapher (train order operator) you very probably would not have been wearing work gloves AND a top hat, or even work gloves (to type with?) OR a top hat, and the only phone wouldn't likely have been out of reach behind you on the wall, although those kind WE"RE still in service too, often connected to phones along the track, and to individual houses and apartments of employee housing. also in most places the telegrapher/operator's work desk had a kind of cut out notch for the typewriter to sit down in to put its keyboard at a more comfortable level. but those nits to pick aside, it looks very like many small places along the line, often in remote areas, where my dad worked when i was growing up. even well into the 1960s, there were places that looked like that (with the minor details mentioned) still in service.
the kind of board in your hand was still quite commonly used. there was a two hole hole punch, with a cast iron base and handle, that would punch the holes that would fit on that kind of board. every train order office had one. that looked like it had been first made in the 18xx somethings, and was still being used in the 1950s and 60s.
everything that was done, had a piece of paper to go with it, and the piece of paper was kept until it rotted and was still kept. old depots had back rooms filled with train sheets, old clearances and train orders, that when they were more then a couple of months old, went back there in neatly ordered stacks, and there they sat, for decades or even longer, until the place itself fell or was torn down.
the kind of board in your hand was still quite commonly used. there was a two hole hole punch, with a cast iron base and handle, that would punch the holes that would fit on that kind of board. every train order office had one. that looked like it had been first made in the 18xx somethings, and was still being used in the 1950s and 60s.
everything that was done, had a piece of paper to go with it, and the piece of paper was kept until it rotted and was still kept. old depots had back rooms filled with train sheets, old clearances and train orders, that when they were more then a couple of months old, went back there in neatly ordered stacks, and there they sat, for decades or even longer, until the place itself fell or was torn down.
I wasn't responsible for the detailing of the Depot office. Personally it is still quite sparse, however the one how is responsible cares more about "What looks good" rather historical accuracy.
As for my hat, in my feeble defense, there were a rare handful of eccentric railroaders. One good exable is an engineer on the United Verde & Pacific RR in Arizona. He was known as the "White Collar Engineer" because he ALWAYS wore a nice brown vest with a white collared shirt and a black bow tie, while operating an oil burning 2-6-0. Although this photo doesn't show it, he was also known for wearing a bowler hat.
http://archive.library.nau.edu/utils/ajaxhelper/?CISOROOT=cpa&CISOPTR=98521&action=2&DMSCALE=75&DMWIDTH=512&DMHEIGHT=512&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20Railroads--Employees&DMROTATE=0
As for my hat, in my feeble defense, there were a rare handful of eccentric railroaders. One good exable is an engineer on the United Verde & Pacific RR in Arizona. He was known as the "White Collar Engineer" because he ALWAYS wore a nice brown vest with a white collared shirt and a black bow tie, while operating an oil burning 2-6-0. Although this photo doesn't show it, he was also known for wearing a bowler hat.
http://archive.library.nau.edu/utils/ajaxhelper/?CISOROOT=cpa&CISOPTR=98521&action=2&DMSCALE=75&DMWIDTH=512&DMHEIGHT=512&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=%20Railroads--Employees&DMROTATE=0
oddly enough, the only guys i can remember wearing those on the railroad in my life time, were in the b&b department or the water service. (we had a guy named tiny; 6'9 and 400lbs, he was in the water serivice; i.e. a plumber) and there were a couple of cabinet makers in the b&b (buildings and bridges; i.e. carpenters and construction). of course steam was mostly gone, even then. our steam was mostly oil, which still wasn't spotless but not as bad as coal. of course we had coal for caboose stoves in those days. when i was little i used to like wearing those because of all the pockets and everything i could carry in them.
i guess when i was really little and there was still steam, some of the guys did wear those, but they weren't really common, let alone typical. and i only know of one telegrapher who ever wore one of those visor things you always see them wear in the old movies. sometimes i have to wonder where holywood comes up with some of that stuff. other then in stations and on passenger trains, comptletely ordinary work clothes were worn, by most railroaders in the 1950s and still are. before i was born, was of course before i was born. but unlike europe and asia, where many railways mandate very specific uniforms, what i know of railroading in the western hemisphere, i doubt very much railroaders were ever very big on maintaining any kind of particularly "railroady" appearance. passenger service on trains of course had uniforms. station forces just had to dress presentable to meet the public. not ties, but dress shirts and slacks.
i guess when i was really little and there was still steam, some of the guys did wear those, but they weren't really common, let alone typical. and i only know of one telegrapher who ever wore one of those visor things you always see them wear in the old movies. sometimes i have to wonder where holywood comes up with some of that stuff. other then in stations and on passenger trains, comptletely ordinary work clothes were worn, by most railroaders in the 1950s and still are. before i was born, was of course before i was born. but unlike europe and asia, where many railways mandate very specific uniforms, what i know of railroading in the western hemisphere, i doubt very much railroaders were ever very big on maintaining any kind of particularly "railroady" appearance. passenger service on trains of course had uniforms. station forces just had to dress presentable to meet the public. not ties, but dress shirts and slacks.
Great "Retro" image here. I've been hunting the thrift stores and flea markets in search of an old Underwood portable typewriter from the late 1940s or early 1960s, but they've been pretty scarce. Anyhoo, I like all the Period props and how your outfit seems to blend in with the time.
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