Another set of pictures from my grandfather’s days as an investigator for the railroad…
The sign appears to say Elmore, but I can’t come up with any details as to ‘which’ Elmore…
Looking at the vehicles, I think this was after 1913. The steam wrecker was built up in Michigan, starting in 1907. One still exists with Nevada Northern Railway.
My googlefu sucks. I couldn’t come up with any additional data on this, and there was nothing written on the back of the pictures either…
In the second photo you can read the numbers on the side of the wrecker. But, I could not match them on Google or on Google images.
Maybe the Shorpy website might be interested. http://www.shorpy.com/
This link might be useful. You need to know the year and railroad.
http://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net/Contents
You said googlefu. Haha! I know I’m twelve.
HAPPY ST PATTYS DAY !!
Great pics!
gfa
John- Thanks! I couldn’t either… I tried for about four hours to chase this one down.
PE- I didn’t have that one, I’ll go dig and see if I can find something there!
Gargo- LOL
Angel- And to you!!!
gfa- Thank you!
Would have sucked to be a passenger on that train.
Something just clicked…is this the Grandfather that wore a Single Action Army for “work”?
School children will be asking why the camera didn’t embed GPS coordinates in the EXIF metadata.
Then complimenting you on your Instagram filter.
WSF- Oh yeah…
SPE- Yep! 🙂
Joe- LOL, probably!
It would be nice if you could figure it out…
But as an historian, I can’t say I am surprised that the information may not be out there. Most of it actually isn’t on the internet. Unless somebody, likely an unpaid historical society volunteer or somebody who happens to have a serious interest (and didn’t use a geocities account!), put it there; it won’t be there.
Best place to hide something these days is in a paper copy…
Did you look at Wiki? Great photos!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_railroad_accidents
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Railway_accidents_in_the_United_States
Knowing state(s) where your grandfather worked, maybe see if they have a state (or regional) railroaders’ history org.
Or that state’s historical society.
acair- I wish I could remember/go back and ask more questions. He died when I was about 10. And you’re right… Sigh
Mrs.C- Wiki was one of the many sources I tried… dammit…
Murray- He worked all over the west… Sigh. But that is an option! Thanks!
It’s a great legacy that he left you. We can only hope that we do the same for our families.
There were a lot more train wrecks back then than today, I imagine. With all the computers and safeguards and all. But then again, shit happens no matter what.
Great pictures.
I hope you learn The Rest Of The Story
Are you certain the sign says Elmore? Could it be a sign for something other than a town name? Street sign? I was unable to find any train wreck that relates to Elmore. In addition to the sources listed above, this one is also good http://www3.gendisasters.com/
LL- Agreed!
CP- Very true! And they STILL happen!
Rick- Thanks!
TZ- I think you are right. I did get in touch with a retired RR engineer, and he told me sometimes signs like that are used to specify a ‘block’ of track. If that’s true, this may be the Kansas wreck I alluded to earlier. And yes, I checked gendisasters page too, thanks!