Negative No. 16434 - Where?

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The data on the envelope was not too detailed on Negative 16434. It was 
made on March 22, 1932 at Roanoke, no specific location given, but 
based on my observations, what you wrote about Shaffers Crossing is 
correct.

The electric lantern may well have been provided for the photo, I know 
that there were at least a few on the railroad in the 1930s, certainly 
not common, but to get the photo, this was probably what was used, for 
this specific situation

This photo was used on the May 1932 Magazine cover.

Ken Miller

and yes, that does seem to be a derby!

On Oct 22, 2006, at 9:49 PM, nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:


> I haven't received anything from the N&W List for ten days, so either 

> His Excellency, the Editor, is on strike or the Telegraph wire fell 

> off the fence post.  Or... maybe I have been flagged at the bar.

>

> Attached is a scan of a not-too-often published photo which N&W 

> identifies as Negative No. 16434.

>

> The question is... where and when was this photo taken?

>  

> If I had to take a guess, judging from the curve in the telegraph 

> poles I'd guess it's atop the 24th Street Tunnel at Shaffers Crossing, 

> looking east.  The track on the left would be the Westbound Main Line, 

> and the track occupied by the engine would be the Running Track.  The 

> two dirt crossings would be for accessing the Water Softener Plant, 

> and the white building (gone by the time I came around) would appear 

> to be a section gang motor car house.

>  

> Now, what gives me pause is that the "operator" has an electric 

> lantern.  That says "1940s."

>  

> So, Mr. Ken Miller, what's the story on this photograph?  You are 

> probably the only man in the world who knows !

>  

> And, Ken... is that a derby on the brakeman's head?

>  

> -- abram burnett

> <N&W Neg 16434.jpg>________________________________________

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