VGN photo

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Doc Scheer, and Other Hail Fellow Well-Met:

No mountains in your photograph.  Ergo, pro'ly on the Naw'ffik Division.

Looks to me as if the near track is the Main Track, which means the
passenger train must be "in the hole" for a meet.

I want you to notice something in this photo - something you almost never
see any more.  Look at the near track. and notice how the "ballast section"
tapers down to the ground.  At the bottom of that taper is a somewhat
narrow "pathway" parallelling the track.  That is where the Trainmen (and
others) walked.  It was clear of vegetation due to both cinders and foot
traffic.  Those paths no longer exist.

At night, there is a lot of condensation on weeds.  Walking on those paths
in the old days kept our shoes dry.  In today's world, where the pathways
are all overgrown, one's footwear quickly becomes soggy from night
condensation on the weeds.  And the poor soul who must walk his 13,000 foot
train has wet feet after the first 10 car lengths.

So saith The Old Brakeman, now laid up on the side track and wishing for
the Days of Old...

-- abram burnett
Our Turnips are Always in Condition 3:  Cruiser Ready
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