VGN photo

[NW Mailing List]

Being a non-railroader, I always wondered how they got the ballast so neat
in old N&W photos. Here's a good video showing a spreader in action doing
ballast shaping. It really matches the right of way shown in photos from
the 50s (like below).
https://youtu.be/k5-w63a27VY

[image: Class TE1 Jawn Henry eastbound Blue Ridge grade.jpg]

Mike Rector

On Fri, Jun 20, 2025 at 9:59 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> 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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