PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD locomotives were some of the the finest machines ever built. THE STANDARD RAILROAD OF THE WORLD, the PENNSY used only the best. Who can dispute the Pennsy's K4 Pacific (4-6-2) as locomotive perfection? Raymond Loewy designed streamlined, K4's, T1's, S1's and the ultimate electric locomotive the GG1. Later, Tuscan Red and Brunswick Green diesels locomotives like Baldwin Sharks, and EMD E7s & 8's, with cat whisker pin stripes raced along the 4 track PENNSY mainlines, pulling premier trains like the BROADWAY LIMITED. The PENNSY merged with the NEW YORK CENTRAL to form PENN CENTRAL, it is now part of CONRAIL, but as of a few weeks ago Conrail is nomore, it is now divided up between Chessie (CSX) and Norfolk Southern Railroad. NS, if you're listening, that horse logo would look great comming out of a red Penny keystone.
My great-great-grandfather James Henderson was an engineer on the Pennsy in Derry, PA, and My great-grandfather (grandmothers side) Michael James Wallace was a yard master for the P&LE at Pittsburgh. I never worked for the Railroad, but I've always had a fascination with trains. I grew up near the PENNSYLVANIA'S Conemaugh Main Line in Harmarville, PA. My grade school was on old Rt. 28 in Harmarville and you could see the PENNSY and later the PENN CENTRAL freight trains rolling by everyday. Many a schoolboy daydream accompanied those trains to points unknown. I think every kid dreams of being an engineer at one time or another. I started drawing and painting locomotives while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1975 and I still draw them today. Below are a few examples. The last days of steam on the PENNSY were in 1957, the year I was born. I've traveled all over Pennsylvania photographing the last remaining steam locomotives. I collect anything railroad related.
|
