Author Archives: THE OLD MACHINIST

About THE OLD MACHINIST

I am 89 years old and was married for 66 years. My wife passed away in 2016. I am a retired engineer and spent 35 years developing INS gyroscopes. I was a High School mentor in physics, a mountaineer, a model builder, a machinist and I have a degree in Physics. My interests include railroad history and photography, science history, cosmology, interesting people, and old engineering drawings. I place a high value on my friendships. I enjoying my life and I try look forward with a sense of anticipation and curiosity about what my future has in store for me.

THE LITTLE LOCOMOTIVE AND THE BIG LIFT

Posted on January 18, 2018 by THE OLD MACHINIST

These are photographs taken at RAILFAIR 91 during a demonstration of a SPRR wrecking crane. It does not appear to be a very heavy lift for the very large piece of machinery. The stack fire did not last very long … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES | Leave a comment

UNION PACIFIC PHOTOGRAPHS

Posted on July 15, 2017 by THE OLD MACHINIST

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, THEN AND NOW IN PICTURES | Tagged IF YOU LIKE "TRAIN PICTURES" | Leave a comment

UPRR 6900’s

Posted on May 5, 2017 by THE OLD MACHINIST

These are photographs I made of 6900’s at East Yard in Los Angeles, Ogden and Sacramento many years ago.

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, OGDEN, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, THE WAY IT WAS | Leave a comment

MORNING STEAM-UP AT CHAMA

Posted on June 11, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

These are images of the preparations of the locomotives used for a snow plowing train at Chama, New Mexico. I do not recall the exact date, but I believe they were taken in the 1980’s. The C&TS RR opened … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, HOW THIS & THAT IS DONE, NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, THE WAY IT WAS | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, NARROW GAUGE CARS, STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, STEAM-UP BEGINS | Leave a comment

DURANGO D&RGW, 1965 IMAGES

Posted on June 7, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

These photographs were made during a visit to Durango, Colorado in 1965. Enjoy! The Old Machinist

Posted in DEPOT BUILDINGS, HISTORICAL PICTURES, NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, STEAM LOCOMOTIVES | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, RAILROAD DEPOTS, STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, YOU WILL LIKE THESE | Leave a comment

PFE ICE DOCK

Posted on April 11, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

These are images scanned from my 1969 Salt Lake City slides. This is a standard PFE ice dock. It is long gone. Click to enlarge images.

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, THIS IS A MODEL WAITING FOR A BUILDER, UTAH AREA AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, FORTY YEAR OLD COLORSLIDES, HOW DID THEY DO THAT?, UTAH | Leave a comment

THE AT&SF DEPOT AT SANTA FE SPRINGS

Posted on March 18, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

The AT&SF depot building, formerly located at the Santa Fe Springs station, is long gone. However, a replica depot was built for display in a park within the City of Santa Fe Springs, California as part of a railroad exhibit. It … Continue reading →

Posted in DEPOT BUILDINGS, DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, HISTORICAL PICTURES, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, THE WAY IT WAS, THIS IS A MODEL WAITING FOR A BUILDER | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, RAILROAD DEPOTS | Leave a comment

A DISTANT MEMORY OF A PARK LOCOMOTIVE

Posted on March 15, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

I took a series of photographs of this “park” locomotive operating near Whittier Narrows, in an amusement park, in 1964. I think it is a relic of the Venice, California canal railroad, ca 1915. I believe someone out there may … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, PARK LOCOMOTIVES, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, THE WAY IT WAS | Tagged RARE APPEARANCE, STEAM LOCOMOTIVE | Leave a comment

MORE CT&S SNOWPLOW IMAGES

Posted on February 22, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

I have been using these images of a CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD snow clearance train, that I obtained while I was a paying paying rider of the charter train that followed, as my computer screen saver file. They deserve … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, HOW THIS & THAT IS DONE, NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS, NEVER AGAIN TO BE SEEN, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, STEEP GRADES, THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, THE WAY IT WAS | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, A VERY OLD S.P. ENGINEHOUSE, COMPETENCE IS A MUST HERE!, HOW DID THEY DO THAT?, NARROW GAUGE CARS, RARE APPEARANCE, STEAM-UP BEGINS | Leave a comment

MAY, 1969 AND THE SURVIVER POSES AT OGDEN

Posted on February 4, 2016 by THE OLD MACHINIST

I found this image as I was browsing my files and I could not resist sharing it with you. The title refers to the amazing fact this locomotive is the only steam locomotive never “set aside” by a Class I railroad in … Continue reading →

Posted in OGDEN, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, THE WAY IT WAS, UPRR LOCOMOTIVE 8444, UPRR STEAM PROGRAM PICTURES, UTAH AREA AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD | Tagged A HISTORY LESSON, A MIRACLE? NO - JUST HARD WORK!, LIKE SPITOONS - THIS WAY WILL LIVE FOREVER., MY FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHS, OUT WITH THE OLD - HOW SAD IT SEEMED THEN, STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, UPRR STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, UTAH | Leave a comment