Author Archives: THE OLD MACHINIST

Unknown's avatar

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.

RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM

Posted on January 2, 2014 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 9 photos.

These photographs are mere teasers. You must visit OERM for the details!

More Galleries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SOMEHOW THIS DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT

Posted on January 2, 2014 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 3 photos.

I have driven by this spot many times, but recently I stopped to take a closer look at this misaligned section of track hoping to find a clue to the reason for the misalignment. No luck in this, instead, I … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged | Leave a comment

SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM

Posted on January 1, 2014 by THE OLD MACHINIST
Posted in NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY AT OERM, ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHS, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, SPECIAL EVENT AT OERM, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, VC-2 STEAM ENGINE PICTURES | Tagged | Leave a comment

WHOOPS! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

Posted on January 1, 2014 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This photo has a little bit of history attached to it. The Santa Fe Railroad Historical & Modeling Society, Western Archive, donated materials related to the Union Pacific Railroad to the Union Pacific Historical Society and these materials came into … Continue reading →

Posted in THE WAY IT WAS, THIS IS NOT GOOD! | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

BIG CHANGE IN CAJON PASS

Posted on September 20, 2013 by THE OLD MACHINIST

THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD EXERCISED THEIR RIGHT TO A ROUTE THROUGH THE CAJON PASS BY CONSTRUCTING A NEW LINE FROM COLTON TO PALMDALE. THE NEW LINE SAW ITS FIRST REVENUE FREIGHT TRAIN IN 1967. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I MADE TRIPS TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, HISTORICAL PICTURES, HOW THIS & THAT IS DONE, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, THE WAY IT WAS | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IS MORE THEN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

Posted on April 23, 2013 by THE OLD MACHINIST

THE TITLE BEGS THE QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE PARTS THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IS GREATER THEN THE SUM OF? ON A RECENT FRIDAY MORNING, THE MUSEUM’S ACTIVE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE, THE VC-2, WAS BEING PREPARED FOR THE WEEKEND PASSENGER TRAINS TO PERRIS. … Continue reading →

Posted in ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHS, STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, VC-2 STEAM ENGINE PICTURES | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SPEEDER TURN-AROUND

Posted on February 11, 2013 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 11 photos.

My wife and I visited Silverton, Colorado on our trip home  after attending the 2012 Union Pacific Historical Society convention held at North Platte, Nebraska. While at the Silverton Depot of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad we watched … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

THE OLD MACHINIST’S FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NOW

Posted on January 22, 2013 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 12 photos.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FROM MY COLLECTION OF COLOR SLIDES. THE SELECTION WAS BASED ON NOTHING MORE THAN I LIKE THEM. I SCANNED THE SLIDES USING A plustek 7600i SCANNER WITH VueScan SOFTWARE. THE ONLY IMAGE CORRECTION DURING SCANNING WAS WHITE … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

ADDED ATTRACTION IN STOCKTON – UPRR DERAILMENT!

Posted on November 30, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 16 photos.

The Union Pacific Railroad Historical Society held the 1993 annual Convention in Stockton, California. The attendees were looking forward to learning more about the recently absorbed Western Pacific Railroad and the interesting history of its construction and operation. One of … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SOMETHING DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT; BETTER CHECK IT OUT.

Posted on November 27, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This gallery contains 4 photos.

It was 1968 and my Wife’s brother was home on leave. We had decided to show Joe a little bit of the high desert in the Antelope Valley area and we were headed home in the late afternoon when I … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , | Leave a comment