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 EVOLUTION OF THE CAJON PASS SUMMIT AREA

Posted on October 1, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

If you are a Southern California railfan, you know of the railroad route that goes from San Bernardino to Victorville via Cajon Pass. To the railfan-photographer it is known as an area of many locales for very dramatic pictures. To … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, RAILROAD STRUCTURES, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, THE WAY IT WAS | Tagged HOW DID THEY DO THAT? | 1 Comment

AN EXAMPLE OF USEFUL LONGEVITY

Posted on September 27, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

My wife and I recently rode the C&TS R.R. from Chama to Osier and back. Our train’s locomotive was the 484. On more a hope than a hunch, I looked at my 1965 slides of the then D&RGW R.R.. Sure … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, NARROW GAUGE RAILROADS, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT | Leave a comment

“A PICTURE IS WORTH 10,000 WORDS”

Posted on September 27, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

Click to enlarge I and a railroad fan friend of mine burned some vacation time in Utah photographing the 1969 Gold Spike 100th. Anniversary celebration. The high-point for me was the daily run of the 8444 between Ogden … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS, UPRR LOCOMOTIVE 8444, UPRR STEAM PROGRAM PICTURES | Leave a comment

IT WAS A SAD, SAD SIGHT; LITTLE DID I KNOW!

Posted on September 26, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

When I photographed the 4466 in 1966, I thought the locomotive was headed to the scrapyard. It was a sad sight to behold sitting there in the weeds and old cinders. Little did I know! I next crossed paths with the 4466 … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES, RESTORED RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS | Leave a comment

EARLY DAYS AT ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM

Posted on September 24, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

I was not yet a member of the museum during the time these photographs were taken as I was busy with my new career and family. However, I managed to get some time set aside to visit interesting places on … Continue reading →

Posted in EARLY YEARS AT OERM, HOW THIS & THAT IS DONE, ORANGE EMPIRE RAILROAD MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHS | Tagged HOW DID THEY DO THAT? | 1 Comment

THE LAST UPRR PASSENGER TRAIN

Posted on September 23, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

The Union Pacific Railroad has a long and proud history of operating premier passenger trains. But alternate modes of public travel became available in the 1920 era and ridership of passenger trains of all U.S. railroads began a slow decline. This … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, HISTORICAL PICTURES, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES | Leave a comment

LAYING CONCRETE TIES AT CAJON PASS SUMMIT

Posted on September 22, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

My wife and I went for a “Sunday drive” to see the sights and we ended up at the overlook at Cajon Pass Summit in the early morning, whereupon we were surprised to see this strange contraption sitting on the mainline. … Continue reading →

Posted in HISTORICAL PICTURES, LAYING NEW CONCRETE TIES, STANDARD GAUGE RAILROADS | Leave a comment

SANTA FE BIG HOOK IN ACTION

Posted on September 4, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

This apparent sideswipe resulted in the lead locomotive of an Eastbound freight leaving the the rails and ending in the ditch. This accident happened in mid-1971 on the AT&SF mainline portion located near Carmenita, Cal. I do not recall the … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES | 1 Comment

A SECTION OF OLD TRACK – SO WHAT?

Posted on September 3, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

It was my good fortune to be a participant of a 1965 railfan excursion trip up the AT&SF Fallbrook branch line. Today the line is long gone and all that remains are our photographs. The Fallbrook branch was originally a … Continue reading →

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES, RAILROAD HISTORY IN PICTURES | 3 Comments

THE WYOMING SITE OF THE UNION PACIFIC’S INFAMOUS DALE CREEK BRIDGE

Posted on August 31, 2012 by THE OLD MACHINIST

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN DURING A UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CONVENTION HELD IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING. MY THANKS TO JIM EHRENBERGER FOR MAKING THIS RARE VISIT TO THE BRIDGE SITE POSSIBLE. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE BY THE OLD MACHINIST.

Posted in DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES | 9 Comments