In this short video, we look at a photograph by Walker Evans, who visited Edwards, Mississippi in 1936. From an elevated vantage point above the railroad tracks, he photographs the tracks running through town and creates an evocative portrait of a small southern town. Along with other photographers working under the auspices of the Farm Security Administration during the depression, Evans produced some of the most memorable images from this troubled time, work that assured his place among the master of American photography.
In the effort to preserve railroad history, our efforts are most often focused on the physical aspects of the railroad and its infrastructure. But another, and sometimes neglected, element of history lives in the memories of those railroaders who lived that history as part of their day-to-day job.
In this episode of Legacies: Living History, we talk with three retired train dispatchers for an insider’s look at the job of the dispatcher, the ups and downs of day to day railroad operations, and some memorable stories that took place over the span of nearly 50 years.
History, the natural and man-made landscape, photography, and the railroad all come together in the work of photographer Michael Froio. In this episode of Talking Pictures, we discuss Michael’s photography, his on-going projects and his unique approach to railroad photography through the lens of time and place.
Talking Pictures is an ongoing series of video podcasts. Focusing on the images, each episode features photographers and artist discussing their own work, or images that they find inspirational or meaningful.
Join us, and if you like what you see, give the video a “thumbs up” (it helps spread the word) and share your thoughts in the comments.
One of the things I regret is that I did not take the time to learn more about my family history from my parents when they were still living. Now I have a lot of questions and it is too late to ask. One of the best ways to learn about earlier times is to talk to the people who lived through them.
A while back, John Springer, who is a regular contributor the The Trackside Photographer, phoned me and said that he knew of several retired railroaders who had worked at a time when telegraphy and morse code were still in use by the railroad. A few weeks before Christmas, we had the opportunity to record a conversation with three “old-timers” and listen to their stories. This is history—living history.
Their stories are fascinating, and provide a vivid glimpse into a time when railroad operations were more akin to the 19th than to the 21st century.
It’s been almost a year since we added a video to The Trackside Photographer’s YouTube channel, but we have a new video up and I hope you will take a minute to view it. It is a brief (less than five minutes) contemplation of the remains of Southern and Baltimore & Ohio railroads in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Strasburg Junction was once the hub of rail activity in the Valley, but is a ghost of its former self.
If you like this video, please give it a thumbs-up, and consider subscribing to our YouTube channel. We don’t upload new videos very often, but if you subscribe, at least you will know when we do.
And a Book
If you live near the Shenandoah Valley, or find yourself railfanning there, this book is highly recommended. Bob Cohen travels station by station down the Baltimore & Ohio from Brunswick, Maryland to Strasburg, Virginia and then follows the Southern Railway from Strasburg to Lexington, Virginia. Along the way, he tells about the history of each stop and provides historic photos of the stations, people and track structures. He also includes a listing of known Station Agents at each depot. I am indebted to Bob for the history of Strasburg Junction included in the video.
A Trip by Rail in the Shenandoah Valley is available at Ron’s Books.
Great photographs help us see things in new ways, and reveal things that might otherwise remain hidden, or escape our notice. This is, of course true of all art.
Edward Hopper was an American painter who lived from 1882 until 1967. and his work has had a profound influence on the visual arts over the years. Photographers often cite him as an inspiration for their own work.
