I just got this real photo postcard of Class A No. 23 looking very new and clean, You can clearly see the way the different courses of the boiler are finished. Check out the stars on the driver centers. No wonder the engineer and fireman (which is who I presume we see here) look proud.
My guess from the hoppers in the background and the rooflines behind them is that this is at AV? What do you think? Let’s see if anyone can identify the crewmen. Photo and caption by Steve Swirsky.
Here is an interesting and very sharp image of Class E No. 227 switching a combination car at Ellenville on June 30, 1938. Many yard images are of freight moves, so the photos of passenger equipment being switched are often quite rare. It was a common practice of the O&W, on the branches where there was any appreciable package or express business left to handle, for a train to leave an empty baggage or combination car parked by the freight house or the baggage room on a house track. . . then to be loaded and picked up on some day following by another train. Photo and Caption Courtesy of Mal Houck. After Mal sent me this photo Doug Barberio contacted me and said he had another shot (see below)taken on the same day. Photo courtesy of Doug Barberio.
Do you recognize anyone in this photo? You should, as all of these guys are responsible for bringing the O&WRHS to the level that it is today.
Starting left to right is John Pavelchak, Carl Ohlson, George Shammas, Al Seebach and John Bifano.
O&W Hose Company at the scene of a a Pharmacy fire in Norwich, 1904. Barry Abisch Collection.
O&W Fire Brigade posing as a group for an official photo. George S. Shammas collection.
From Pete McGourty: “My Great Grandfather Joseph Barnes. He is sitting behind the “W” on the parade banner, with the cocked hat.”
This is from a Real Postcard I purchased at a shop in Kingston. The notation on the reverse purports that it was taken at Kingston, ca. 1924. I have no idea whether or not this is accurate, but so far as the Sykes Seagull was purchased by the O&W (as reported in the Annual Report for 1924 at a cost of $22,449.51) that information may be the origin of the date inscription on this card. Mal Houck
The latest addition to Hot Shots shows a train that appears to be pulled by Y-2 Heavy Mountain 453. I just noticed at the very right of that photo, what appears to be a section shanty, with a wooden deck walkway to meet the rails. I now know where this photo was taken. I have a real photo of this shanty made by the operator. This location was known as “G” in telegraph call letters.
I believe the photographer is standing at or near Weiss Road, and is looking north at this southbound train. While poking around this area 7 or 8 years ago, we (Ken Hojnacki) and I found part of a green switch target in and around the switch you see in the photo. OMG! Below is another photo of this operator shanty with the sign above the building. I had to photo shop the sign in as much contrast as I could to reveal the wording. What I would do for that sign!..Caption and photo courtesy of George Shammas
This priceless shot overlooking Weehawken is from the George Conrad collection (he was a very prolific rail photographer, mostly of the NYC area) and was donated by Frank Florianz.
This perspective shot of the AV station platform, most likely post-abandonment, was sent to us by Society President, George Shammas. Note the signage above the windows.
Haven Depot Part II
This is the other side of the coin re the question of the Haven depot. Here is the view from the other side of the tracks, without the train in place. This real photo postcard, postmarked at Haven NY on what looks like June 14, 1912 (and the month is the only part of the postmark that is questionable) you can see the answer to the question of was there a structure and if so what was it. It is a small shed (looks like Allen could do it at the O&W Carshop) with a stovepipe out the roof, one side window to the road and a patch of dirt between the building and the track. Looks like something to hold coal against the back of the building. The photo below was previously posted in Hot Shots and according to Steve was most likely taken the same day by the same photographer. Photo and caption courtesy of Steve Swirsky.
This amazing real photo view shows Engine 16, a parlor car, coach and combine leaving the station at Haven. Haven was between Wurtsboro and Westbrookville on the Port Jervis Branch. The list of stations on the website lists Haven as a flag stop, same as Westbrookville, however I know that Westbrookville had a structure. My question is whether there was ever a station at Haven? The card has a 1907 Haven postmark, so I know there had to be a post office. What is on the other side of the track behind the passenger cars? Photo and caption courtesy of Steve Swirsky.
There were actually two glass plates we scanned of RF Tower. Here is the second one which was taken closer to the tower, standing on the northbound track.
MS (Main Street) Tower is located at Railroad Ave. This was a 28 lever mechanical interlocking that controlled nine switches along with various signals. This permitted the Erie to use trackage rights on O&W for 3.5 miles to RF tower at Crawford Jct. in order to access their Pine Bush branch. In addition, this permitted the Erie, O&W and the M&U to interchange with each other via the long crossover switch. This switch for the long crossover is in view in the lower left of this photograph connecting to the O&W southbound main line.
By 1932 both MS tower and RF tower were replaced by dwarf signals but the operations essentially remained the same. They would call the O&W dispatcher in AV depot from the M&U/ M&NJ to gain access to the O&W main line. The Erie by this time was running only a motor car to Pine Bush that soon would end leaving only milk and local freight to traverse this route for the remaining time of the O&W’s existence. This tower’s telegraph call letter is not to be confused with the Erie’s MS Tower that was located at Middletown Summit on the Erie main line. Caption by Doug Barberio, – Scan and editing by Ron Vassallo – O&WRHS Glass Plate Negative Collection.
Colorized version by Paul Lubliner.
This amazing real photo view shows Engine 16, a parlor car, coach and combine leaving the station at Haven. Haven was between Wurtsboro and Westbrookville on the Port Jervis Branch. The list of stations on the website lists Haven as a flag stop, same as Westbrookville, however I know that Westbrookville had a structure. My question is whether there was ever a station at Haven? The card has a 1907 Haven postmark, so I know there had to be a post office. What is on the other side of the track behind the passenger cars? Photo and caption courtesy of Steve Swirsky.
Once again the Photo of the month goes to Steve Swirsky and this excellent photo of the Middletown Coal Yards. Steve Swirsky Collection.
O&WRHS Member Steve Swirsky sent us this Charles Ketcham photo of the “NYO&W R.R.” Fire Department during a Fire Parade in MIddletown. In his e-mail he notes, “The date may be around 1912 as the 48 star flag was adopted July 4, 1912. ”
If you look closely at the banner in the distance it says “Ontario Hose Company – Liberty. There is one other photo I know of showing the NYO&W Fire Department and that is the one in the Middletown Observer showing the Ontario Hose Company No. 5. Is this banner for the same company or was there another company with a similar name from Liberty joining the parade? Were there any broadsides or special tickets for this event showing the date? When was Old Home Week held as noted in the writing?
Aside from posing many questions, I think this photo tells us a great deal about the citizenry of Middletown and it’s history. They were obviously very proud of their “bravest” and it is reflected by the throng of men and women gathered to pay tribute and show their appreciation. P.S. – Where can I get one of those cool hats?!
The Summitville NY (SV) pump house is clearly seen in the lower right hand corner of the image. The pump house was a pretty good size………measuring 16′ X 16′ and enclosing an 18 h.p. Ames boiler to power a Worthington pump. From the data I have, the water was pumped from a spring and the well sump was only about 6′ deep! In the image you can see both a Northbound on the Main, and a Southbound heading down the line to Valley Junction. As in the photo caption in the Observer, you can also see a mail crane still in place for “catches” on the Southbound track. Mal Houck