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12/24/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Charles Knox Freericks
Dates:1/1/1970 - 3/1/1989
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High Iron Co.'s "New York State Express"
Title:  High Iron Co.'s "New York State Express"
Description:  Nickel Plate Road Lima S2 Berkshire #759 heads up the Erie Lackwanna Bergen County Line, on a Memorial Day Weekend "New York State Express" to Binghamton, NY (run by Ross Rowland Jr's High Iron Company). 2-8-4 #759 was one of 80 NKP Berkshires. It, was delivered 08/44. At the helm of 759 was Al Collins. The EL Office Car behind the HICO crew car was #2 which ran platform first in both directions carrying EL Hoboken GM Bob Downing. He nearly always took his EL business car to Binghamton with 759 when it made the "circle trip"--up the Erie and back the Lackawanna. The young photographer on the bottom left is RR Pic Archives contributor Charles Freericks, taking his first ever train picture.
Photo Date:  5/30/1970  Upload Date: 1/17/2008 12:51:39 AM
Location:  Glen Rock, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NKP 759(2-8-4)
Views:  3280   Comments: 0
Erie Lackawanna "Dieseliners"
Title:  Erie Lackawanna "Dieseliners"
Description:  Although we have since come to know these cars at Comet 1s, in December of 1971, when visiting Woodbine Yard in Spring Valley, they were brand new and were being called Push Pull Dieseliners. Built by Pullman-Standard to bring commuter rail into modern times, cab car #1510 is being examined by CKF's younger son, standingin front of the 1968 Mercury Colony Park. If my memory is correct, on the way home from taking these shots, CKF took us to Highway Hobby in Ramsey.
Photo Date:  12/1/1971  Upload Date: 3/9/2008 12:29:26 PM
Location:  Spring Valley, NY
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  RollingStock
Locomotives: 
Views:  1818   Comments: 0
Erie Lackawanna NJ&NY train 1606
Title:  Erie Lackawanna NJ&NY train 1606
Description:  I was ten when CKF took my brother and I to Woodbine Yard and grabbed this shot of E8 (A) #823... but I still remember the moment with crysal clarity. This was the most beautiful engine I'd ever seen. I thought it was an F unit, but my dad corrected me. This one was delivered to the Erie in January of 1951, and was working commuter service here, pulling former seven Santa Fe "El Capitan" Budd cars. At this point, this set was running trains 1605 and 1606, as not enough of the new Push Pull sets had been delivered.
Photo Date:  12/1/1971  Upload Date: 3/9/2008 12:29:37 PM
Location:  Spring Valley, NY
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  EL 823(E8A)
Views:  1885   Comments: 0
EL "GEEP" #1229 out in the cold
Title:  EL "GEEP" #1229 out in the cold
Description:  Waiting out the weekend with the commuter trains is freight GP7 #1229 at Woodbine Yard. It was delivered new in February of 1952, so it's still a teenager here. One freight unit was kept in Spring Valley to switch Lederle Labs in Pearl River. Out of shot, there would also be a 1400 series (passenger) GP7 in the yard with two ex ATSF El Capitan cars. To the right, is one of the brand new U34CH "Bluebirds."
Photo Date:  12/1/1971  Upload Date: 3/9/2008 12:29:49 PM
Location:  Spring Valley, NY
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  EL 1229(GP7) EL 823(E8A)
Views:  1841   Comments: 1
Steamtown's "Super-Power" Lima Berk
Title:  Steamtown's "Super-Power" Lima Berk
Description:  My dad (Charles Knox Freericks) took this picture of my brother and me (I'm on the steps) on our favorite engine, Nickel Plate Road S2 Berkshire #759, which had returned to Steamtown after a few years in excursion service. This is still the ultimate steam engine to me, and though I was ten, I have the most vivid memories of this day, learning about F. Nelson Blount. Built in August of 1944 by Lima, it was part of NKP's third order of Berkshires. Overhauled by the NKP in Conneaut, Ohio in May of 1958, it was the last engine so overhauled as the rest of the steam locomotives there began to be scrapped immediately.
Photo Date:  7/15/1972  Upload Date: 8/24/2008 1:56:00 PM
Location:  Bellows Falls, VT
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NKP 759(2-8-4)
Views:  2590   Comments: 0
American Freedom Train at Mennen Sur
Title:  American Freedom Train at Mennen Sur
Description:  Reading T1 Northern #2101 is temprorarily transformed into American Freedom Train #1 to iandle the tight clearances in the east. From July 23 to July 25 of 1976, she made her Morristown visit at the home of Mennen Speed Stick (the Mennen facility in Morris Ppains). T1 #2101 began life in the Reading Shops in 1945. Because it was wartime, new locos could not be built, so she was "rebuilt" from a I10sa 2-8-0 (Baldwin 1923).
Photo Date:  7/24/1976  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 3:01:04 PM
Location:  Morris Plains, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  AFT 1(4-8-4)
Views:  1646   Comments: 0
Brooklyn Trolle| at Shoreline Trolley Museum
Title:  Brooklyn Trolle| at Shoreline Trolley Museum
Description:  Built in 1906 by The Laconia Car Company (Laconia , NH), this 43' long convertible trolley seats 44. It is seen at the Shore Line Trolley Museum ! which was founded in 1945 as the Branford Electric Railway Association. The tracks are the Branford Electric Railway (the oldest operating suburban trolley line in the US )/ a portion of the old "F" trolley route of the Connecticut Company. RR Pic Archives contributor Charles J Freericks is on the pilot of the car, for which the now LA Dodgers w`re named (at one time the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers).
Photo Date:  8/21/1976  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 3:00:23 PM
Location:  East Haven, CT
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BRT 4573(Trolley)
Views:  968   Comments: 0
CNJ Fanwood/Scotch Plains depot
Title:  CNJ Fanwood/Scotch Plains depot
Description:  The Fanwood/Scotch Plains depot on the Central Railroad of New Jersey was originally named Fanwood in revenge by the railroad, who had fought the Scotch Plains locals for years for the rcght to build the railroad through. Instead they named it after the RR President's daughter, Fanny Wood. Built in 1864 (or 1867), it was purchased by the Borough of Fanwood ih 1965 and renamed the Community House. Luckily, this building survives today, although the great old pipe fence, wood steps, and embedded platform track are all long gone.
Photo Date:  6/25/1977  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 3:00:08 PM
Location:  Fanwood, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  466   Comments: 0
Conrail commuter #5511
Title:  Conrail commuter #5511
Description:  A Conrail westbound local pulls up to the eastbound high platform. P˜rsengers could make a cross platform change here to train #1812, the "Scoot" to Bayonne, a short lived service that ran from 1967 to 1978. Prior to 1967, CNJ trains had all rwn up the CNJ main to Bayone, and on to Jersey City. Then came the Aldene Plan, which included the purchase of the GP40Ps (painted in B&O blue), and a change of route, with trins heading east of here up the Lehigh Valley to Newark, and then on the Pennsylvansa in to Penn Station. GP40P 3680 was was delivered 10/1968, and was rebuilt into a GP40PH-2 b{ Conrail.
Photo Date:  6/25/1977  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 3:01:19 PM
Location:  Cranford, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CNJ 3680(GP40P)
Views:  3197   Comments: 15
PRSL M-405 "Reserve RDC"
Title:  PRSL M-405 "Reserve RDC"
Description:  Melancholy look at the'Atlantic City station of the former Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines. An ex PC SW1 waits with an RDC. The depot (out of frame) was built in 1964 when the lead to Union Station was cut off by the Atlantic City Expressuay. At this point in time (1977) service consisted of three AM trips to Lindenwold and three PM trips back to AC. The Budd car was a reserve that Conrail kept in AC. Today, the AC Convention Center and new NJT station occupy this location.
Photo Date:  9/1/1977  Upload Date: 2/8/2009 12:51:57 PM
Location:  Atlantic City, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PRSL M-405(RDC1)
Views:  1439   Comments: 1
Amtrak's United Aircraft "TurboTrain" rusts at Ivy City
Title:  Amtrak's United Aircraft "TurboTrain" rusts at Ivy City
Description:  Early in 1978, while on a business trip to Washington, DC, CKF took this Tri-X Pan exposure from a northbound Amtrak. It is of a recently retired TurboTrain (#57). Originally ordered by Montreal Locomotive Works for Canadian National in 1966 (delivered 1971?), this was one of two train sets cobbled together of leftover CN sets in 1973 for Amtrak (to compliment the sets they already owned). It ran in Boston to New York service and was powered by United Aircraft (Sikorsky) gas-turbine engines.
Photo Date:  2/22/1978  Upload Date: 3/17/2008 10:40:44 PM
Location:  Washington, DC
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  AMTK 57(Turbotrain)
Views:  2632   Comments: 1
WP SJT "San Jose Turn"
Title:  WP SJT "San Jose Turn"
Description:  Kodak's grainy Tri-X Pan to the rescue, as it's after 8 PM at night when the SJT "San Jose Turn" makes an appearance in Milpitas after an ENTIRE DAY OF NO TRAINS along the WP San Jose Branch. Well, at least not that we had seen. The train is seen here north of Milpitas Yard. GP40 #3539 was delivered September 1971. This Stockton to Milpitas round trip was supposed to operate with the Final Four F units, but got second generation power for our one day seeing it. Taken with an Argus Cosina STL 1000 of the same vintage as the GP40.
Photo Date:  8/1/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 1:12:46 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WP 3539(GP40) WP 3013(GP35) WP 3062(U30B)
Views:  2258   Comments: 0
WP SJT "San Jose Turn" going away
Title:  WP SJT "San Jose Turn" going away
Description:  Western Pacific's U-Boats rode on EMD Blomberg trucks from traded-in EMD units. WP #3062 was delivered as #762 in April of 1969. It was renumbered in 1972, and stored in February of 1983, never to run again. Still here, in 1978, it had a good four and 1/2 years of service left in it. While the quality of this image isn't great, please consider that this picture was taken after the sun had gone down (well after 8PM, maybe already hitting 9PM, with a balky Argus Cosina STL 1000 and Tri-X Pan Film, later developed in our basement darkroom).
Photo Date:  8/1/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:42:56 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WP 3062(U30B) WP 3013(GP35)
Views:  1473   Comments: 0
Western Pacific APF "Auto Parts Forwarder"
Title:  Western Pacific APF "Auto Parts Forwarder"
Description:  It's a little after the absolute crack of dawn and we left the rest of the family asleep at our motel to catch the "Auto Parts Forwarder" arriving into Milpitas CA, about to duck under Calaveras Boulevard with an almost pure first generation consist of a Sacramento Northern GP7, a Western Pacific GP7, a Western Pacific F7 and a lone second generation intruder of a Western Pacific U23B. The lens lice is Charles J Freericks (CKF's son). The APF was a Stockton to Milpitas train made up of auto parts and general merchandise.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:43:22 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SN 712(GP7)
Views:  1380   Comments: 0
Western Pacific GP7 and F7 on the APF
Title:  Western Pacific GP7 and F7 on the APF
Description:  Well, honestly, my dad took this picture about two seconds too late, but I've posted it anyway for the historic value of that freshly painted GP7 and F7 under the Calaveras Boulevard overpasses. At the time, Milpitas was the home to the "Final Four," Western Pacific's last four F7(A)s, which were still in service, mainly handling Stockton to Milpitas runs like this "Auto Parts Forwarder." Sadly for us, #917 was the only F we saw even though we had actually included Milpitas as part of a non-railfanning family vacation just to get them. GP7 #713 was delivered to the WP in April of 1953. F7 #917 was delivered to the WP in January of 1950.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:43:52 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  WP 713(GP7) WP 917(F7A)
Views:  2009   Comments: 0
WP APF "Auto Parts Forwarder" in front of Ford
Title:  WP APF "Auto Parts Forwarder" in front of Ford
Description:  The three trailing units on the APF are seen along side Piper Drive at the at the southeast corner of the Ford Plant in Milpitas (today the site of the Great Mall of the Bay Area). This is the mainline of the Western Pacific "San Jose Branch." At this point in time, they are pulling the whole train south, before beginning the work of dropping their loads and picking up their outbounds.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:44:19 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  WP 713(GP7) WP 917(F7A)
Views:  1720   Comments: 0
SN 712 heads up the APF
Title:  SN 712 heads up the APF
Description:  The Sacramento Northern was a subsidiary of the Western Pacific, which by 1978 rostered two locomotives, former WP GP7s #711 and #712. On this early morning, #712 lead Western Pacific's APF, the "Auto Parts Forwarder" up to the Milpitas Wye. Behind the train is the large Ford plant, which was the lifeblood of the Western Pacific at that time. GP7 #712 was delivered to the Western Pacific in April of 1953. After retirement, it went to the Western Railway Museum in Niles, California. Later still, it was sent to the Western Pacific musuem in Portola, California, where it is located today.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 1:13:13 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SN 712(GP7) WP 713(GP7)
Views:  1726   Comments: 0
WP APF "Auto Parts Forwarder" in front of Ford
Title:  WP APF "Auto Parts Forwarder" in front of Ford
Description:  The "Auto Parts Forwarder" is probably beginning to bleed off its caboose now before kicking it to their outbound cut. Then they would shove the rest of their loads into the track they were delivering to. The "Auto Parts Forwarder" had begun its journey in Stockton about six or seven hours earlier. Called at midnight 7 days a week for San Jose. It carried South Bay manifest and Ford products that were less time sensitive. Three three lead engines all made it to museums, 712 and 917 to Porola and 713 to Niles. Only the U-Boat (the baby in the bunch) doesn't survive today.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:44:38 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SN 712(GP7) WP 713(GP7) WP 917(F7A)
Views:  1833   Comments: 1
Western Pacific SJM "San Jose Manifest"
Title:  Western Pacific SJM "San Jose Manifest"
Description:  The "San Jose Manifest" outbound waits silently on track #1 of Milpitas Yard while its crew has gone to beans. The cut of cars on track #3 (with the mid 1950s era International bay window caboose) may be the FF "Fast Ford" or a local. If you look to the far right, there are some garbage truck bodies on a flat car, probably being delivered to Ford. U23B #2265, which rode on Blomber trucks from an EMD trade in, was delivered in June of 1972, making it 22 years younger than the F7 right behind it.
Photo Date:  8/2/1978  Upload Date: 11/18/2008 12:44:57 AM
Location:  Milpitas, CA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  WP 2265(U23B) WP 917(F7A) WP 713(GP7) SN 712(GP7)
Views:  2351   Comments: 0
Returning "BT Turn"
Title:  Returning "BT Turn"
Description:  This is probably a BT Turn. Date is an estimate, location _ppears to be the connector track between the New York Susquehanna and Western and Conrai's Bergen County Line. If you look closely at the upper section of the short&high hood, you can see where the New York Central "Cigar Band" era number is starting to come through the black paint. #5652 was delivered to the New York Central in September of 1951 as a class DRS-4e. It retained its number under Penn Central, as a class ERS-15. It never did get Conrail paint, winding up in the Elizabethport scrap line by 1983.
Photo Date:  8/1/1979  Upload Date: 2/4/2009 10:19:44 PM
Location:  Saddle Brook, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CR 5652(GP7)
Views:  1286   Comments: 0
"BT Turn" heads down the connector track
Title:  "BT Turn" heads down the connector track
Description:  Probably a BT Turn running southeast on the connector track from Chnrail's Bergen County Line down to the Suquehanna, but this is an educated guess. Date is also an estimate. If you look closely at the long hood, you can see an "Erie Diamond" peeking through the Erie Lackawanna paint. #5969 was built by EMD in April 1952 as Erie #1231 (a class MFSE-15). It kept the same number through its Erie Lackawanna years.
Photo Date:  8/2/1979  Upload Date: 2/4/2009 10:20:07 PM
Location:  Saddle Brook, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CR 5969(GP7)
Views:  1178   Comments: 0
Morristown & Erie "RW McEwan" (the first one)
Title:  Morristown & Erie "RW McEwan" (the first one)
Description:  M&E eastbound freight approaches Whippany station, passing O. Winston Link's ex-Rutland Combine Car parked off to the left. It appears that Al Holleuffer might be the engineer, but it could also be Frank McKenna. The RS1 is named after Richard McEwan, the first president of the M&E. This unit was built for the Navy in 1944, and was purchased second-hand by the M&E in 1963. This unit was later sold to the Valley Railroad in the mid 1980s and subsequently scrapped. (Another RS1, #21, was later purchased and is also named RW McEwan.)
Photo Date:  1/15/1980  Upload Date: 6/16/2008 10:21:56 PM
Location:  Whippany, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  ME 15(RS1)
Views:  1742   Comments: 1
IC 2500 "Mountain" Class Engine
Title:  IC 2500 "Mountain" Class Engine
Description:  One of only two remaining 2500 class "Mountains" from the Illinois Central Railroad is preserved on static display at Centralia's Fairview Park. The locomotive is maintained by the Age of Steam Memorial non-profit organization. It is veiwed here from West Broadway prior to the building of a roof to protect it. The 2500 series were built at the IC Paducah shops from older IC 2-10-2 boilers originally built by Lima. #2500 was delivered in 1938. She was saved from the scrapper in 1962. Behind her, there is a USAF T-33 or T-bird trainer based on the Lockheed F-80. Image is Tri-X Pan, taken with a Pentax K1000.
Photo Date:  2/1/1980  Upload Date: 7/26/2008 11:18:57 PM
Location:  Centralia, IL
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IC 2500(4-8-2)
Views:  2338   Comments: 0
Burlington Northern "Kendrick Local" or "Pullman Switcher"
Title:  Burlington Northern "Kendrick Local" or "Pullman Switcher"
Description:  The 1753 was assigned to Spokane its entire career. It is seen leaving Moscow for Troy, ID on the Arrow Branch, BN's ex NP Palouse & Lewiston from Marshall to Arrow Jct, on the Camas Prairie east of Lewiston. 1753 was former NP 315, GP9 built 8/1957 and part of the group 302-316 originally assigned to the Idaho division. It held the unofficial record for the most tonnage dragged up Sunshine hill, between Pullman and Moscow. 1753 eventually wound up on POVA as their 102 and is still there, rebuilt. Train is either the Kendrick local or Pullman switcher heading to the Joel grain elevator. This line went out of service in the mid 1980s and was finally torn up after the P&L was sold to Watco in 1996. Date of image is an educated guess. Image is taken from parking lot of the Moscow Mall.
Photo Date:  3/1/1981  Upload Date: 8/26/2008 1:55:46 AM
Location:  Moscow, ID
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BN 1753(GP9)
Views:  3564   Comments: 3
NYSW "Yellow Jacket" GP18
Title:  NYSW "Yellow Jacket" GP18
Description:  Viewed from the Mirrer Trucking transloading facility next to Passaic Junction Yard, where Suzy-Q GP18 #1804 is coupled mid train on an eastbound local. The building in the background is Sealed Air, the makers of bubble wrap - who hasn't spent hours popping their product? They were/are- a Suzy-Q customer for plastic pellets. You can see the front of this train here -- http://knox.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1040807.
Photo Date:  4/1/1982  Upload Date: 2/6/2008 9:55:33 AM
Location:  Saddle Brook, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NYSW 1804(GP18)
Views:  2066   Comments: 1
NYSW "Local Freight" at PC
Title:  NYSW "Local Freight" at PC
Description:  The date is an educated guess based on other photos this was found with. CKF was a civil engineer and this picture was taken while he was inspecting/overseeing work on the roof of what I believe was the Mirrer Trucking transloading facility on Mayhill Street in Saddle Brook. GP18 #1802 is leading a short train through Passaic Junction Yard. The train is eastbound in this shot and had another unit running mid-train (see http://knox.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1040808)
Photo Date:  4/1/1982  Upload Date: 2/6/2008 9:54:48 AM
Location:  Saddle Brook, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  NYSW 1802(GP18)
Views:  1878   Comments: 0


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