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3/28/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Charles Knox Freericks
Dates:6/1/1949 - 12/12/1955
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CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado" is watered down the track
Title:  CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado" is watered down the track
Description:  Central Railroad of New Jersey M2s is watered in Skillman as it pauses with a CNJ/Reading "Joint Freight." Hidden behind the big Mike is a very heavy freight on its way to Elizabethport Yard in Elizabeth, NJ. It was reclassifed a M63 in 1945. Jersey Central had five classes of 2-8-2s built between 1918 and 1925, by Alco, Brooks, Schenedtady, and Baldwin, and numbered between 850 and 935. They were all retired between 1947 and 1955.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:55 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1712   Comments: 1
Reading "Mother Hubbard" or "Camelback"
Title:  Reading "Mother Hubbard" or "Camelback"
Description:  A Reading wreck train or "relief train" as Reading called them sits in a siding in Skillman. Reading No. 1588 was built as a Class I-8b 2-8-0 by the Reading itself in 1912. As built, it was configured pretty much as shown in the photos, with center cab, piston valves and Walschaerts valve gear. It was saturated as built, but was converted to superheat in 1919 and reclassified as an I-8sb. It was off the roster by 1948. To the right are two non-revenue cars. The further one from camera is rebuilt from a gondola while the closer is an old truss-rod coach.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/24/2008 10:40:47 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1588(2-8-0)
Views:  1986   Comments: 0
Reading/CNJ "joint freight"
Title:  Reading/CNJ "joint freight"
Description:  A Central Railroad of New Jersey M2s Mikado (Brooks Locomotive 1920) pulls a joint Reading/CNJ freight. By 1947, these CNJ Mikados had been reclassified M63. This train is headed east, and is on its way to Elizabethport. More than likely, this is a B&O "Royal Blue freight out of the B&O's Eastside Yard in Philadelphia. At the time of this picture, the Reading controlled CNJ was only months away from once again falling into bankruptcy, and was reallying very heavily on general freight to make up the dropping anthracite revenues.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 7/2/2008 12:09:51 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1430   Comments: 0
CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado"
Title:  CNJ M2s "Antrhacite Road Mikado"
Description:  Central Railroad of New Jersey M2s Mikado on the lead of a joint CNJ/Reading freight train. These units had the oversized Wooten fireboxes to take advantage of anthracite coal. They were used on heavy freight. Built by ALCO's Brooks Locomotive Works between 1920 and 1922, they were retired between 1947 (the time of this photo) and 1955. Virtually identical to the USRA Heavy Mikado (except for the Wooten firebox). While I can't read a number on this unit, it would have been between 860 and 870.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 7/2/2008 12:10:11 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1208   Comments: 0
Reading Depot
Title:  Reading Depot
Description:  The Reading depot in Skillman, New Jersey was a grand three-story structure. Call letters were SK. Skillman, N.J. was named after Abraham J. Skillman. William Newton Skillman, was station agent there from 1893 to 1938. This building was apparently razed sometime in the 1960s. As an aside, CKF's mother, who probably drove him over to take this picture, worked for many years at a real-estate agency called Skillman & Skillman.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 5/8/2008 1:24:56 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1835   Comments: 3
Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1724
Title:  Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1724
Description:  Reading M1sa #1724, a 1912 era Mikado, takes on water at the Skillman water spout. The Reading rostered 57 of these units, built by both Baldwin and the Reading itself. CKF referred to them as "typical Reading freight locomotives" in his notes of the time. Sadly, none of these survive. We are on the New York Branch of the Philadelphia Division, a bike ride away from CKF's home at the time in Blawenburg NJ.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 1/30/2008 11:03:33 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1724(2-8-2)
Views:  2537   Comments: 0
Reading "Motor Train"
Title:  Reading "Motor Train"
Description:  Reading Brill Motor Car #4079 makes a stop at Skillman. This gas-electric doodlebug was utilized in Port Reading to Trenton service. Passengers could make a cross platform transfer in West Trenton to a Reading MU for the ride to Reading Terminal in Center City Philadelphia. This unit could seat 32 and had a 11 foot baggage area and a 10 foot RPO. By this time, the Offial Guide shows this only running Bound Brook to Trenton. The auto is the Freericks family's 1933 Plymouth PC Business Coupe. CKF refered to this doodlebug as a Reading Railway "motor train" in his notes.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:20:09 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 4079(Doodlebug)
Views:  3263   Comments: 0
Reading customer Goulard & Olena
Title:  Reading customer Goulard & Olena
Description:  Goulard & Olena was one of three Reading Railroad Customers in Skillman NJ (along with the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics and machinery manufacturer Van Zandt, J. P.). Goulard & Olena was famous for their manufacture of rabbit repellent. The car in the shot is a 1933 Chevrolet 2-door Sedan, possibly belonging to the Skillman station master. To see these buildings today, check out this link... http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1034210.
Photo Date:  1/22/1947  Upload Date: 1/31/2008 12:05:57 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  2209   Comments: 0
Reading Depot
Title:  Reading Depot
Description:  The Reading depot in Skillman was the closest railroad location for CKF growing up and was where he developed a lifelong love of the Reading. He was 12-years-old when he took this photograph. Note the 1933 Chevrolet, the four track main, the Camp Meeting Avenue overpass, and the gentleman at the door, who may have been the agent. Skillman merited this large station building as it was the home to the New Jersey State Village for Epileptics.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/9/2008 2:52:09 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1098   Comments: 0
Hand Car House
Title:  Hand Car House
Description:  Looking north east (railroad east) from the Skillman depot, to the left is the hand car house (or motor car shed,) with a section gang car sitting in front of it. This car would be pulled by a small motor car (probably in the shed) to take the section gang to their work, which must have been intense. I have been told that all four tracks had a 75 MPH speed limit. This, and the other shots in this series, were taken with a 620 Brownie.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/11/2008 12:03:45 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1888   Comments: 0
"Big Dutch Mike" under Camp Meeting
Title:  "Big Dutch Mike" under Camp Meeting
Description:  When one of the Reading Railroads "Big Dutch Mikes" or "Anthracite Mikados" (probably #1705) comes to rest on the westbound platform track, under Camp Meeting Road. To the left is the hand car house (later, the motor car shed). Closer to the camera, on the left, is the base of the flag stop semaphore. Passengers could pull the lever down to alert a train that they wanted to be picked up. The sign above it explained how to use it.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 5/11/2008 12:03:58 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1927   Comments: 1
Reading "Doodlebug"
Title:  Reading "Doodlebug"
Description:  Reading Brill Motor Car #4077 is seen in front of the grand three-story Victorian depot at Skillman, NJ. Just behind the "doodlebug" is the station's semaphore passenger controlled flag stop signal, used by passengers to request a train stop. Reading had a small fleet of doodlebugs working the New York Branch. #4077 was delivered by J.G. Brill in February of 1927. It was powered by a Cummins 250 H.P. diesel with a tractive effort of 10,100 lbs. It sat 32 in the passenger compartment and also had sections for parcel service and R.P.O.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:18:47 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 4077(Doodlebug)
Views:  3091   Comments: 0
Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1705
Title:  Reading M1sa Antracite Mike #1705
Description:  The Reading had a fleet of 57 Mikes, numbered from 1700 to 1756. #1700 was built by the Reading Shops. The rest were built by Baldwin. Here, CKF has caught #1705 stopped at the water spout in Skillman. "Mikado" meant "Emperor of Japan," and the name came from the first such locomotives being built for Japan by Baldwin. Note the Wooten Firebox. Apperently these were all off the roster very soon after, by 1948.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 1/31/2008 12:28:20 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 1705(2-8-2)
Views:  1968   Comments: 0
Reading Track Gang
Title:  Reading Track Gang
Description:  Track gang motorcar and trailer being put away at Skillman station. The overpass is Camp Meeting Road. CKF was standing on the eastbound platform (towards New York City). The Hand Car House itself is actually out of frame, across all the tracks to the left, on the westbound platform. It appears as if the men are preparing to move the gang car and trailer over all four tracks to reach the Hand Car House.
Photo Date:  1/29/1947  Upload Date: 11/27/2008 1:00:59 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1559   Comments: 0
Reading Railway "Crusader"
Title:  Reading Railway "Crusader"
Description:  The Crusader tears through Skillman at high speed behind one of the railraod's two stunning GS1sas Pacific's. This was train #614, which ran from Reading's Market Street Terminal in Philadelphia to Jersey Central's Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City, NJ. Unfortunately, while CKF had access to his parents 620 Kodak Hawkeye Brownie, he'd acquired his own 1/2 frame 127 camera, and many of his pictures of this period were taken on this camera which made today's disposables look like Leicas.
Photo Date:  6/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:33 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1921   Comments: 0
Reading freight
Title:  Reading freight
Description:  What appears to be an I8 Camelback (what CKF refered to as "Bunkhouse" Consolidation) heads through the four track territory in Skillman. If not for the fact that this were a road freight Camelback in the very last few months of service, I would never have posted such a poor quality image, but this one seems worth seeing, even in this terrible condition. Image was taken on a 1/2 frame 127 film Leecrest plastic camera, built by Lee Industries of Chicago, ILL, U.S.A. On the back of the camera it instructed "Use any Standard Vest Pocket Film 1 5/8 X 2 1/2 4 X 6.5 cm."
Photo Date:  6/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/25/2008 11:36:09 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1284   Comments: 0
Baltimore & Ohio #1 "The National Limited"
Title:  Baltimore & Ohio #1 "The National Limited"
Description:  CKF's notes only identify this train as a Baltimore & Ohio passenger train. I am assuming it is The National Limited based on the shadows and head end cars (but am still working on solving the puzzle as the lack of streamlined cars impugns this idea greatly). If so, this was a Jersey City to St. Louis train. The westbound is about to pass under the telltales for Camp Meeting Road. Power is EA #51 (delivered May 1937) and an unidentified E6(B). It looks as if the E units are blowig smoke, although the angle of the smoke may mean it's actually just a flaw in the image (like the streaks clearly are).
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/27/2008 1:00:39 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BO 51(EA)
Views:  4019   Comments: 3
Reading "Relief Train"
Title:  Reading "Relief Train"
Description:  A Reading relief train lead by an I-8 class 2-8-0 probably #1588; one of 177 class I-8a through I-8d built by Baldwin and Reading (the last road freight camelbacks built). The class (1501 through 1617) was built between 1905 and 1914. , all of which were off the roster by 1948. It is followed by a flat car, an idler car, a wrecker (maybe one of Reading's 150 ton Bucyrus wreckers), another idler car, a tool car (made from a milk car), and a dining and bunk car (made from an old coach). The wrecker was based at Reading's Erie Avenue Freight Engine Terminal near 4th Street & Erie Avenues in North Philadelphia.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/24/2008 10:41:05 PM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1741   Comments: 0
RDG 614 "The Crusader"
Title:  RDG 614 "The Crusader"
Description:  A streamlined Pacific GS1sas leads The Crusader, train #614 (the afternoon eastbound) past the Skillman depot. I'm told by a fellow who enhanced the pic that this is the #117. In 1947, the Crusader ran twice a day between Philadelphia and Jersey City. The trainset has an observation car on either end. The eastbound side is now tucked into an extention off the tender. In JC, the engine will be turned and placed on the other end, but the rest of the trainset is not turned.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:21:01 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  RDG 117(4-6-2)
Views:  2636   Comments: 7
Reading "Big Dutch Mike"
Title:  Reading "Big Dutch Mike"
Description:  A Reading M1sa "Big Dutch Mike" leads an Autumn afternoon westbound on the "platform track" as seen from Camp Meeting Avenue overpass. It's a good bet that this freight stopped to do work at pesticide maker Goulard & Olena. Reading's Big Dutch Mikes were Baldwin products (except for the class engine, #1700, from the Reading shops). CKF lived in nearby Blawenburg at the time and would ride his bike to the Skillman depot or get a ride from his mom, who worked at Skillman & Skillman Realty.
Photo Date:  9/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 10:21:29 AM
Location:  Skillman, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  RDG 170X(2-8-2)
Views:  1423   Comments: 0
Pennsy's "Nellie Bly"
Title:  Pennsy's "Nellie Bly"
Description:  This is most likely PRR train #1077, the "Nellie Bly" which ran from New York to Atlantic City in 2 hrs and 45 min and would have received an engine change here from a GG1 to the K4s. For sure, the train is on the track headed down the Bordentown Branch to Camden (and possibly beyond to AC). K4s #5409 was a 1927 product of Baldwin Locomotive Works. The new pilot and relocated headlight are part of post war modernization that CKF said made it an example of "What a good looking locomotive should not look like
Photo Date:  10/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 4:10:54 PM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PRR 5409(4-6-2)
Views:  2362   Comments: 1
PRR Bordentown Branch train #2372
Title:  PRR Bordentown Branch train #2372
Description:  An E6s Atlantic sits in the station with a Bordentown Branch train that has just arrived from Camden. Behind her is a P70 coach. Today this service is run with light-rail DMUs on the New Jersey Transit River Line. The E6s was built circa 1914 and was the Standard Railroad of the World's attempt to build an extremely powerful and yet light passenger engine. While these units were common on the Camden to Trenton trains, they were eventually replaced by gas-electric cars.
Photo Date:  10/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 4:11:09 PM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  820   Comments: 0
Empty coal from South Amboy
Title:  Empty coal from South Amboy
Description:  A boxcab P5a motor grinds west with what appears to be empty ore hoppers (probably coming from South Amboy and heading to PA coal fields). When first built in 1933, the P5a was to be an electric K4, but they were soon demoted to freight service (with the arrival of the P5am and then the GG1). Crews did not like the unsafe cab position and they rode very rough. They were built by Altoona, Baldwin, and Lima. They lasted in performing freight duty until the early 1960s when they were replaced by new GE E44s.
Photo Date:  10/1/1947  Upload Date: 11/20/2008 4:11:16 PM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  735   Comments: 0
Pennsylvania Railroad H10s
Title:  Pennsylvania Railroad H10s
Description:  A merchandise freight heads east under the footbridge in Trenton pulled by what H10s 2-8-0 Consolidation is likely bound to Jersey City. The H8, H9 and H10s Consolidations were visibly indistinguishable. H10s appear to have been built by both Altoona and Lima. These were used on light freight and were delivered between 1907 and 1916, lasting all the way until 1957. The number on this engines appears to be 7621, but could be 7624.
Photo Date:  10/1/1947  Upload Date: 4/30/2008 1:04:49 AM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  PRR 7624(2-8-0)
Views:  2298   Comments: 0
GM "Train of Tomorrow"
Title:  GM "Train of Tomorrow"
Description:  The Train of Tomorrow visits CNJ's small LCL yard just east of the PRR crossing in Elizabeth NJ on its 86-city tour of the country. Behind it is the roof of the CNJ freighthouse. CKF was 12 when he took this image (probably with a Kodak Autographic Brownie Six-20). The E7(A) was gray/blue and silver, 2,000 horsepower, A1A-A1A, bulldog nosed, and built by LaGrange in April of 1947. E7s are the only engines that both my dad and I railfanned as kids.
Photo Date:  10/7/1947  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 1:44:58 PM
Location:  Elizabeth, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  EMDX 765(E7A)
Views:  1097   Comments: 0
GM "Train of Tomorrow"
Title:  GM "Train of Tomorrow"
Description:  The Train of Tomorrow visits Elizabeth NJ on its tour of the county. The location is listed as Baltimore & Ohio Freight Yard.... but is actually the small CNJ LCL yard just east of the PRR crossing in downtown. This was a concept train built by General Motors to promote the sales of diesels. It was made up of just invented dome cars, the invention of Cyrus R. Osborn, general manager of EMD at the time. Brand new in 1947, the four-car train had a 28 month tour of the country before being sold to Union Pacific.
Photo Date:  10/7/1947  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 1:45:08 PM
Location:  Elizabeth, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  EMDX 765(E7A)
Views:  870   Comments: 1
PRR "Shifter" on the Bel Del
Title:  PRR "Shifter" on the Bel Del
Description:  Pennsylvania Railroad B6sb 0-6-0 leads a short freight nortbound near Montgomery Street, just north of MG Block Station. The train is running on the PRR's Belvidere and Delaware Line, which spanned from Trenton to Phillipsburg. CKF would have been 12-years-old when he took this shot, so one may assume, that my grandmother, Rebecca, had driven him here. To the left is the path of the Delaware & Raritan Feeder Canal, which had been filled in at this location back then.
Photo Date:  1/15/1948  Upload Date: 7/18/2008 12:46:27 AM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PRR 387(0-6-0)
Views:  3336   Comments: 0
PRR B6sb #387
Title:  PRR B6sb #387
Description:  Shifter #387 is an Altoona built B6sb 0-6-0. during 1916 and 1920, 238 of class B6sb were built. It is distinguished from other classes of B6 shifters by its Belpaire firebox. It was built between 1916 and 1920. It had piston valves and Walschaerts valve gear. The train is running along side the route of Delaware & Raritan Feeder Canal (which was filled in here back then) and has been caught on 620 black and white film.
Photo Date:  1/15/1948  Upload Date: 7/18/2008 12:57:59 AM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  PRR 387(0-6-0)
Views:  2908   Comments: 0
Local Freight at Dix Haven
Title:  Local Freight at Dix Haven
Description:  With the Delaware & Raritan Feeder Canal along side, a Pennsylvania Railroad local freight runs north along the BelDel (Belvidere and Delaware Line). It is believed to be north of Trenton just south of Dix Haven. The train is heading towards Phillipsburg. Today the railroad ROW is a rail trail and the canal is a State Park. Meant to supply water to the main canal, the Feeder Canal was navigated by cargo vessels from the time of its completion in 1834. In 1932 it was taken over by the state to be used as a water supply (a purpose it still serves today, even in its protected park status).
Photo Date:  1/15/1948  Upload Date: 7/18/2008 12:58:13 AM
Location:  Trenton, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PRR 387(0-6-0)
Views:  2517   Comments: 1
Nassau Tower
Title:  Nassau Tower
Description:  Enlarged from a contact print of a 1/2 127 frame - NASSAU was only 4 yrs old in this shot. It had a35-lever US&S Model 14 electro-pneumatic machine with 21 working levers and controlled brand new 45mph crossover turnouts. The tower and plant were rebuilt as part of a World War 2 initiative to replace mechanical towers, here replacing one built in 1900. There is a full five-track crossover with the Princeton Branch entering from the south before turning into the No 5 track. There is also a No 6 track for storing the Dinky.
Photo Date:  2/1/1948  Upload Date: 3/18/2008 9:19:45 PM
Location:  Princeton Junction, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1764   Comments: 0
Pennsylvania Railroad westbound depot
Title:  Pennsylvania Railroad westbound depot
Description:  Enlarged from a contact print of a 1/2 127 frame - The two story depot at Princeton Jct is seen from the north end of the Princeton Branch platform, where a rather unique looking signal head holds four aspects. The rather grand station was torn down (or at least decapated into a single story structure) sometime after this shot. This transfer point would be used by three generations of the Freericks family for at least forty years after this shot.
Photo Date:  2/1/1948  Upload Date: 3/18/2008 9:19:57 PM
Location:  Princeton Junction, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1772   Comments: 0
Three car train on the "Dinky"
Title:  Three car train on the "Dinky"
Description:  Enlarged from a contact print of a 1/2 127 frame - The Dinky was and is a rail shuttle that runs from Princeton University to the Northeast Corridor at Princeton Jct. It was generlly handled by a two car MP-54 train in those days. This unusual three car train is lead by a combine MPB-54 (Motor Passenger Baggage Car), with two trailing owl-faced MP-54s.
Photo Date:  3/1/1948  Upload Date: 3/18/2008 9:20:24 PM
Location:  Princeton Junction, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1785   Comments: 0
LVT Private Car 812
Title:  LVT Private Car 812
Description:  Image is a composite of two frames. Car #812, a 1914 800 series interurban, stops on its way to Allentown on the Philadelphia Division of the Lehigh Valley Transit Line as long-time LVT motorman Charlie Hauser (and famous LV NRHS member) stands near. This heavyweight was built as the copmany president's prviate car (#999) on the chassis of a wrecked 1901 high speed St. Louis deck roof car. It was converted to a passenger car in 1921 and re# 812, next to the 800 series Jewett interurbans (all of which were later turned into box motors or scrapped, while 812 survived until the end of service in 1951).
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/17/2009 1:08:14 AM
Location:  Quakertown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Transit
Locomotives:  LVT 812(Trolley)
Views:  2377   Comments: 1
"Liberty Bell Limited" high speed service
Title:  "Liberty Bell Limited" high speed service
Description:  A 69th Street bound Lehigh Valley Transit Liberty Bell Limited meets the connecting bus for Richlandtown, which replaced the LVT trolley on that branch. The interurban is one of the former Cincinnati Car Company "Red Devils" (aluminum cars) built for the Cincinnati & Lake Erie. It would be in the 1000 series, built in 1930, sold to the LVT in 1939, retired in 1951 and scrapped at Bethelehem Steel shortly after in 1952. Although hard to see, this car still has 3rd rail shoes, which it will lose in a few months when service is cut back to Norristown. Note the sign to the Quakertown Airport. The station house on the left still exists today.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/17/2009 1:09:36 AM
Location:  Quakertown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories:  Transit
Locomotives:  LVT STREETCAR(Trolley)
Views:  1954   Comments: 0
Liberty Bell Limited lightweight
Title:  Liberty Bell Limited lightweight
Description:  One of twelve very modern lightweight high-speed interurbans bought second-hand from the defunct Cincanniti and Lake Erie Railroad, coach-lounge "Red Devil" #1020 was one of seven lounge cars in the order (the others were straight coaches). The motorman's side door was cut in by the LVT. The front trolley pole was added to allow reverse running. The third rail shoes were added for running on the Philadelphia and Western track south of Norristown. It is seen here in front of the Lehigh Valley Transit Depot Ticket Office at 8th and Hamilton in downtown Allentown.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/25/2009 12:36:16 AM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 1020(Trolley)
Views:  1553   Comments: 0
Lehigh Valley Transit City-Suburban Car 913
Title:  Lehigh Valley Transit City-Suburban Car 913
Description:  A Lehigh Valley Transit "Tenth Street Car" pauses to pick up passengers across the street from the interurban and streetcar company's 8th Street and Hamilton Street ticket office in the heart of Allentown's business district, while one of Allentown's finest direct's traffic (and Red Devil #1020 departs behind his arm). Car #913 is a 1918 product of J.G. Brill (one of a group of 39 all steel, center-entrance 2-man cars for the Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton Division of LVT). Like its order-mates, this car was modernized into a one man, single door car, allowing it to run into the 1950s. They were the mainstay of the Mincie Trail line, the main line between Allentown and Bethlehem. Color scheme was Mountain Ash Scarlet with cream trim.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/17/2009 11:35:52 PM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 913(Trolley)
Views:  1654   Comments: 0
"Liberty Bell Limited" high speed service
Title:  "Liberty Bell Limited" high speed service
Description:  A former Cincinnati and Lake Erie "Red Devil" car (or a Cincinnati Car as my dad called them) Liberty Bell Limited waits at 8th and Hamilton St. at the Liberty Bell route depot in downtown Allentown. This was one of 12 lightweight 1000 series Red Devils from the C&LE. Built in 1930 by Cincinnati Car Company, these cars had a top speed of about 80 mph and aluminum bodies. LVT aquired them in 1939 after C&LE abandoned in 1938. They ran until LVT called it quits in 1951, and were scrapped in 1952. This car was running one of the "Expresses" leaving Allentown on the hour from 6 am to 10 pm. It would reach 69th Street in Upper Darby in 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/17/2009 11:07:39 PM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 1020(Trolley)
Views:  1603   Comments: 0
Lehigh Valley Train #26 "The Asa Packer"
Title:  Lehigh Valley Train #26 "The Asa Packer"
Description:  Location needs to be verified. If location is correct, this is Main Street prior to grade separation and the fence is Johns Manville plant. This is probably train #26, "The Asa Packer" which left Allentown at 4:16 PM and arrived at Manville at 5:39 PM. Second car appears to be a Pullman Standard Osgood Bradley "American Flyer" 1930s lightweight coach. Also note the heavyweight with railroad roof and skirts added for an attempt at semi-streamlining. The other railroads that added skirts to heavyweights also modified the roof. This is a sign of the LVRR.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/19/2009 11:56:56 PM
Location:  Manville, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
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Locomotives: 
Views:  2543   Comments: 0
Lehigh Valley Transit #421
Title:  Lehigh Valley Transit #421
Description:  One of Lehigh Valley Transit's second hand Kuhlman lightweight city cars pulls past the Americus Hotel. Built for the Huntington-Ashland Railway Division of the Ohio Valley Electric (Huntington, West Virginia), it was purchased by the LVT about 1937. It was built by the G.C. Kuhlman Car Company of Cleveland. It's running on one of the local lines, which at the time were 10th Street Loop, Faireview, Greenwalds, South Bethlehem, Catasaqua-Northampton, Bethlehem-Easton, and South Bethelehem-Hellertown.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/19/2009 11:57:12 PM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 421(Trolley)
Views:  1200   Comments: 0
Ex C&LE Lightweight Car
Title:  Ex C&LE Lightweight Car
Description:  Ex Cincannati & Lake Erie Lightweight "Red Devil" runs in reverse northbound off the Eighth Street Bridge in Alletown on its way from the Farview Car Barn near S. 12th & W. Wyoming St. On most trips, the single end 1000's made a backup move to the car barn and back. This one has just crossed over the Little Lehigh Creek. South Mountain is the hill in the background. The Eight Street Bridge had been the longest and highest concrete bridge in the world when opened in November of 1913. It was built by the Lehigh Valley Transit. The toll was 5 cents for automobiles. Note the 1937 Dodge and 1936 Packard in the parking lot.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/19/2009 11:57:36 PM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1522   Comments: 0
LVT "Red Devil" heads up 8th St
Title:  LVT "Red Devil" heads up 8th St
Description:  Former Cincinnati & Lake Erie lightweight "Red Devil" running in reverse northbound on 8th Street just above Union Turnpike (on its way from Farview Car Barn) towards the Lehigh Valley Transit Depot on Hamilton. Poor image quality from the 1/2 frame 127 Leecrest Camera is further heightened by this scan being from a contact print of a lost negative. I wanted to share this image, however, as it's interesting to note how this long ago abandoned operation worked. These cars, which were not originally built to be run in reverse, had to be modified for these backwards movements when sold to the Lehigh Valley Transit so that they could be brought up from the car barn where there was no turning facility available. Too bad about the 1946, 47, or 48 Mercury blocking our view of this Red Devil car.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/25/2009 12:35:51 AM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  1084   Comments: 0
Brill "Master Unit"
Title:  Brill "Master Unit"
Description:  The Americus Hotel opened in 1924 and is at 549 Hamilton Street. While you can still find the hotel standing in this location, you can't rent a room in it any more (it's closed) and you can't take a ride on the Brill "Master Unit" that CKF photographed here in local service either. Car #953 was one of ten 950-Series Brill "Master Units" delivered in 1930. They had the large center windshield that made the cars so easily identifiable. Sadly, these units were all scrapped in 1953, even though their sister Red Arrow "Master Units" lasted into the 1980s.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/25/2009 12:36:02 AM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 953(Trolley)
Views:  1535   Comments: 0
Cincinnati "Red Devil" passing Brill "Master Unit"
Title:  Cincinnati "Red Devil" passing Brill "Master Unit"
Description:  The Liberty Bell Depot of the Lehigh Valley Transit at 8th and Hamilton is the backdrop as Cicinnati Car Company "Red Devil" #1020 in Philadelphia Express service passes Brill "Master Unit" #953 in local service on what appears to be a warm summer afternoon.
Photo Date:  6/1/1949  Upload Date: 2/25/2009 12:36:10 AM
Location:  Allentown, PA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  LVT 1020(Trolley) LVT 953(Trolley)
Views:  1580   Comments: 0
Eastbound Reading Motor Car with Train 657 (probably)
Title:  Eastbound Reading Motor Car with Train 657 (probably)
Description:  This is one of the Bound Brook - Trenton locals that ran throughout the day. Trains 652, 654, 656 and 666 eastward and Trains 655, 657, 671or 673 westward. All of these were daily except Sundays & Holidays"; there was also a westbound Saturday only train 1659 that stopped in Belle Meade from 12.59pm - 1.01pm. The timetable showed these as "gas electric trains." The car is #4071 a unique baggage/coach combine built by Bethlehem Steel.
Photo Date:  11/15/1951  Upload Date: 5/2/2008 1:09:24 AM
Location:  Belle Mead, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
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Locomotives:  RDG 4071(UNKNOWN)
Views:  2576   Comments: 0
Balitmore & Ohio's "Capitol Limited"
Title:  Balitmore & Ohio's "Capitol Limited"
Description:  Train #6, The "Capitol Limited" is on its way through Belle Mead, New Jersey, on the New York Division of the Reading. It is lead by E6 (A) #52 delivered in June of 1941, and EB #52a (paired sets shared numbers) delivered in June of 1937. The train ran Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, Jersey City. This train included an RPO-baggage car, 3 coaches, a diner, 3 sleepers and a parlor car. The first coach came from train 25 "The Columbian" and was a lightweight streamliner. He'd have been "tearin' 'em up." The employees' timetable of 1948 lists The Cap as running 11.5 miles from "GH" Tower near Pennington to Belle Mead in 9 minutes, an average of 76.7mph, then from Belle Mead.
Photo Date:  11/15/1951  Upload Date: 5/2/2008 1:09:37 AM
Location:  Belle Mead, NJ
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
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Locomotives:  BO 52(E6A)
Views:  4071   Comments: 1
Southern Railway/Norfolk & Western #41 "The Pelican"
Title:  Southern Railway/Norfolk & Western #41 "The Pelican"
Description:  A brand new Hudson Hornet crosses in front of Norfolk & Western/Southern train #151/41, "The Pelican," while a N&W J or K2a retreats in the background. FP7 #6144 was delivered to the Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific in the Fall of 1950. The unit behind it is an F3(B). This picture was taken while the 16-year-old photographer was travelling between Princeton NJ and Sardis MS.
Photo Date:  8/1/1952  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 1:44:34 PM
Location:  Bristol, VA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SOU 6141(FP7A)
Views:  3099   Comments: 1
Southern Knoxville Division Mail train #4
Title:  Southern Knoxville Division Mail train #4
Description:  Southern Knoxville Division local mail train #4 from Knoxville is arriving at its final stop of Bristol (crossing State Street). The train has a single rider coach hidden by the two boxcars in the yard. The railroad worker is riding up to where F3 #4151 will be cut off. We are looking south towards the Norfolk & Western position light signal that allowed eastbounds to come into the depot. Delivered in January of 1947, #4151 was later rebuilt to F7 standards, to be retired in the 1969-73 era.
Photo Date:  8/1/1952  Upload Date: 4/27/2009 9:54:56 PM
Location:  Bristol, VA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SOU 4151(F3A)
Views:  1063   Comments: 0
Southern's "The Tennessean"
Title:  Southern's "The Tennessean"
Description:  One of Southern's three Otto Kuhler designed ALCO needle nosed cab units is in charge of train #45 "The Tennessean." This picture was during the engine change at Bristol by CKF on his trip from Princeton NJ to Sardis MS. The unit is either Cincinnati New Orleans & Texas Pacific 6401 or Southern 2904 (CNO&TP 6400 had different number boards by this time). If it was the CNO&TP DL107 it had been rebuilt into a DL109 by the time of this shot. It was either delivered 2/41 or 9/42 and was scrapped at Spencer in the Summer of 1954.
Photo Date:  8/1/1952  Upload Date: 1/8/2008 10:13:47 AM
Location:  Bristol, VA
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  SOU 2904(DL-109)
Views:  7250   Comments: 6
Illinois Central #3 "The Louisiane"
Title:  Illinois Central #3 "The Louisiane"
Description:  Illinois Central #3 "The Louisiane" heads through Sardis on a hot summer morning in 1952. E8(A) #4018 was about two years old, having arrived 6/1950. It was the lowest #d E8 on the IC and was scrapped by Amtrak about 1980. Sardis, an hour from Memphis, TN, is home to Sardis Lake and Sardis Dam, which at the time was the largest earth-filled dam in the world. "The Louisiane" was one of IC's secondary trains, operating with standard heavy-weight cars, but still offered Pullman and dining service. It ran on the Chicago-New Orleans Main Line and would have hit Sardis at 9:14 AM.
Photo Date:  8/7/1952  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 1:44:09 PM
Location:  Sardis, MS
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IC 4018(E8A)
Views:  1386   Comments: 1
N&W Work train behind Z1b 2-6-6-2
Title:  N&W Work train behind Z1b 2-6-6-2
Description:  A work train is pushed/pulled through Union Station by a Z1b 2-6-6-2. Three employees ride a Jordan Model 2-180 flanger with wings. It has pneumaticly operated "wings" on either side that are extended for ditching and ballast grooming (or snow removal), and an underside mounted flanger for clearing between the rails. By this time the Z class 2-6-6-2s were relegated to work train duty and local work. Best that can be told from this angle, this is a Z1b, but any help in making an absolute ID would be appreciated.
Photo Date:  8/12/1952  Upload Date: 11/23/2008 1:44:22 PM
Location:  Kenova, WV
Author:  Charles Knox Freericks
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  983   Comments: 1


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