1957

Ron Flanary posted:

In the summer of 1957, L&N company photographer C. Norm Beasley, along with some Cincinnati Division officials, climbed to the top of the north abutment of trestle No. 40 at Independence, Ky., on the company's “Short Line” between Louisville and Cincinnati. The mission was to get a northbound freight in the great morning light at this spot. Before long, the train eased into sight and was spotted on the bridge so Norm could focus his 4x5 Speed Graphic on the subject. Of several different views, I think this could be my favorite--a “dark side” scene.

The lead unit is one of the L&N's few F9As. The 924 was just seven or eight months old when at the time. Notice the Hancock air whistle--an L&N favorite then. The next to the last unit appears to be one of the former “Black Cat” F3Bs from 1948. That restrictive-clearance tunnel--No. 2--would be daylighted a few years later. It was a real “gasser” [the steam locomotive exhaust flooded the engineers cabin] for southbound steam-powered freights as this is a 1.15 ascending grade to the top at Bank Lick.

This is also the L&N of my youth. Only five months earlier the last steam locomotive in regular service--J-4 No. 1882--rolled northward along these same rails with local freight No. 86. When she arrived at DeCoursey that gloomy day, the fire was dropped--for the last time.

(Photo from L&N Railroad Historical Society Collection)
Randall Hampton shared

 

From a Facebook post by Ron Flanary