The title of this blog pretty well says it all. The weather was not pleasant with heavy overcast and a cold rain falling on the afternoon of Sunday, February 26th. I had promised friend Eric Escobido who is a conductor trainee for the Grapevine Vintage Railroad that I would get a few photos of him at work as the passenger train visited the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The shed offered protection from the rain as I worked my way through the surprisingly large crowd and looked at different photo compositions. The train from Grapevine was behind schedule when it arrived at 3:08 pm and I set up this view with one of the cowboys instructing people to stay behind the white lines.
This little boy was fascinated by the approaching EMD FL9. GVRR 2016 was delivered as the New York, New Haven & Hartford 2044 and GVRR 2014 on the rear end of the train was delivered as New Haven 2041. I rode in the cabs of both units in the late 1960’s on the Danbury Branch when I was not many years older than this young man. Unfortunately at the time it was before I had learned how to use a camera and I only have my memories. It is gratifying to be to able to interact with them again after more than 50 years have passed.
I moved to the other side of the track after the train had stopped.
Outside the north end of the shed my flash unit highlighted the falling rain drops as people streamed by looking for warm and dry places.
Prior to the train’s departure for the short run towards Eighth Avenue, cowboy and conductor engage in conversation while Eric looks down from the fireman’s seat.
As the train pulled out of the shed heading south with the 2014 leading I caught this going away view.
I did not find any compositions I liked when the train returned from its Eighth Avenue run due to the large crowd milling about under the shed, so I waited until the now empty train pulled south of the 23rd Street crossing while the daily gun fight was staged in the building. I composed this view with the Davis Bridge and then got closer views with Eric in the engineer’s seat.
When the gun fight had concluded, the conductor and Eric in the 2016 guided the engineer in the 2014 on the other end through the backup move to the shed so that Grapevine passengers could reboard for their trip back to the starting point.
Now cold and wet, I took what I had already decided would be my last picture for the day as the 2014 moved through the park area in reverse to the shed.
I was glad to get back in my Explorer and start the heater running for the trip home. I subsequently learned Eric was happy with these and the other personal photos I took, so it was a good visit with both a new friend and two much older ones.
