Re: [CBQ] Pre-1900 CB&Q Chicago Divison Photographs

[LZadnichek@aol.com]

March 2, 2014

 

Charlie/Ken - I, too, Googled several different variations of "Shaw's Mammoth Photographic Rooms" and came-up with nothing other than the genealogical links that Charlie mentioned. I noticed on the DeadFred link that the individual cabinet card photographers were linked to at right from the web page. Ken, if the name of the photographer is on the backside of the cardboard mounting, perhaps, the image could be traced in that manner. If not, then, perhaps, one of the moderators at the genealogical web sites would have some ideas on how to access any railroad subject images tied to "Shaw's Mammoth Photographic Rooms." Might be worth a shot. I'm going to stay out of it as too many cooks spoil the broth, but wish you guys success. Hope you can locate some other interesting images of the Q in its earliest days. I agree with Ken about 53 most likely being wrecked beyond repair and thus disappearing from the roster by 1870. Not an uncommon occurrence in those long ago days. Still, what a beautiful example of the classic American 4-4-0 type.

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL     

 

In a message dated 3/1/2014 3:30:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, kmartin537@surewest.net writes:

Charlie,

I got the picture off ebay several years ago. The picture is 12" x 19" and shows maybe a third of the car to the right. Also a pole to the left, unfortunately the top left corner is torn off. 

It is sharp enough I can read Manchester on the medalion between the drivers.

I don't know the reason or location for the photograph but clearly it is an event of some kind.

If it was "gone by 1870" it must have been in a wreck as it would have been less than 14 years old. Too soon to be worn out.

Ken Martin

On Mar 1, 2014, at 12:43 PM, Charlie Vlk wrote:

Ken-

This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping would get unearthed.

I tried to google “Shaw’s Mammoth Photographic Rooms” but other than a few genealogical links to family member portraits come up with nothing.   How did you come across the image?

Do you have the rest of it or just the locomotive portion?   Could the flags indicate it was taken on the 4^th of July or some other holiday, or perhaps at the end of the Civil War?

The lighting would be right for it to be on the grade from West Grossdale to LaGrange…taken looking north from the south side of the tracks…..it looks like there is only one track so it would be quite early, maybe 1870.  Of course it could just as easily be elsewhere as the line had some pretty good grades on it in the early days.  I am pretty sure it predates the establishment of Grossdale, West Grossdale and Hollywood/East Grossdale which didn’t happen until 1889.

Look at the mismatch in drawheads between the tender and first car!!!   Somebody needs some Kadee red fiber washers to raise the car on its trucks!!

In fact, I just looked at the roster information and the original Manchester built 53 is noted as “gone by 1870” so I would say this is definitely a pre-1870 photo.   Now it could be even earlier and predate the building of the Aurora-Chicago line and be taken somewhere on the G&CU, Aurora Branch, or even the St. Charles Air Line…..

Thanks,

Charlie Vlk