The Longest Stone Masonry Arch Railroad Viaduct In The World

I have so got to learn more about postcard printing techniques; this one has got the fine granularity of a real photo, but is clearly printed on plain paper and is not (to my best estimation) some sort of collotype or rotogravure.

Complicating matters, I'm pretty sure that this postcard was printed decades before it was posted; sadly, I can find no information on the publisher.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Let's see: divided back, good quality image, red ink title, coal-fired engine ... I'm guessing the card was printed 1907-1914 ... 'guessing', since I can't make-out the date in the cds.

I would think that the cds was applied at a post office branch on Maclay Street ... I don't see one there, now, but there is a branch at 2347 N 7TH ST (17110), just eight blocks away.

Meanwhile, on the card, I found a steam engine, then a coal tender, then a ....

Q/ What's that shpritz coming out of the top of the first railway car?

Cooking? I would think that the dining car would be at the end of the train, not in the smokey spot behind the engine.

And the lack of dispersion makes the plume look more like an artist's enhancement than something blowing in the wind.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Maybe the train isn't moving. Stopped to look at the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct! Smoke fron the engine is going straight up as well.

Why guess? The year date is 1911, outside the dial at the back of Franklin's head. The wording at the bottom of the CDS is Maclay Sta, which may or may not be on Maclay Street.

The shpritz is likely an artist's fanciful addition. The first car is a "combine," or combined baggage car/coach. The shpritz is coming from a vent in the baggage compartment. Possibly there was a coal boiler there to provide steam heat for the train, but not likely. The train does appear to be stopped, as there appears to be a figure standing in the baggage door looking trackside.

Indeed, Mr Becker, there the 1911 is, outside of the circle. Cheers,

Has anyone seen any of the stone viaduct train bridge from Bellaire, Ohio? I'd like to to find a couple of those.

The Pennsylvania Limited postcard led me to find this interior photograph of the dining car from back in the day -- a real throwback to another generation:

That is a nice looking card. Amazing picture on it.

Obviously, the first car is the smoking lounge.

Oh, dear; I forgot to post the last of the trilogy.

The Curt Teich dating guide puts the serial number of the card at 1908, which makes it a very early white-bordered card.

Q/ Anybody wanna take a stab at that logo?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Cant really see the logo - but I'll have a guess at NYC or NYC & HR?

Rockville Bridge was over the Suquehanna river

Im down under so its all guesswork

Here's a photo I found of NYC & HR

... Sorry for being vague: I was referring to the postcard publisher's logo.

Ahh....thats the easy bit

J.B.H.

J.B. Hoffman

N Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Well done, Bas !

http://www.metropostcard.com/publishersh2.html ... I have asked the MPC to update their listing for 'J. P. Hoffman"

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey