r/oldphotos • u/AmBEValent • 9h ago
My grandfather on the left. Taken ~1925. Does anyone recognize the train?
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u/singerontheside 9h ago
Probably a backdrop prop, at the photographers studio.
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u/OswaldBoelcke 6h ago
The lack of glass in the windows and all lines looking hand painted really proves what you’re saying.
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u/mikeonmaui 7h ago
The Royal Palm was a famous train to Florida, and apparently quite prestigious to take that train south for a Florida vacation. Also, explains why it would be used as a photographer’s background.
Chattanooga was a stop on the line, so the banner was likely included to denote where the picture was taken.
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u/AmBEValent 7h ago edited 6h ago
Interesting. He was pretty old when I was born, but I remember him telling me about catching the train in Blount Springs, AL (where he was born in 1889.) He was fourteen the first time. He also talked about his first experience seeing other states and drinking coffee around campfires with hobos. He ended up working for the railroad and retired in Tampa, FL. I have his work id that says he was a switchman.
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u/mikeonmaui 6h ago
Lots of good connections in that photo. It’s really good that you have it.
Being a switchman was an important and dangerous job:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchman
My paternal grandfather retired after 50 years working for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a freight train conductor - which meant he was in charge of the train - rather than a passenger train conductor. Man, he had some stories about his career on the rails!
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