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Caption: The E&N Baldwin roadswitcher era on Vancouver Island ended in 1975, with GP9s and the odd MLW S-4 (and one RS-23) then utilized, but in January 1978 and much to my surprise and disbelief (the shop foreman in Victoria was well known for his pranks and tall tales), I was advised Baldwin switcher 7070 was working at Wellcox yard in Nanaimo. That was personally confirmed the next day on 1978-01-23, and Kodak did very well that day!
Occasional maintenance trips to Victoria where I worked gave me many photo opportunities, with one of the best on graveyard shift on Monday 1979-04-09 when 7070 was posed half-on the turntable at night. With a time exposure and me sitting very still in the cab and with a reliable friend to open then close the shutter ten minutes later, a shot simulating me running 7070 onto the turntable (note brakes applied and no exhaust) was achieved. Having now reached 70 myself, this is the perfect day to share that shot of 7070.
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Awesome effort. I hope this is printed and hanging somewhere on your walls to tell the story to visitors!
That is a classic photo Ken. Of course have seen before, but always good to view. Hard to believe it was so long ago now. I was working with these units at Drake Street as 16-24 Loco Fmn job back then. Good times. I wished I’d taken shots like that there. Had lots of opportunities, but never gave it enough thought. Me Bad. Cheers, AC
This is fantastic! Thanks fir posting.
Great shot! Is there a story behind the spare set of wheels in the turntable pit?
Spare car wheelsets for the adjacent car shop were stored on the roundhouse stall-10 outdoor track, and one managed to roll uphill and over the edge, then lived there for a while until the auxiliary crane was steamed up for another local job.
Ken, actuating the shutter on your camera was the least I could do. Forever grateful for all the unique opportunities those graveyard “open houses” at the roundhouse you made available.
Len Thompson