Monon Line - Fogg Paintings
The Monon was a small regional railroad running the full length of western and central Indiana The trackage was in the form of an elongated X with one line connecting Hammond, Indiana and Chicago with Indianapolis while the second and longer leg connected Michigan City with New Albany, Indiana and Louisville. The two lines crossed at Monon, Indiana from which the railroad derived its name. Two small branches also split off the longer leg which offered connections to Midland and French Lick. The entire railroad was single tracked until formally abandoned in 1956. Trackage was not torn up, however, and operation continued as part of the Louisville & Nashville which ultimately merged with CSX who continues to operate most of the trackage to this day.
P&LE Railroad - Fogg Paintings
Following the completion of his MONON paintings Fogg was enjoying considerable fame as a rail artist accepting commissions from individuals, railroads, railroad authors and corporations for paintings, postcards, book illustrations, and greeting cards.
In the mid-1950’s the New York Central commissioned Fogg to complete a series of Pittsburgh & Lake Erie themed paintings for display in railroad offices and board room. The P&LE was for many years a small but highly profitable regional railroad serving the steel industry in the greater Pittsburgh, PA – Youngstown, OH area. Although the railroad operated independently under its own corporate identity, the P&LE was in fact an operating subsidiary of the much larger New York Central system. In its heyday the P&LE flourished carrying coal, coke, iron ore, limestone and other commodities involved in steel making as well as being a bridge route for traffic originating beyond its terminus points. With the shrinking of the American steel industry in the latter part of the 20th century resulting in the so-called RUST BELT, the P&LE was soon deemed expendable and ceased formal operations in 1992. What trackage still exists today in spots is now part of CSX.
Homer R. Hill B&W Railroad Postcards
Homer R. Hill, proprietor of Hill Press operated as a personal and commercial print shop in Bernardsville, New Jersey, passed away in the year 2000. Not only a printer by trade but an accomplished amateur photographer and railfan Mr. Hill leaves behind a modest collection of black and white railroad postcards, the subjects of which were personally photographed by him over 40 years from the late 1930s through approximately 1990. All printing of the postcards was handled in his own shop.
Parlor Car Enterprises Railroad Chrome Postcard Checklist
Another very nice and modestly sized series by the late Henry C. Butz of Netcong, New Jersey. The exact number of postcards in the series is yet to be determined but appears to be perhaps no more than 100. The emphasis of the series is on eastern railroad operations. Action photography predominates although there are a couple of roster-style shots and a couple of in-service urban streetcars. Coverage dates from the mid-1960s through circa. 1990.
Postcards are regular sized on quality card stock and are printed in Canada. All are numbered using the prefix PCE for Parlor Car Enterprises. All images are identified as to photographer and production date; some later images credit Aron Blum rather than Henry Butz. Their relationship, if any, is unknown to me. All postcards in the series are now out of print but may frequently be found on-line on EBAY, BIDSTART or similar services (although not usually identified by series) or at postcard shows. Names of railroads and other key words from my checklist should assist in searching.
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Lyman E. Cox Railroad Chrome Postcard Checklist
A very nice and modestly sized series by the late Lyman E. Cox, Sacramento, California. The exact number of postcards in the series is yet to be determined but appears to be between 125 and 150. The emphasis of the series is on Class I western railroads whose names and paint schemes are now mostly gone through mergers. Action photography predominates although there are a number of roster-style views including a handful of rolling stock, both freight and passenger, rather than the usual motive power on the head end. Coverage appears to be mostly 1960-1980 but some older historical images are also included. Not all postcards are identified as to date the subject was photographed. I particularly like the series for a number of named passenger trains from the streamliner era operating though beautiful and scenic western locales.
Postcards are regular sized on quality cardstock and numbered using a T prefix (T for Train?). There is at least one numbering error with two postcards seen to date identified as T-30. Individually photographed subjects are not credited as to photographer while older images mainly come from the PR files of the respective railroads. The manufacture of the postcards is either by Johnson in Eau Claire, Wisconsin or Mike Roberts in Berkeley, California. All postcards in the series are now out of print but may frequently be found on-line on EBAY, BIDSTART or similar services (although not usually identified by series) or at postcard shows. Names of railroads and other key words from my checklist should assist in searching.