Any of you familiar with California narrow gauge will know this place. Laws.
First ever (for me) High School reunion, held 10 days ago or so AT the Laws Railway Museum. What a change from 50 or so years ago.
I’ll get Brown, Matthew to put up some before and after photos. Have some from 50 years ago, and one or two from 10 days ago.
They even have two miles of rail stacked at the south end of the museum grounds…but no ties…
TOC
And, without further ado … The window is the same. The grin is the same …
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/davespng9.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/curmspng9.jpg)
More “today” shortly.
Cool!
What do those numbers on the cab mean, in the lower left corner?
If I recall, T44 is the class, 16/20 is bore/stroke of the pistons. Not sure of the 71.
As you can see, none of it but 71 was there when the loco was parked.
You notice how the SP Laws depot looks as though its design was copied from the POC depot at Port Orford? Strange coincidence huh? 
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/richard_smith/2011/Depot-21-2011-Jun26-Web.JPG)
Looking forward to the Laws photos. I’ve never been inside of it either. Need to go back down that way sometime before I get to decrepit.
That’s quite a pair of photos, TOC. Were you already “inoculated” with narrow gauge fever in the older pic?
At least model railroads. The guy on the tender running board, to the left, was my best friend in Bishop, also involved with model railroads…until he died in 2006. At this time, I had an H0 layout (4X8, two mains, Mantua and some other stuff) that I still have most of the equipment from, and the Lionel, of which I and my brother have almost all of it.
You ever see Nevada Smith? Train stuff filmed at Laws.
TOC
You know Dave, your reputation might be ruined now…
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/slatecreek/_forumfiles/curmspng9.jpg)
He doesn’t look like the TOC I know No cigar! Looking forward to more pictures as the come down the pipeline. Craig
I’m holding it in the fingers of my throttle hand. You can’t see that? See how smoky the side window looks?
I’m guessin the only reason you went to the reunion was because of it’s location…
My grandmother rode that narrow gauge from Mojave to Laws in 1917. I had a great uncle that lived in Big Pine which is a few miles south of there.
O’m a members of the museum and I got my newsletter yesterday!
Ken Brunt said:I was thinking it was a decision making factor myself. Looks like you had a good time, Dave.
I'm guessin the only reason you went to the reunion was because of it's location...................;)
What great photos TOC , congrats , I also have never been to a reunion , BUT , had my 50th reunion been at a railroad museum , I might have gone .
Never seen TOC with a smile on his face before. 
I love the old pic. “Always be safe” painted on the cab and you got one kid standing on the roof!!! 
and the president of the Southern Pacific Hysterical Society didn’t like those photos one bit…
I was just in Bishop not too long ago, but I was there for work and couldn’t go over to the Museum, its still on the to-do list - one of these days 
And if you are interested they have a WEB site with more pictures. There are several good books about the Railroad with even more pictures! A most interesting RR. Now if I could just get the other half out the state I could maybe get down there. TOC do we start a tie (track) fund so they tack down the rail they have?
Paul
