I caught this restored Motor Freight truck at the Meadow Street crossing at the East Broad Top Railroad’s Fall Spectacular last October. I don’t know if it is a restored original, replica or fantasy. But it sure does look cool, and if not for the paint lines on the road it could be the 1930’s. [url=jon.barnbeckplace.com/EBTTruck-1024.JPG]
[/url] [color=blue]For a higher resolution version, right click on the picture and select Open Link in a New Window[/color] JR
That’s one pretty truck…!! Thanks for posting the pic.
That is one nice truck , I like the paint scheme . Very attractive . A good example of how railway related stuff can be as interesting as the trains themselves .
Mike
Wow, that’s a real beauty!
Thanks or the comments. Now I must confess, this is not a completely honest image. I had to digitally remove Joe Kovalchick, owner of the EBT, from the photo. While I was at it I got rid of a modern flagpole and a telephone pole and wires. My Photoshop skills are still at the Beginner level, but I think you’ll agree the result was a whole lot better than the original. [url=jon.barnbeckplace.com/EBTTruck-1024-Org.JPG]
[/url] [color=blue]For a higher resolution version, right click on the picture and select Open Link in a New Window[/color] JR
Er , no Jon , I don’t ,sorry . I find the unedited version more interesting , it tells more of a story --even showing how up to date the picture is from the clothing the gentleman is wearing .
And who IS the chap with a red flag ? Must be a railway bloke . What was due down the line just after ? Or had it just passed ?
I can see the point of making corrections to pictures for art’s sake , nothing wrong with that . But remember , 50 years down the line , your published photo may be taken literally as what the local scene was .
Your original intent was , I assume , to present a modern scene containing a bit of history . Well , you got the bit of history in OK .
The picture and your comments raise an interesting point , where should we stop with altering pictures ?
When does it become acceptable to improve the appearance of , say , a model , to present it in a better light ?
There are a couple of railway publications in the UK wherein they publish original photos , warts and all , and ask for the readers’ help in identifying where it was taken , or when —I think you get the picture . A lot of the time , it is not the prime interest item , such as a loco , that gives the location/time / circumstances , it is things like telegraph poles–fashion changes them , too --shadows , people and their mode of dress —Victorian , Edwardian , and so on .
Why not publish the before and after side by side ? Then people like me who download them will know which to use for best purpose .
Both pictures are damn good though , aren’t they ?
Thanks ,
Mike
Fair enough Mike. My intention with the edits were to roll back the clock some 75 years. To complete the illusion I need to eliminate the yellow line and change the photo to Black and White. I left it color since the truck is such a nice red.
The railway bloke with the red flag is Joe Kovalchick. He owns that steam freight train in the background as well as the rest of the East Broad Top Railroad. He’s holding a flag because he is protecting the grade crossing as the Freight passes,. There are no automatic signals on this railroad.
Personally I don’t feel there is anything wrong with altering photos. Professionals have been doing it since photography was invented. It really depends on the circumstance. For instance, in a photo contest where competing against film photographers who submit original transparencies, digital photographers should be required to submit un-edited photos. Adjustments for color withstanding since in digital photography most pros and many amateurs shoot in the “Raw” mode recording exactly what the CCD has captured. They then use editing software to correct the image to the best possible light and color conditions. A point-and-shoot digital does this ‘editing’ on-the-fly with built-in software as the image is saved. The difference is that the point & shoot uses “rules” and the pro uses his eyes to make the adjustments.
Now, if I were selling you an engine or a car, and I used my editing skills to remove evidence of wear or damage from a photo used to make the sale, that would be fraud. To take away evidence of modern conveniences to evoke thoughts of an earlier time is art. One I’m not very good at, but enjoying the practice!
JR
Goodness me , Jon , I alter photos myself , have done for ages .
I find it very convenient for getting details whixh are hidden in shadow , for example . There’s all sorts of reasons .
No , I had no intention of criticising you , I genuinely prefer historic warts an’all photos , I have a feeling you do too .
But , yes , there is most definitely a place for after-processing of pics , for art’s sake in particular .
What we don’t want to do is to descend to the level of a well known publisher of photos who blatantly misleads people by fudging his shots . He even gets local natives to light fires in boilers of derelict locos to give the (false) impression that the loco is still in steam . He also gets the surrounding greenery suitably chopped , the man is an absolute charlatan . I wonder how much history will be falsely presented because of this ratbag dating photos taken in dodgy circumstances ?. As it is , people have bought his books as examples of living steam .
Anyway , we ain’t like that , and I think your conversion of the original is done extremely well . Do you intend to scrub out the yellow lines ? It would be nice to see the result if you do. Please .
Mike
OK Mike, you’ve inspired me to finish the job. Another 20 minutes invested and voilà , it’s 1933 [url=jon.barnbeckplace.com/EBTTruck-1024-BW.JPG]
[/url] [color=blue]For a higher resolution version, right click on the picture and select Open Link in a New Window[/color] JR
Beautiful , Jon , just beautiful .
You have really captured the feeling you were after . I shall save all three photos , they are an excellent example of what can be done .
I shall of course credit them to you , even though they are only for my own use .
I shall also frame the black and white one . I shall keep the colour ones with our truck collection . My son Martyn is truck barmy and sends his felicitations for a valuable additon to what is really his collection . He reckons it may be a Chevy , but will happily stand corrected .
Very well done indeed .
Mike and Martyn
PS doesn’t the black and white add some atmosphere ? A touch of sepia may give a good effect , too . But , as they are , they are a delight .
Very nice. Seems to be identical to the original shown on page 143 of EAST BROAD TOP BY Rainey and Kyper. Dodge truck No.2 provided freight service to McConnnellsburg.
Geoff
Upon reading more than just the photo caption, The 2 ton Dodge #2 was destroyed in a fire that consumed the Orbisonia garage, 2 buses and the paint shop. The rafters of the round house were also ablaze at one point.
Geoff -
Thanks for the research. I have R&K and have read it cover-to-cover a few years back, but I didn’t recall this photo. I’ll look it up when I get home.
So you have answered the question - this is a replica of Truck #2. There is also a replica of one of the Pioneer Transport busses that shows up occasionally. I have pictures from 2003, I think.
This year EBT rolled out their 1950’s Chevy box truck. It doesn’t run, but makes a nice static display. It’s been used recently at a photo charter to set up a mail transfer at the station. I have one or two good shots of it parked near the roundhouse.
JR
I wonder if we should model that era in shades of gray so they look like the old photos 
Tom Ruby said:It has been done. Model Railroader article a few years back, if I remember correctly. The guy was modelling NYC, so he didn't have to alter his loco paint jobs :D
I wonder if we should model that era in shades of gray so they look like the old photos :D
I finally dug out my copy of Rainey & Kyper’s East Broad Top.
The actual year of Truck #2 is not mentioned, but the East Broad Top Transit Co. was formed in 1929, primarily as a bus line. The Dodge 2 Ton truck #2 served between the towns of Huntingdon and McConnelsburg, Pennsylvania. Truck #2 was lost in the garage and paint shop fire of July 8, 1933.
So the 1933 date guess for my recreation photo was spot on
JR
