OK. So there's not much to take pictures of around Marion,
Indiana. The only excitement in that town was the high school basketball team (many time
State Champs) and the railroads that passed through town. It used to be very strongly
industrial, but the town is shrinking, and, I fear, on its way to dying. Trackside
buildings like this one are also a dying breed. There were large levers mounted to the
floor that a switchman would pull to mechanically move the rail switches so trains could
move from one track to another. I believe they are operated remotely by electricity and
managed by computer these days. (Minolta Autocord, Plus-X Pan Pro)
In 1969, a commemorative train was run to celebrate
the Centennial of the driving of the Golden Spike which signified the joining of railroads
that finally linked the East and West coasts of the United States by a fast overland
route. The so-called "Golden Spike Comparative Train passed through Peru (pronounced
PEE-roo in Indiana), Indiana in the early spring. I played hookey from my college classes
to get these two shots. (Mamiya 500 DTL, Tri-X Pan)
See above. I will be re-printing this one as soon as I find
the negative. 28 years of moving puts things into places where you'd never expect to find
them (and sometimes don't!). (Mamiya 500 DTL, Tri-X Pan)
This is one of my favorite shots. There was a train wreck
just north of Wabash, Indiana in early 1969. I drove up to see and photograph it. I got
there late in the afternoon and got some good shots of the damage. Later in the evening,
the railroad brought in a large, steam-powered rail crane to help clean up the mess. As
night began to fall, so did a light rain. Since it was dark, I added an electronic flash
to my camera. The hexagonal (six-sided) white blobs you see in the picture were a big
surprise to me when I developed the negatives. The flash reflected off the raindrops
nearest the camera and caused the bright spots. The hexagonal shape was caused by the
camera's lens aperture blades. It made a rare sight (steam crane) a bit more interesting.
(Mamiya 500 DTL, Tri-X Pan)
Another one
of the "disappearing buildings". This feed mill was located in Roll, Indiana. I
don't know if it's still there or not, but I haven't seen many like it in recent trips
"back home". I like the composition on this one, and the memories it brings back
of stepping into one of these buildings and seeing the different items inside. Pot-bellied
stoves, old calendars and catalogs, always a gum ball or peanut vending machine for the
kids. And the smells. You who have been there know what I mean. It's as close to the heart
of America as you can get. (Minolta Autocord, Plus-X Pan Pro)