Hello, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum. I am trying to date this postcard. Any help would be appreciated. Joe Davis BC Historical Society
The bridge in the photograph is C138.0 (Lamar is MP C138.7), which spans the North Fork of the Spring River. The span in the photograph is 143'-7" long. The bridge was retired during 1923, and replaced with 2, 71 foot deck plate girders. So we know that the image is no older than 1923. It appears that the locomotive is one of the "larger" 4-6-0's, perhaps one of the 1902/1903-built Baldwins from the 742-799 class. The firebox, driver spacing, and dome configuration look close to that class. A hi-res scan of just the locomotive would be helpful. For a broad date range, it would be safe to say 1905-1915. The 1000-1059 class was complete by 1912, so the chances of one of the 4-6-0's on a main line passenger train would be smaller after that date.
Do you have a location for the bridge? West of town? East of town? I don't remember seeing or hearing about an iron train bridge like that in Lamar on the Frisco line. Thanks for the reply
Here are a few additional thoughts. 1. The Frisco installed ABS with 3-color, upper-quadrant semaphores on the Ash Grove Subdivision during 1909. There was a northbound signal placed at MP-C138.0; we should see the signal in the image. 2. The pole line was on the north (by compass) or east (by timetable) side of the track. This train is northbound. Also, the pole line does not look like there are enough carriers to handle a signal system. 3. Records from circa 1928 call this body of water Muddy Creek. The bridge was west (by compass) or north (by timetable) from Lamar. 4. By 1914 Ash Grove sub passenger trains were being handled by 1040 class 4-6-2's. I believe that we can push the date back to before 1909.
Don, You're a sneaky one; after reviewing the period seniority rosters, and after checking the cenus records, it turns out that the tallow pot was un-married and had no siblings. A trick question since he had no brother in law.
