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5/13/2024
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Viewing Album:  USA: The Ayers Postal Cards
 
By:Thomas C. Ayers
Dates:1/1/1909 - 1/1/1909
Album Info:Here are several railroad-motif postal cards that were sent to me by various persons over the years. Photo captions, cancellation dates, and senders' names are noted when available. Also included are several postal cards which have been my possession since the 1960's and 1970's.
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"Wilmington, Delaware," 1961
Title:  "Wilmington, Delaware," 1961
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Wilmington, Delaware." Postmarked: 25 July 1961. Sent to me by Lois (Burket) Ayers, my mother. Caption On Reverse: "From Brandywine Park can be seen the present B & O bridge that was built in 1910. Ten years later, the old railroad bridge (which can be seen through the arches) was converted into a crossing highway for use by the public and is now known as Augustine Cut-Off Bridge. The original swing span was replaced by the more substantial suspension bridge that serves Wilmington today. Just below it is the old swinging foot bridge that crosses Brandywine Creek. Ektachrome by Ed Kennedy."
Photo Date:  7/25/1961  Upload Date: 3/31/2022 7:21:57 PM
Location:  Wilmington, DE
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Bridge
Locomotives: 
Views:  63   Comments: 0
"The Iron Horse In Retirement," 1961
Title:  "The Iron Horse In Retirement," 1961
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "The Iron Horse In Retirement." Postmarked: 1 August 1961. Sent to me by James W. Young, a chemist at the PRR's Altoona Test Plant. Caption On Reverse: "This is the last steam locomotive run on the Maine Central Railroad. Final trip was Portland to Bangor and return on June 13, 1954. No. 470 is a Big C Class Pacific type built by Alco in 1924. It had 30 years of service, being replaced by modern diesels." Photo by Luther S. Phillips.
Photo Date:  8/1/1961  Upload Date: 3/31/2022 7:24:13 PM
Location:  Waterville, ME
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  MEC 470(4-6-2)
Views:  165   Comments: 0
"Steam Locomotive No. 1819," 1962
Title:  "Steam Locomotive No. 1819," 1962
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Steam Locomotive No. 1819." Postmarked: 20 June 1962. Sent to me by Samuel Walker of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Caption On Reverse: "Built November 1906 ~ Retired 1953. Weight: 322,775 lbs. ~ Traveled 916,626 miles. Lamar, Colorado." The photographer is not identified.
Photo Date:  6/20/1962  Upload Date: 4/1/2022 9:55:52 AM
Location:  Lamar, CO
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  ATSF 1819(2-6-2)
Views:  104   Comments: 0
"Canadian Rockies," 1962
Title:  "Canadian Rockies," 1962
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Pacific Railway's 'Canadian.' Photo Courtesy of Canadian Pacific Railway." Postmarked: 15 August 1962. Sent to me by Sara Margaret (Fillmore) Cohen, my father's youngest sister.
Photo Date:  8/15/1962  Upload Date: 4/1/2022 9:58:20 AM
Location:  Canyon Creek, AB
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Bridge,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  47   Comments: 0
"Missouri Pacific Locomotive #635," 1962
Title:  "Missouri Pacific Locomotive #635," 1962
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Missouri Pacific Locomotive #635." Postmarked: 30 August 1962. Sent to me by Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Lantz of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Caption On Reverse: "This Missouri Pacific locomotive #635 ~ built in June of 1889 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railroad ~ is a 4-6-0 Ten-Wheel type. National Museum of Transport; St. Louis 22, Missouri."
Photo Date:  8/30/1962  Upload Date: 1/31/2024 12:28:55 AM
Location:  St. Louis, MO
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  MP 635(4-6-0)
Views:  31   Comments: 0
"Historic Hoosac Tunnel," 1963
Title:  "Historic Hoosac Tunnel," 1963
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Historic Hoosac Tunnel." Postmarked: 19 August 1963. Sent to me by James W. Young, a chemist at the PRR's Altoona Test Plant. Caption On Reverse: "Modern diesel train emerging from east portal of historic Hoosac Tunnel. The tunnel, which passes under the Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts, is nearly five miles long. Completed in 1875 at a cost of 195 lives, it became a milestone in railroad engineering." The photographer is not identified.
Photo Date:  8/19/1963  Upload Date: 4/2/2022 8:29:12 AM
Location:  Florida, MA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Tunnel
Locomotives: 
Views:  60   Comments: 0
"Pennsylvania 1361," 1963
Title:  "Pennsylvania 1361," 1963
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Pennsylvania 1361." Postmarked: 9 December 1963. Sent to me by US Air Force Airman 3rd Class Ralph Evans. Caption On Reverse: "Memorial K4 Steam Locomotive donated to the City of Altoona by the Pennsylvania Railroad at Horseshoe Curve ceremonies, June 8, 1957." The photographer is not identified. Shown here is PRR engine #1361, a K-4S (4-6-2) "Pacific" built in Juniata during May of 1918, retired in September of 1956, enshrined at the Horseshoe Curve on 8 June 1957, restored for excursion service during 1987-1988, then withdrawn from service and disassembled because of safety concerns.
Photo Date:  12/9/1963  Upload Date: 4/2/2022 8:32:15 AM
Location:  ALTOONA (HORSESHOE CURVE), PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  PRR 1361(4-6-2)
Views:  222   Comments: 0
"Steam Locomotives, Henry Ford Museum," 1964
Title:  "Steam Locomotives, Henry Ford Museum," 1964
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Steam Locomotives, Henry Ford Museum." Postmarked: 12 July 1964. Sent to me by Thomas Harry Lantz of Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Caption On Reverse: "Three stages of steam locomotive development in the United States are represented by the tiny DE WITT CLINTON, one of the first built and operated (1831); the SAM HILL (directly behind), typical of the Civil War period (1860); and the huge ALLEGHENY 1601, one of the largest and last built (1941). The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village; Dearborn, Michigan."
Photo Date:  7/12/1964  Upload Date: 1/31/2024 12:30:25 AM
Location:  Dearborn, MI
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  NYC DEWITT(0-4-0) AG 3(4-4-0) CO 1601(2-6-6-6)
Views:  81   Comments: 0
"Samuel Rea Shops," 1966
Title:  "Samuel Rea Shops," 1966
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Samuel Rea Shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad." Postmarked: 7 October 1966. Sent to me by Lois (Burket) Ayers, my mother. Caption On Reverse: "Multimillion dollar facility at Hollidaysburg, Pa." Published by Claar Studio of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Visible in the foreground is the curving branch line connecting Hollidaysburg with Bedford and Cumberland, Maryland, as it crosses over the Juniata River.
Photo Date:  10/7/1966  Upload Date: 4/2/2022 10:19:47 PM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Bridge,Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  53   Comments: 0
"Downtown, Altoona, Pa.," 1966
Title:  "Downtown, Altoona, Pa.," 1966
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Downtown, Altoona, Pa." Postmarked: 19 October 1966. Sent to me by Lois (Burket) Ayers, my mother. Published by Claar Studio of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Visible at the right are the Pennsylvania Railroad's 12th Street Car Shops and the space which once housed the PRR's Western Roundhouse. Across the tracks (Pittsburgh to the left, Harrisburg to the right), just below the 12th Street Footbridge, is the PRR's Altoona Passenger Station. Above the Station is the US Post Office in the space once occupied by the luxurious Logan House.
Photo Date:  10/19/1966  Upload Date: 4/2/2022 10:22:11 PM
Location:  Altoona, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  105   Comments: 0
"Diesel Helpers," 1970
Title:  "Diesel Helpers," 1970
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Diesel Helpers." Postmarked: 14 July 1970. Sent to me by Peggy Burket, a maternal aunt. Revised Caption On Reverse: "'Diesel Helpers' descending the mountain after helping a [freight] train over the Horseshoe Curve, Altoona, Pa. Photo by Sheldon L. Burns." Shown here (L to R) are Pennsylvania Railroad engine #7132 and two more "Geeps" whose road numbers are not recorded. All are EFS-17M's built by GM-EMD and rated at 1,750 horsepower each. #7132 was built in June of 1957.
Photo Date:  7/14/1970  Upload Date: 4/3/2022 1:58:09 AM
Location:  ALTOONA (HORSESHOE CURVE), PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories: 
Locomotives:  PRR 7132(GP9)
Views:  70   Comments: 0
Aerial View of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, c. 1968
Title:  Aerial View of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, c. 1968
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card that could be entitled "Aerial View of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania." Photo by Joseph R. Nedimyer. No Postmark. Visible at the upper right is the Samuel Rea Shop and its supporting railroad yards. Bracketing them are the rail lines leading East to Frankstown and Petersburg (to the right), and West to Duncansville and Gallitzin (to the left). The highway at the right is US Route 36: North toward Altoona to the left and South toward Bedford at the right.
Photo Date:  8/15/1968  Upload Date: 11/29/2021 5:08:03 PM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Bridge,Yard,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  50   Comments: 0
"Aerial View. Hollidaysburg, Penna.," c. 1968
Title:  "Aerial View. Hollidaysburg, Penna.," c. 1968
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Aerial View. Hollidaysburg, Penna. Claar Studio, Hollidaysburg, Pa." No Postmark. Visible just below the major intersection is the Pennsylvania Railroad's Passenger Station in Hollidaysburg; it sits along what was once the route of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. Further to the right ~ where the freight cars are parked ~ is where the boat basins for the western terminus of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal once existed. In the top right-hand corner of the photo are the PRR's Samuel Rea Shop and the hundreds of stored freight cars awaiting repairing or scrapping.
Photo Date:  8/15/1968  Upload Date: 10/19/2018 11:17:56 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic,Yard,Station,Passenger,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  139   Comments: 0
"Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, Pa.," c. 1968
Title:  "Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, Pa.," c. 1968
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, Pa." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "County Seat of Blair. Incorporated 1836. Located on U.S. RT. 22 & 36. Home of the largest railroad car repair shops in the world. Public & Parochial School systems. Ten Churches; Nursing Homes; YM-YWCA; Free Public Library; Fire & Ambulance services; Civic & Service organizations; Golf Courses & State Park." The steeple in the center is that of the Blair County Court House.
Photo Date:  8/15/1968  Upload Date: 11/29/2021 5:05:04 PM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  54   Comments: 0
"Town of Hollidaysburg," c. 1968
Title:  "Town of Hollidaysburg," c. 1968
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Town of Hollidaysburg." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "The Town of Hollidaysburg is located in a beautiful valley of the Allegheny Mountains. It is industrially active, with many varied and successful enterprises. The Samuel Rea Shop near the Juniata River can be seen at the right. Photo by E. Madciff of Hershey, Pa." The land that the photographer is standing upon is called "Cow Hill." The southern end of Brush Mountain dominates the distance.
Photo Date:  8/15/1968  Upload Date: 10/23/2020 5:00:14 PM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  46   Comments: 0
"Chimney Rocks," c. 1968
Title:  "Chimney Rocks," c. 1968
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Chimney Rocks." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "From Chimney Rocks overlooking Hollidaysburg, one sees the PRR's Samuel Rea Shop. This horizon-scraper is so long, it seems even to touch the horizon. The work done here represents the best mass production methods of industry in the railroad repair field. Photo by E. Madciff of Hershey, Pa." The names of the two youngsters pictured in the foreground are not recorded.
Photo Date:  8/15/1968  Upload Date: 4/3/2022 2:00:47 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  61   Comments: 0
"Rose Yard, Altoona, PA," 2005
Title:  "Rose Yard, Altoona, PA," 2005
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Rose Yard, Altoona, PA." Postmarked: 30 July 2005. Sent to me by April Kaye Neal. Caption On Reverse: "Rose Yard Facility. Altoona, PA. Photo by C.G. Wagner, Jr." Shown here is Conrail engine #3334 and several other units whose road numbers are not recorded. All were built by GM-EMD. #3334 is a GP40-2 built in June of 1978. Note the unit mineral train and the Erecting & Machine Shop at the far right. Photo taken from Juniata's 8th Street Bridge.
Photo Date:  7/30/2005  Upload Date: 6/29/2022 8:21:44 AM
Location:  Altoona(Juniata), PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  CR 3334(GP40-2)
Views:  56   Comments: 0
"Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania," 2011
Title:  "Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania," 2011
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania." Postmarked: 5 May 2011. Sent to me by April Kaye Neal. Caption On Reverse: "Hollidaysburg, PA, as viewed from the Lower Overlook in Chimney Rocks Park. Hollidaysburg is the county seat of Blair County and is located just south of Altoona. Color photo by Bron Miller." Note the tracks of the Hollidaysburg Yard in the center of the photo. Once upon a time, they were plied by "Consolidations," "Mikados," and "Decapods."
Photo Date:  5/5/2011  Upload Date: 6/29/2022 8:23:40 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  43   Comments: 0
"Chimney Rocks," c. 1946
Title:  "Chimney Rocks," c. 1946
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "The Chimney Rocks near Hollidaysburg, Pa., as seen from the William Penn Highway." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "These unusual limestone formations can be seen for miles on clear days and also on moonlit nights. The Rocks have figured in local history since pioneer days." (#7575)
Photo Date:  8/15/1946  Upload Date: 5/25/2021 9:45:28 PM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  47   Comments: 0
"The Village Church," 1912
Title:  "The Village Church," 1912
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "The Village Church." Postmarked in Hollidaysburg: 18 December 1912. Detail On Reverse: "Genuine Watercolor Cards; Made by Orsoni Process." This scene reminds me of the way Hollidaysburg once looked: winter snow, Brown's Pond, the Presbyterian Church, Chimney Rocks in the distance.
Photo Date:  12/18/1912  Upload Date: 9/30/2021 7:07:57 AM
Location:  Hollidaysburg, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Winter
Locomotives: 
Views:  62   Comments: 0
"Juniata River," 1906
Title:  "Juniata River," 1906
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Juniata River." Postmarked: 16 February 1906. Front Caption: "Juniata River ~ A Sunny Nook." A vintage view of the Blue Juniata, the route of both the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal System and the Pennsylvania Railroad from Duncannon to Hollidaysburg and Altoona. The photographer's name and the exact location are not recorded.
Photo Date:  2/16/1906  Upload Date: 12/29/2018 7:36:11 PM
Location:  Newton Hamilton, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  209   Comments: 0
"Pennsylvania"
Title:  "Pennsylvania"
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Pennsylvania." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "Morning mist covers the landscape in this summer scene in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. Photo copyright 1997 John Beale." This is what it might have looked like on the morning that my maternal grandfather ~ Isaac Milton Burket ~ left his parents' farm in Queen, Pennsylvania, on his way to Altoona to begin his 50-year career as a locomotive fireman and engineman on the Pennsylvania Railroad (1900-1950). You can almost hear the sounds of the steam-powered passenger train chugging down the valley, through the mist, on its way to Altoona. And if we listen even more intently, perhaps we can even sense some Iriquois hunters searching for game to feed and clothe their families in ancient times, long ago and far away....
Photo Date:  8/15/1900  Upload Date: 10/27/2018 12:35:14 AM
Location:  Queen, PA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  272   Comments: 0
"Bowery," 1907
Title:  "Bowery," 1907
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Bowery; looking North from Grand Str. New York." No Postmark; Hand Dated "Oct. 5th/07" The good old 3rd Avenue "El" in The Bowery. Originally steam powered, then electrified ~ but there are still lots of horse-drawn wagons to be seen!
Photo Date:  10/5/1907  Upload Date: 4/3/2022 9:35:29 AM
Location:  New York, NY
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Transit
Locomotives: 
Views:  57   Comments: 0
"Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge," c. 1907
Title:  "Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge," c. 1907
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge." Copyright Geo. P. Hall & Son. No Postmark. As usual, traffic is jammed heading into Manhattan!
Photo Date:  10/7/1907  Upload Date: 4/3/2022 9:37:13 AM
Location:  Brooklyn, NY
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Bridge,Transit
Locomotives: 
Views:  79   Comments: 0
"Boston 5159," 1969
Title:  "Boston 5159," 1969
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Boston 5159." No Postmark. Caption On Reverse: "MBTA snow plow at Riverside Station after clearling the car lines in Boston allowing uninterrupted trolley service. February 25, 1969. Photo by Norton D. Clark." [Note: "MBTA" denotes Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.]
Photo Date:  2/25/1969  Upload Date: 1/13/2024 11:27:19 PM
Location:  Riverside, MA
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Winter,Night,Transit
Locomotives:  MBTA 5159(MOW Trolley)
Views:  32   Comments: 0
"Schouler Park, North Conway," c. 2015
Title:  "Schouler Park, North Conway," c. 2015
Description:  Personal PC. Here is a postal card entitled "Schouler Park, North Conway." No Postmark. Gift from Christos Pappa. Caption On Reverse: "New Hampshire. North Conway Station of the Conway Scenic Railway. Photo by Justine Hill."
Photo Date:  8/15/2015  Upload Date: 6/29/2023 10:43:29 PM
Location:  North Conway, NH
Author:  Thomas C. Ayers
Categories:  Station,Passenger
Locomotives: 
Views:  30   Comments: 0

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