Sometimes the back story and unexpected connections are at least as interesting as the photo. Casey Durand, son of 557's President/Project Manager, found this photo on the Internet and passed it to Patrick, asking if he had see it before. Below is Pat's story as it evolved through the day. Thanks to Casey, Pat, and Martin for making it available for our enjoyment - "The following image was forwarded first thing this morning and my response was WOW! A clear calm day in Whittier with 557. "This image is new to me with 557 standing with coaches at the Whittier Depot in June of 1959. This would have been the joint tour by the California Nevada chapters of the National Railway Historical Society according to ALASKA RAILROAD by Bernadine Prince. "A glorious day in Whittier. The resident ALCO RS D1 switcher sets one track over. In 1956 until about 60 the Durand family of seven lived in a 28ft travel trailer with a 10X40 ft attached wanigan, right across the street. For years I went to sleep with the lullaby of that ALCO running up and down on idle. This was just off the end of the Whittier Arms apartments which had the bar and restaurant. Right over our abode, up hill was a Howitzer in front of the Buckner Building and speaker that sounded Reveille at 7:00 a.m. "The Alco locomotive was always parked idling night and day one track over from the Depot. The ARR station was grand central as the only link to the world outside. The Station master lived on the second floor of the depot, his wife was the postmistress. Whittier was still a closed Army installation during the cold war. "This all happened about 175 ft from our front door. Great memories come with a fantastic photo. To think, I lived right there and missed the show as at 15, I was working the summer at the head of the bay restoring a 65 ft Louisiana shrimp boat! "It took a several minutes before the credit name Martin E. Hansen Collection struck my conscious brain. I have been corresponding with Martin Hansen, an attorney in Bend Oregon who is helping draft our operating MOU with the Alaska Railroad Corp. Could it be? "I dashed off an email request and immediately got a reply, |
