These are new bogs he’s building; started ’em last year. Aren’t the
pitch-pines pretty along the shore there? This ride down the east side
is better scenery than we got coming up. Nights this whole shoreline is
twinkling with little bug-lights where people are fishing for bass; come
from miles around.
Sunset Vista’s about a mile down here. They called it Ridge Hill before
the railroad came. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood used to come out here and sit in
their Packard to watch the sunset. They enjoyed it. Said it was so
restful and quiet. Must have been kind of a sacrifice, too, when they
gave it up so others could enjoy it. Certainly is nothing restful nor
quiet around here now, since everyone and their inlaws took it over for
sunset picnics. Trains drop ’em off late in the afternoon and pick them
up again along in the evening. There’s even talk of band concerts. It’s
here that the Atwoods will probably have their big Christmas pageant
this year--but maybe I’m letting the tabby out of the bag. Well, we’re
almost there. He’ll stop, because that work train is out ahead of us.
[Illustration:
(_Moody Photo_)
The Edaville has everything the B. & A. has got: speeding passenger
trains, grade crossings, and camera-minded girls who take pictures
of it!
]
How did No. 7 ride? Like it? Ever on a midget engine before?
You said awhile ago that you wanted to take some pictures. Movie camera?
Good! Here’s what we can do: one of Mr. Atwood’s pickup trucks is here
at Sunset Vista. We can take it and run ahead of the train to Edaville,
about a mile. Want to? The railroad and Mr. Atwood’s auto road are side
by side along the foot of the reservoir. All right: you climb in back of
the pickup and get your Hell & Bowell flicker-box ready for action. I’ll
keep just far enough ahead so you can shoot the whole train. Ready?
[Illustration:
(_Hosmer Photo_)
In the quiet shade of the pine grove No. 7 backs sleepily onto her
train, ready for the daily grind again.
]
Hang on! This tipcart doesn’t ride like _Rangeley No. 9_. She should
make a dandy picture back there--smoke rolling up over the pitch-pines
and the three varnished cars glittering in the sun. See ’em swing
through that reverse curve!
See this big iron along here? Seventy-five pound steel, biggest ever
laid in two-foot track. Proportionately it’s equivalent to about
two-hundred pound rail in wide gauge track: heavier than anything made
yet.
Getting some good shots? I hope the reflections in the water show up
clear; reservoir’s like a mirror.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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