01/29/2025
I just finished another painting. I was at the art store and one of the canvas’ that only show up once in a blue moon or when it snows in New Orleans, showed up on the shelf. I grabbed one to see if it was a s good as I remember. Was it? It was so much better! It has gription! It takes and holds the paint. Most other canvas’ are more slippery. Now, if you want an oil painting from me, let me know soon, as the cool canvas will not be around for very long. At least that is how it has been in the past.
About the painting. When I was a kid, say 10 or 11, I found my dad’s cache of railroad books that I didn’t know we had. As I was looking through the books, I came across a C&O H7. At that time, I didn't know much about eastern roads, but that locomotive looked so cool. Pumps on the front, pipes running all over the smokebox, air tanks on top of the boiler, I was hooked. I thought someday I’d like to draw one of those. That day finally came. Over the years, I have done a lot of C&O power, mostly the H-8 and J3a locos , but also some of the 4-6-4s and 2-6-6-2s and a 2-8-2 if I recall, but never did one of the 2-8-8-2s. When the Summer 2019 Classic Trains came out, a Furler photo caught my eye, but put off the painting until I was recently reading the November 1949 Trains magazine and found a shot of a H7 with a T-1. I thought “let's do this.” With a new and improved canvas in hand, I set up the painting. This is the Alleghany grade in the summer of 1939. The train is #95, a westbound hot shot, with Florida fruits and veggies off the SCL. The locomotives are H7a 1571 and T-1 3005. Behind are 87 cars and the speed would be 20 mph. The painting is oil, 16” x 20” and is for sale, I will let this go for a song as it was a canvas test. If you would like it let me know. (we are talking under 2K) Up next, a Q-1. Until next time, happy railroading.
