Re: Festus J. ('Jim') Shaughnessy . . . (pic!)

Earl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> . . .  The other thing Eldon talked about was the
> pic that Jim Shawnessey took of #487 at speed
> south of Alamosa.  Eldon was the fireman look-
> ing at the "crazy guy hanging his big camera out
> the window of his car while driving with his knees".


Hi, again -

Unless Earl has gotten a signed and witnessed deposition from Eldon Morgan, we'll probably have to consider the above to be hearsay evidence, and not final proof that – unlike Tooth Fairies, Honest Lawyers and 'God' – Festus J. Frothjaw really does exist.  In any event, here's the famous Jim Shaughnessy photo that Eldon was referring to when he told Earl about his witnessing a "Festus" in action, as it appears on page 93 of Beebe & Clegg's 'Narrow Gauge in the Rockies':


If you look closely you can see Eldon in the gangway, leaning on his shovel.

Note also that the "Rio Grande" on the tender is slanted backward, not forward, and that this appears to be the way it is painted — not just the effect of the wind due to #487's extremely high rate of speed . . .    

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2022 07:18PM by Russo Loco.