Maxon Road Memories With Ed Wittekind 1948

Electrical Engineering Student, Ed Wittekind attended Union College in Schenectady in the late 1940's.  For his downtime, Ed and his trusty camera made their way to The Maxon Road Engine Facility of The Delaware And Hudson Railroad...

All Photos By Ed Wittekind, 1948



Our Photographer, 18 year-old Union College Student, Ed Wittekind sits at the throttle of D&H 4-8-4, Number 314.


Here is the Northern view of The Mohawk River Bridge and Maxon Road in Schenectady, 1948.    The two tracks on the left are the D&H Main to Mohawk Yard and the other tracks connect to Seneca Street Yard as well as the Roundhouse, Engine House and facilities.  Today, only the one main remains and CPRail's S&C shop is located near the bridge.


A look in the Northeastern direction from Number 310's Tender, shows you the Maxon Road Roundhouse, turn-table and a two-stall-engine house.
(Author's Note: The previous owner of the house I grew up in was a flag-man at the Maxon Road Roundhouse.  He was killed by a train at the Maxon Road Crossing in the early 1940's.)


Ed was lucky enough to get the permission of this hostler to photograph him watering a D&H Northern, Number 310.  He's also the same guy who photographed Ed sitting in the cab of the 314.


J-Class Challenger, Number 1512 sits parked near the turntable pit off Maxon Road.


With ALCO being a stone's throw away, there was always a good chance that you could catch any new product  being delivered on the D&H, such as this FA for The Rock Island Railroad.


Ed liked catching The Challengers coming off The Mohawk River Bridge.  The 1507 is seen pushing towards Schenectady.


The 1511 Gets a drink of water.


The 1515 looks to have the same idea.


The 1535 with a head full of steam rolls northbound  approaching Maxon Road. 



Ed caught the 1535 crossing the Mohawk River on the Glenville side, after leaving Mohawk Yard.


D&H E-3a, Number 927 sits near the water plug at The Maxon Road Engine Facility.



Did I mention pushers?  A couple of Class-J's are bringing the power over The Mohawk River.



Ed quickly turns to catch this consist heading toward Seneca Street.  Seen in the background is the former tank-farm off of Seneca Street and beyond that The American Locomotive Company.




A K-Class, Northern Number 301 sporting some nice Elephant-Ears leads  4-6-6-4 Number 1513 by the water towers located on Maxon Road.


The 1513, with the 301 on the lead crosses Maxon Road. 


An E-Class and 4-6-6-4, Number 1501 is seen heading North  between Seneca Street and Maxon Road with a full head of smoke in the Winter months.




Just like The Wizard Of Oz, we're gonna leave the sepia-tone of Kansas for a nice color shot of a West-Bound pulling a new S-2 for the Pennsylvania Railroad.


A J-Class is seen at the Grade Crossing of Maxon Road.  If you look to the right of the loco you can see the Wye-Track that was on the North Side of Maxon Road.  Believe it or not, 60 years later that Wye-Track is still buried in the woods, with the connections gone on each side.


Last, but not least.  Here is a beautiful Kodachrome of double-headed E-5as, rounding the curve at M16.1 and headed to Schenectady.


Still a dashing fellow, after a 44 year career in electrical engineering, 82 years-young Ed spends his days volunteering at a hospital near Chicago.  The Union College 1952 Graduate says he still loves trains.  Thanks Ed for being an 18 year-old with a camera and capturing the twilight of D&H Steam in Schenectady....














Comments

  1. Great pics..my grandfather worked in the roundhouse on Maxon Rd. Is there a list of workers?

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