Ghost of Grover

Harrisburg City Fire Station #1 on North Sixth Street has been haunted for years. I was just lucky enough to be in the engine room one day with my camera when the spirit showed itself. He sprinted by rather quickly but a ghost speed is no match for a truckie. We have been able to determine from the ghost that his spirit is restless because of being named Grover as a child. He seems to show himself mostly when we have our shoes off. Lets hope he shows up today. HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Iron Horse

Earlier in the summer Appalachian Harley Davidson held an open house at their facility. While walking the rows of bikes we came across this 1955 Pan Head. I was smitten, it was love at first site. She had a wonderful complexion, her curves were fantastic and the pans just looked beautiful atop her jugs. While shooting it her rider showed up to leave. To hear her rumble when he kicker her was music to the ears. I still think about her from time to time.

It sounds like someday very soon I will have another one of my own. It will have to be a springer, I have a real liking to the older style sleds and the springer resembles them a lot.

Send The Box

Sunday October 28, 2007, 1144 Mainsville Road, Southampton Township, Franklin County. I was loading the truck with my camera stuff preparing to head out and look for deer when Franklin County 911 alerted the 15 box for a house fire. That time of morning along with the dispatcher saying the caller advises across from or next to, I changed my plans.

Arriving right behind the first in Engine Company provided me the chance to get some good photographs. Not having my flash with me potentially took that chance away. The first in rigs did not turn on there scene lighting giving me only the fire to light things up and get the shots.

Now for the technical side of the photographs. I did not change the camera settings to high ISO, those that know me know I can't see that tiny stuff without glasses anymore. And any body that has ever shot fires also knows that you are given very little time to get the shot, conditions are changing rapidly and if the engine company is doing there job (and they did here) the opportunity goes away in a hurry. The camera was hand held for all photographs. The first photograph (fire from a window on side B) was taken at a focal length of 27 mm, ISO 640 at 1/13 second at f3.5 at 6:31:34 a.m. The second photograph (fire from front door) was also a focal length of 27 mm, ISO 640, 1/20 second at 3.5 at 6:31:59 a.m. Having no flash with me after the fire was knocked down I had to turn the ISO up to 3200 because of the lack of light.

Now the question goes out to the photographers looking at this site, under the conditions I was shooting how do I keep from blowing out all the detail of the fire? I have one shot that has great detail of the flames but the rest of the photograph is so underexposed that I don't know if it can be saved. Or is there a way to rescue the flames detail in Photoshop? The sad part is had they not changed the time that we change our clocks it would have been light out and I would not have had any problems (well okay, at least not these problems).

For additional photographs of the fire and all the information on it please visit my other site at http://shippensburgfiredepartment.blogspot.com/

Come Back Robin

Well the weather is changing, temperatures are going down, the leaves are falling and the heating season is almost upon us. With that the robins are leaving and we are stuck here, at least until retirement. Time to start looking forward to spring and the return of the robins.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park,Montana, October 2006. This is Avalanche creek on the Avalanche lake trail. We did not walk the entire distance to the lake this day, we spent out time along the creek taking photographs. This is a beautiful area and a great place to use your camera. This was my first trip to Glacier but I am sure I will be back again with my family.

General Alarm Fire

On July 31, 2006 the Shippensburg Fire Department battled a general alarm fire at 12-16 East King Street. Over the last 150 plus years the SFD has battled numerous large fires in the downtown area. Two of those fires almost destroyed whole blocks, one leading to the creation of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Fireman's Association. In this photograph the West Enders operate in the rear of the building with Engine 15-1. If you would like to learn more about the history of the SFD visit my other site at http://shippensburgfiredepartment.blogspot.com/

You Don't Scare Me

Brooks Fall, Alaska, July 2007, yes I know you have seen the Alaska grizzly bears on here before, but guess what I took a ton of photographs when we were there. These two a male and female (at least I hope they are from things they did) appeared to just be playing around. They are the next in line to stand on the falls in a few years. As soon as they moved off the sea gull feasted on the salmon. And yes you will see more bear photos on this site.

Get Up Cow

This bull moose and several cows were in a camp ground north of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, not far from Moose. I will not attempt to spell the road name as it took me years just to pronounce it correctly. They stayed around the area until we got tired of watching them.

He Could Go All The Way

Shane is playing flag football this year in a program call upward. The program is ran by a local church and sets time aside for bible versus. This is Shane's first year and he is having a wonderful time. This photograph was taken last Saturday, here he turns to run after catching the football. Next Saturday is Shane's last game of the season. He can use the break with Boy Scouts on Mondays and ice hockey on Saturdays and Sundays he stays very busy.

Out With The Old

While enjoying the fall colors in Yellowstone last October I came across this elk antler laying in the woods. Always wanting a set of elk antlers the urge to take it was strong, but National Park Service rules are you leave nothing and you take nothing. So I did the next best thing, I photographed it. I can only hope that the next person did the same thing as I, leaving it for many more to enjoy.

I will grow up

Some where in the middle of Wyoming we watched this young spike and a few does just before dusk while on vacation in July 2005. I am sure by now he has grown up a little bit (even though I have not) and I feel it is my duty to get back out there as soon as possible and check on him.

Baltimore Orioles

August 11, 2007, Brian Roberts slides into second base as Julio Lugo jumps to avoid him after throwing to first base to complete a double play. Yes the Orioles lost this game, why should it have been any different than most of their other games. Next year there will be another new season maybe the Birds will get better and maybe we will be able to go to Camden Yards and have as many fans as our opponents.

It used to be after a bad baseball season I could look forward to football and hockey seasons starting and getting a few wins, NOT. In football the Irish and Dolphins are a combined 1-12, the Hershey Bears are 0-3 in last place, the Caps started out 3-0 but have since dropped there last three games and Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not make the chase for the cup and has still stunk every week. I really need to give up or find something new to watch.

Denali Highway, Alaska

The Denali Highway links Cantwell with Paxson and provides another way to reach Denali National Park. The highway runs a distance of 135 miles of which only 23.9 are paved.

When we decided to use this route to get to Denali it sounded like a great idea. A long road with nothing but wilderness, a photographers delight, there should be lots of wildlife and scenery. Yeah right, scenery anyways. In the first few miles we see our first ever Caribou it was not until the last few miles that we seen any other wildlife, a cow moose. I must admit the snow-capped mountain range was fantastic.

It only took us about eight hours in a camper traveling around 15 miles per hour on a wash board to reach our destination. Knowing what I know now, I would do the same thing all over again.

Experience

On June 11, 2006 during the company's annual Child's Dream, the West End Fire and Rescue Company housed their new 2006 KME rescue engine. The event was well attended by all and the kids enjoyed being a part of the activities. This photograph shows the older West End group. Included in the photo is the company's mother (sitting in the officers seat), a charter member and two past fire chiefs of the company. There is allot of experience in this group.

Sunset in Cody, Wyoming

Cody, Wyoming is home to Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel and Saloon. Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) helped found Cody, Wyoming in 1895, and established his TE ranch in the area. In 1902, he built the Irma Hotel, which he called “just the sweetest hotel that ever was.” Buffalo Bill maintained two suites and an office at the hotel for his personal use.

When the Burlington Railroad completed a spur line into Cody, his plan was to have travelers stay at Buffalo Bill’s Hotels in the Rockies on their way to the east gate of Yellowstone National Park. They included the Irma Hotel in Cody, near the railroad; Wapiti Inn (a day’s wagon ride west) and Pahaska Teepee near the East gate of the park.

The Irma Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service, in recognition of its contribution to the cultural foundations of America. It was designed by Alfred Wilderman Woods, a Lincoln, Nebraska church architect. Certain exterior walls are made of river rock and locally quarried sandstone from Beck Lake just south of town. The fireplace is an assemblage of rock, ores, minerals, and fossils from the Big Horn Basin.

The Irma’s famous cherry wood bar dates to the period of construction and is one of the most photographed features in all of Cody. The original part of the hotel was built for Buffalo Bill in 1902. The northwest addition was constructed in 1929, and the southwest addition was added in 1976-1977.

We had the privilege of staying in original part of the Irma while on vacation and it is truly a beautiful building. Maybe in the future I will post a couple of interior photographs.

Yes More Elk

This photograph was taken September 23, 2006 in Yellowstone National Park. This large bull had hard a herd of cows he was courting during the rut. I don't know if he had much competition we only seen one other bull close by and that was a young male with spikes. We should have stopped and photographed him also just to make him feel better. He was always in the same area and alone, with nobody even stopping to look.

Teton Deer

You can't tell by the photograph but it was raining very hard when I took this. We were leaving Jackson and just entering the southern most portion of the Tetons on the morning of July 29, 2005 when we spotted these two does up on a ridge.

Wait for me mom

July 16, 2007 a mother moose crosses a field with her two calves in following. This image was captured in Denali National Park, Alaska. We really enjoyed visiting Alaska but the wildlife viewing was not what we expected it to be. It turns out there is much more uninhabited land for the animals to roam in compared to Yellowstone.

Reflections

Yellowstone, September 24, 2006 one of the many bull elk we watched and photographed during the rut season. I now think it's time to take a trip to Elk county to photograph Pennsylvania elk.

Wheel You Show Me Your Fire Truck

The Shippensburg Fire Department takes an active roll in fire safety education during the year, but during fire prevention week they get very busy.

These photographs were taken on October 4, 2007 during activities conducted at Nancy Gracen Elementary School. The children go outside and learn about the different types of fire apparatus before going inside and learning about fire safety. Charles Myers Chief Emeritus of the Vigilant Hose Company explains to kids why a firefighter wears breathing apparatus and not to be afraid if they see someone dressed that way.

New Shippensburg Fire history blog

For those of you interested in the history of the fire service in and around Shippensburg, Pa. I have started a new blog. A link can be found to the left of the main page or you can go to http://www.shippensburgfiredepartment.blogspot.com/

I will attempt to post every day with something that occurred that day in the past. I will occasionally post photographs with the incident. From time to time I will post photos of a piece of Shippensburg fire apparatus with a short history.

As with this site the comment section is open to everyone and appreciated. If you like the new site pass it along.

Thanks Brad

More EBT

Today's post is a few more photographs from the EBT's fall spectacular before I move on. Sorry but I don't have any information on the two motorized pieces pictured above.

Trolley Car 172 was built in Oporto, Portugal in 1929, although it looks very similar to cars that operated in the United States around 1900. Oporto built a large fleet of these cars in their shops. Car 172 has an attractive interior, with very ornate carved wood trim , fancy brass fittings, and sliding end doors. It also has a unique seating arrangement, with two seats on one side and one seat on the other, made necessary by the narrow twisting streets of Oporto.

Car 172 came across the Atlantic Ocean in 1967. Both cars were trucked aboard highway trailers from Philadelphia to the Rockhill Trolley museum. While several other US museums and groups have acquired cars from Oporto, the Rockhill Trolley museum was the first to import cars from that city. Car 172 was in operating condition upon arrival at the museum and was placed in passenger operations immediately. Its four wheels give a bouncy ride, as frequently parodied in the Toonerville Trolley films. The body of 172 has been restored in the Buehler Shop.

East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company

East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company was originally chartered on April 16, 1856 to mine and transport coal from the rich fields of Broad Top Mountain. Due to lack of funding, however, the railroad did not become a reality until fifteen years later when the Rockhill Iron & Coal Company (RIC) was incorporated. The founders, a group of Philadelphia businessmen, bought a controlling interest in EBT stock, and made plans to construct a narrow gauge railway. The line was opened from Mt. Union to Rockhill Furnace on August 30, 1873, and was completed in 1874 to the company town of Robertsdale which was developing around Rockhill No. 1 Mine. In 1891, the tracks were extended to a new mine at Woodvale. Trains made several daily runs to Mt. Union where coal was transferred to the standard gauge cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

At Rockhill, the company built an extensive shops complex and engine house. With its steam-generated and belt-driven machinery, the EBT was almost totally self-sufficient, maintaining its rolling stock and constructing its own freight cars. As the railroad prospered, passenger service was expanded to include public excursions as well as transport of miners. In the early 1900's, the trackage and bridges were substantially rebuilt, including an early concrete arch railway bridge. In 1906 a new passenger station at Rockhill was constructed, which bears the name of the neighboring town of Orbisonia. This building also houses the company offices.

Being in Orbisonia around the EBT is like stepping into the late 1800's or early 1900's. These photographs were taken at the fall spectacular Saturday October 6, 2007. It was not the best day to shoot as the fog was very heavy and when it burnt off the sun was harsh. The top two photos were worked over extensively in photoshop to enhance detail and give them an art work effect. I hope you enjoy them.

EBT #15

These photographs and others you will see this week were shot at the fall spectacular on October 6, 2007 at the East Broad Top Railroad in Orbisonia, Pa. Trains and trolleys run all day at the spectacular, while the boy scouts and other local groups sell food. The event is attended by hundreds but the visitor that most stands out is the adult male running around with their cameras smiling like they are little kids again. For anyone that likes trains this is a place you must visit.

The above photos are of number 15 a Baldwin 2-8-2 built in 1914. Number 15 was purchased in 1914 because of the increase in passenger traffic. After a four year overhaul number 15 returned to service in 2005. She made many trips this past weekend bringing joy to hundreds.

Later this week there will be more photographs and history from the EBT.

Chief Mike

Congratulations Mike Horst on your promotion to the rank of Battalion Chief. Effective today Mike will be known as Chief 7 (and others things, LOL). It looks as if Mike will be leaving the C Platoon where he recently worked as there Captain and heading to the A Platoon.

Mike hired on in August 1979 and worked his way up through the system, being an officer for the last 10 years. In this photograph Mike is shown leaning against Tower 1 in June 2007 at a small job in the uptown section of the city. Mike spent a big part of his career riding Tower 1 on the C Platoon.

Mike is just one of a few to be promoted recently, congratulations also go out to Tom Murray on his promotion to Deputy Fire Chief, Willis Schrauder to Captain and Andy Weaver to Lieutenant.

Kyle

Hello, my name is Kyle and I have lived with the Myers family for about three years. Shane was kind enough to adopt me from the West Shore Humane society. I am the oldest of the cats and the one that loves milk.

I got in trouble for doing this after he took my picture. He even moved the Cowden crock away from this table so it would never happen again.

Caps Win

The Washington Capitals won there season opener last night in Atlanta beating the Thrashers 3-1. They played well and the former Hershey Bears players had a big part in the victory. They have there home opener tonight against the Hurricanes. Did I mention that we are only one point out of first.

The photographs today were taken at an exhibition game the Capitals played in Hershey against the Penguins in October 2005. The Caps won the game and everybody got there first look at Alexander the great in the top photograph. In the second shot Freddie Cassivi stops a Maxime Talbot shot in the shoot out.

In the last photograph Shane stands beside Olaf Kolzig the Caps goalie at the end of the game. Ollie has always been one of Shane's heroes and Ollie did not leave him down this day. Shane got to spend the third period when Ollie came out sitting beside him, and Ollie signed his hat before leaving the bench.

Bald Eagle

This bald eagle was shot July 14, 2007 in Valdez, Alaska. He was spotted in a tree close to a nest while we were enjoying a one day cruise of the glaciers and sea mammals. While shooting this mature eagle another glided in and perched on a tree nearby.

Bowling Alley Fire

April 4, 2007 ABC Bowling Lanes Eisenhower Blvd., Swatara Township, Dauphin County shortly before noon units were alerted on the 49 box for a reported building fire. First arriving apparatus encountered heavy fire from side B, an offensive attack was started but quickly abandoned for defensive operations.

Command requested the second alarm plus an additional six engines and six tankers. Numerous other rigs were special called to the incident. Units operated into the evening and the building was a total loss.

Two Doe

October 6, 2006 north of Choteau, Montana. Brian his mother and myself set out on a road trip north of town one day. I had listened to Brian for years about how great the wildlife was in the area, so I had great expectations. We spent hours driving to only find these two doe and a couple on the other side of the road at the same time. I am still not sure just how much wildlife is really in the area, or if it has been a story all along, LOL. Regardless, the area is still beautiful and it beat being in Pennsylvania.

I wanted to pass along to those that may not be aware of it, but the photographs may be clicked on to make larger. Some only get a little larger, but in the case of yesterday's boat photo it makes a big difference. Thanks to everyone that comes back on a regular basis to view my photos, remember there is a comments section and all are appreciated, good or bad.

Morning in Seward, Alaska

Fog lifts from the bay at Seward, Alaska on the morning of July 9, 2007.

A big fishing area, boats head out to sea early returning with loads of Salmon and Halibut. Even in July you need to dress warm to be comfortable in Seward.

More Elk

More Yellowstone Elk during the rut. My comments will start getting shorter for some of the wildlife, or I will have to start repeating myself.

This bull and his herd was shot September 24, 2006 on Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone. We spotted them high atop this mountain and set off on foot to photograph them. I guess we were the only ones that wanted the shot bad enough because there were plenty of people around but no one followed us. For me the climb was worth it to get the beautiful blue sky behind the elk.