The Legend of Phoebe Snow- The Lackawanna Railroad
Another shot from Steamtown Historic Site, Scranton Pennsylvania. This is one of my favorites from the day, the Lackawanna 663 Locomotive, taken from a spot where I was not supposed to be, only for a few snaps though.
After shooting this I did little research on the Lackawanna Railroad lines produced yet another cool story, The Legend of Phoebe Snow.
At the turn of the 20th century railroad travel wasn’t very pleasant. Trains were hot and uncomfortable, especially in the summer months. Windows were lowered to generate a breeze for the passengers, but the coal-burning locomotive produced fumes and ash. After a long trip, travelers would often leave the train covered in black soot. Not until the introduction of anthracite – a hot burning and clean form of coal, found principally in Northeastern Pennsylvania – did passengers enjoy a more pleasurable ride. Lackawanna Railroad had extensive holdings in the anthracite region around Scranton and powered its locomotives by anthracite coal, it could legitimately claim that their passengers’ clothes would still look clean after a long trip.
In 1900 launched a campaign based on a fictitious lady named “Phoebe Snow,” a young New York socialite and a frequent passenger of the railroad. Calkins created a series of postcards depicting a young Miss Snow, dressed in white, boarding or riding the “rails of Anthracite.” The images were accompanied by a short rhyme to the effect that she could ride cleanly and in comfort. The first ad featured Phoebe traveling to Buffalo, N.Y., and a short poem:
Says Phoebe Snow, about to go upon a trip to Buffalo, “My gown stays white from morn till night, Upon the Road of Anthracite”
This came to an end at the start of WWI when anthracite use was prohibited on railroads due to war demands, however, her legend lived on, in 1949 the Lackawanna Railroad resurrected her when it inaugurated a new streamlined passenger train named, Phoebe Snow. Funny enough the late singer, songwriter Phoebe Ann Laub “Phoebe Snow“, got her famous stage name from this railroad legend of the Lackawanna Railroad.
Thanks for stopping!
Peter Talke
20 Feb 2014Awesome Mike! Its 3D…feels like its coming right at me! -)
Evan Gearing
20 Feb 2014Cool photo and story, Mike! Keep up the good work!
Jim Denham
20 Feb 2014Great image and ridiculously cool story Wiz!
Jimi Jones
20 Feb 2014Super story and shot, Mike. Love these train images. Sweet!
Mark Garbowski
20 Feb 2014That engine is certainly a beauty; love the crispness and colors. Was wondering what could be the connection between railroads and the Poetry Man singer and you didn’t disappoint.
Edith Levy
20 Feb 2014That train looks like it’s coming straight for me. Great shot and post Mike.
Jim Begley
20 Feb 2014Now your talking. I love that old style of engine. I did one in Bowling Green KY and Old L&N and then one in Kansas City at the old Union Station, it was a KCS. Always looking for ones like this one. Of course your processing is over the top. Great work as usual.
jb
Mark Summerfield
20 Feb 2014Great tale to go with a great shot, Mike. I love the angle you got on this one, makes it look like it is about to run straight out of the image.
Len Saltiel
21 Feb 2014Love the colors Mike. The straight on look was a great choice.
Jim Nix
23 Feb 2014great processing here my friend and love the background info too!
Steven Perlmutter
25 Feb 2014Very cool image, and an interesting story to go with it. Looks like a great place to explore and photograph.