|
New York Central Steam on the Harlem and Putnam Divisions Photographs from the c
New York Central Steam on the Harlem and Putnam Divisions Photographs from the collection of Edward L May. Commentary by Richard L Stoving
Soft Cover Stapled
Copyright 2006
56 pages
The Harlem Division
North White Plains, Valhalla-Kensico, Katonah, Golden's bridge, Croton Falls, Brewster, Chatham,
The Putnam Division
Croton Lake
Is there more?" The question was asked of me repeatedly at the New York Central System Historical Society's train show at Albany in April of 2005. It was asked by some very nice people who picked up, thumbed through, and then in most cases purchased copies of the two volumes of Ed May's photos that were published with my commentaries by The Railroad Press in 2004. The question gladdened my heart, because in three words it confirmed my belief that the photographic artistry of the late Edward L. May merited greater recognition.
However, I was not sure how to answer the question. True, Ed's negative collection, which he gave to me a few years before his death in 1998, runs to over 10,000 images, but I had chosen some of the very best Hudson Division and Harmon negatives for inclusion in the two volumes that were so warmly received at the show. How could their quality be matched?
The answer came to me one evening as I browsed for perhaps the hundredth time through Lou Grogan's wonderfully detailed book, The Coming of the New York and Harlem Railroad, published in 1989. "Why not a book of photos taken by Ed on the Harlem Division?" I thought. Following a month-long scrutiny of the material available, I chose to broaden the scope of the book to cover both the Harlem and the Putnam divisions, to include a considerable number of photos not taken by Ed May but nevertheless printed from negatives in his collection, and to limit the review to steam power alone. Only one diesel locomotive appears in this volume, and the significance of its appearance along with an ageing ten wheeler at High Bridge will be apparent to every reader.
Broadening the base of material to include some of the work of other photographers, principally Joseph Lavelle and Ed's friend E Ray McKnight, both of whose New York Central negatives were acquired by Ed and added to his collection, I was able to extend the date range of photos from 1917 to 1952, and to include views of seventeen distinct New York Central steam locomotive classes. Nevertheless, close to half of the photos reproduced in this book were taken by Ed May, from a 1934 box camera effort at Towners to a 1952 farewell to the 4597 at North White.
The photos that predate the 1930's were made from negatives that are in the Lavelle section of Ed's collection. A photograph of Mr. Lavelle appears in the October 1940 issue of the old Railroad Magazine, with a caption noting that it was said that he had the world's largest collection of engine photos, totaling 35,000 different shots. Ed was extremely fortunate to acquire most, if not all, of Mr. Lavelle's New York Central and New York Central predecessor line negatives. I believe that a goodly portion of these were taken by Mr. Lavelle himself, but it is possible that some were taken by other early rail photographers whose names, unfortunately, are not given in any records that were transmitted to me.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
Terms and conditions
All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us first. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding.
Thanks for looking at our items.
| 
