My original reason for taking a camera to trackside in 1959 was the stirring sight and sound of a New Haven GP9, making a jack rabbit start on a Needham Branch commuter train. Problem was, the 1200s made only cameo appearances. Capturing one on film took patience, while ignoring the comings and goings of less interesting power. Mostly out of frustration, however, I did shoot one of the tired looking and sounding 0700s. Returning to trackside after summer camp in mid July, I found GP9s had become plentiful.
Years later I learned, that the few remaining examples of New Haven's 60 Alco GE DL 109s made their final runs on the Needham Branch in June 1959. And it happened with me right there at trackside, camera in hand, ignoring almost all of them.
