Hey all,

Thanks for the positive comments!! I recognize a few of You!! To the rest of You, I started shooting in 1974. My early stuff is pretty primitive and poor, but by the 80s I was getting an occasional good shot. I moved to Barstow in 1976 and saw everything imaginable on the ATSF and UP. Before hiring out in 1977, I worked at a gas station on the east end of town and kept the camera ready. I would get surprised on eastbounds but I could see anything coming west all the way from Nebo. My subject of choice was pool power. I imagine that I have between 70 to 80 different paint schemes on slides of locomotives coming through Barstow. The rare ones being Utah Railway, MKT, Frisco, the 2 moroon NW units and even brown Rock Island!! I also shot any move of business cars that I knew about. You can only imagine what I have to scan. Yes, even the WP bicentennials. This will be a learning process but I am excited to finally be able to share these views from time to time with You. The will not be as sharp and crisp as what a few of You are posting, which is why I asked and warned ahead of time My "baby step" postings. I welcome suggestions and comments. No, I am not retired yet. I have 4 years and 5 months. For those of You that wondered where I ended up after living in Barstow for 23 years, I work the east end Conductor pools now from Needles to Winslow. Hopefully I will not bore You with the usual Cajon Pass wedge shot. I've got some pretty cool stuff to scan! Thanks again, Mike