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Westbound by Rockville
by Andrew Harmantas
Oil on Masonite
Original Painting Image size 24" x 36"
Framed size 24½" x 36½" (gold-toned aluminum gallery frame)
Rockville Tower was an interesting place to observe the railroad in action. Perhaps only Horseshoe Curve is more
iconic than the trackage between Enola Yards and Harrisburg, as it crosses the massive stone arch Rockville Bridge.
On the east bank of the river, the tower operator controlled the movements of trains converging on the junction,
and routed them to keep them on schedule. It was always a treat when a scheduled passenger train was approaching
from Harrisburg. Minutes before, the operator would align the switches and set the signals to route the train
through without delay. Only lesser priority freight trains would have to stop and pause to let the passenger train
pass first. Standing out in front of the tower as I often did, I got up close and personal with each train as it
passed, and this passenger train was led by a recently painted set of locomotives in the Pennsy's simplified
single-stripe scheme, the next-to-last scheme of its existence. Their shiny flanks reflected light from the side,
something not often seen on the Pennsy toward the end.
Price: $1,400 (includes US shipping)
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