This photo was pieced together from a large print. While not of
super quality its content was just too good to pass up. The photo
was taken from the Fourth Street bridge looking west toward Columbus Union
Station. It was probably taken in the late 1940's or early 1950's.
A freight
with a J1 road engine and an M1 helper is on the Pennsy freight bypass that goes around the south
side of Columbus Union Station. When the train gets to the west end
of Union Station the High Street tower can send the train on either the
Xenia line toward Cincinnati or the Bradford line toward Logansport or
Richmond, IN. Since the Bradford line often saw double headers it is
a good bet this train is headed toward Bradford.
All eight station tracks are visible as is the Big Four water tower and
yard off to the right. The B&O and NYC freights used the tracks on
the north side of the depot. With 40 plus passenger and mail/express
trains using the station and all the freights this was a busy place in the
1940's and 50's. Great train watching!
Photo from the Robert Bunge Collection.
