. . . one of my aunts, lived close to railroad tracks. It was fun to visit her, when a train went by. We’d stop whatever we were doing and wave for a response, which we often received! Years later, during a visit, our young son was surprised to hear a train approaching. He went out to discover that my older brother was already there! When asked, my brother responded, that once he was young, too! lol! :)
I do LIKE the sort-of ‘bridge’ between the old world and the new – with the slight reference to ‘virtual reality’ … Just get out there, we did and still do! Also, I like the lamp in Panel 4 – It’s a slight nod to the ‘Leg Lamp’ from A Christmas Story!! :)
I have a stereoscope, as depicted here, circa 1903, and several antique stereoscopic images. The modern version (after Viewmaster, of course) is the Magic Eye books that were big sellers in the 1990s.
Things were not more simpler then than now over all. Familiarity was the difference factor in the memories. But there are more people and more things and more problems created by we humans. And more technology along with old technology that has yet to be abandoned. The Age of Carbon needs to end.
But still an interesting and nostalgic look at the near past.
I was out of town during the May 4 launch (enroute to the “player with railroads and the nation’s freight handler,” per Carl Sandburg), but the UP machine shop in Cheyenne just finished rebuilding a 1940 “Big Boy” steam locomotive to send to Friday’s reenactment. Did keep a train-loving ex-boss apprised on its progress the last few years, and he got to see it in action up the track in Tie Siding, WY (actually, I love trains, too, but where he wants to be the engineer, I want to be the conductor. Reflects our job roles – he manages tech support, I’m a librarian).
I love the work you do, Jim, but the “wedding of the rails” happened at Promontory SUMMIT, Utah, not Point! Lots of books have it wrong. (Go to the National Park site: https://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm and look for Golden Spike.) And don’t miss the fantastic postage stamps issued on the 10th of May to commemorate it!
Brian Premium Member over 5 years ago
1869? He was 12!
Dirty Dragon over 5 years ago
Uncle Walt using a stereopticon, the precursor to the View Master.
top cat james over 5 years ago
“What in the Wide, Wide, World of Sports is a-goin’ on here!?”
pony21 Premium Member over 5 years ago
Love these introspective, retrospective strips. Hope we have more of them in the days (years?) ahead.
Fortunate was the world that read “Gasoline Alley” in its early years.
Lyons Group, Inc. over 5 years ago
When I heard that type of train whistle, I think of The Cannonball from both Petticoat Junction and Green Acres
Prey over 5 years ago
“The sweet smell of coal smoke”. Ask the people in third class after a tunnel about “The Sweet smell etc”
MDMom over 5 years ago
. . . one of my aunts, lived close to railroad tracks. It was fun to visit her, when a train went by. We’d stop whatever we were doing and wave for a response, which we often received! Years later, during a visit, our young son was surprised to hear a train approaching. He went out to discover that my older brother was already there! When asked, my brother responded, that once he was young, too! lol! :)
omegasupreme over 5 years ago
what an awsome strip and we got to see walt a double plus no bad puns and no rufus and joel a perfect strip!
I Go Pogo over 5 years ago
Thanks Jim!
Code the Enforcer over 5 years ago
I do LIKE the sort-of ‘bridge’ between the old world and the new – with the slight reference to ‘virtual reality’ … Just get out there, we did and still do! Also, I like the lamp in Panel 4 – It’s a slight nod to the ‘Leg Lamp’ from A Christmas Story!! :)
paullp Premium Member over 5 years ago
I have a stereoscope, as depicted here, circa 1903, and several antique stereoscopic images. The modern version (after Viewmaster, of course) is the Magic Eye books that were big sellers in the 1990s.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 5 years ago
It is the best way they had to induce a three dimensional effect using our own stereoscopic vision to create it.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 5 years ago
Things were not more simpler then than now over all. Familiarity was the difference factor in the memories. But there are more people and more things and more problems created by we humans. And more technology along with old technology that has yet to be abandoned. The Age of Carbon needs to end.
But still an interesting and nostalgic look at the near past.
Magic Brain over 5 years ago
I have almost the exact one that Walt has. I call it a stereoviewer. Works great!
gcarlson over 5 years ago
I was out of town during the May 4 launch (enroute to the “player with railroads and the nation’s freight handler,” per Carl Sandburg), but the UP machine shop in Cheyenne just finished rebuilding a 1940 “Big Boy” steam locomotive to send to Friday’s reenactment. Did keep a train-loving ex-boss apprised on its progress the last few years, and he got to see it in action up the track in Tie Siding, WY (actually, I love trains, too, but where he wants to be the engineer, I want to be the conductor. Reflects our job roles – he manages tech support, I’m a librarian).
rondaviscomics Premium Member over 5 years ago
I love the work you do, Jim, but the “wedding of the rails” happened at Promontory SUMMIT, Utah, not Point! Lots of books have it wrong. (Go to the National Park site: https://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm and look for Golden Spike.) And don’t miss the fantastic postage stamps issued on the 10th of May to commemorate it!