Who was Raymond W. Brown (September 19, 1921 – February 13, 1996) and why dedicate a book to his photography? If you have the 1997 ELHS color calendar, take a look at Ray’s images at Howells Jct. on the cover and Bradley’s Cut for November. The 1998 calendar features Ray’s photographs at New Hampton for May and Black Rock Cut for September. If you are interested in the Erie’s late steam era, Ed Crist’s Erie Memories presents a Ray Brown photograph on page 123 showing two Santa Fe’s shoving an eastbound freight by FX tower at Graham. Additionally, Ed wrote as follows about Ray:
"For sheer wealth of technical knowledge, we doubt there is anyone to hold a candle to Ray Brown. Ray grew up on the family farm within earshot of the main and the Graham line in Howells Junction. He has followed the Erie faithfully for more than fifty years. His car and locomotive drawings are well known to modelers and his knowledge of Erie locomotives and equipment can only be called encyclopedic. Equally important, Ray has collected Erie photos over these many years and was able to furnish photos from collections that are long lost. There was no question, no matter how esoteric, that he could not answer."
Ray’s articles and drawings appeared in Railroad Model Craftsman. He served as Research Editor and wrote many articles for Locomotive Quarterly. For years, the O&W Society’s Observer publication included Ray’s column chronicling historic events. Ray’s photograph collection supported numerous publications.
Ray commenced the first phase of his photography, black and white film, in the late 1930’s and concentrated on the Graham Line into the late 1940’s. The demise of steam on the Erie seems to have sidetracked Ray’s photography interest. However, the merger of his beloved Erie with the DL&W on October 17, 1960 apparently inspired him to pick up his camera and venture trackside along the Graham and main lines again, this time with color slide film. Ray’s second era of photography extended from 1961 to 1974. Having lived much of his life near the Graham Line, Ray was familiar with locations most photographers from outside the region never frequented; places such as Shin Hollow, Shoddy Hollow and Bradley’s Cut.
This book is available from the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society, the Middletown & New Jersey Railway Historical Society, the Phoebe Snow Company and Ron’s Books.
172 pages, 282 color images, 40 black and white images, 12 maps/illustrations, glossy paper, soft cover.
Pete Brill
"For sheer wealth of technical knowledge, we doubt there is anyone to hold a candle to Ray Brown. Ray grew up on the family farm within earshot of the main and the Graham line in Howells Junction. He has followed the Erie faithfully for more than fifty years. His car and locomotive drawings are well known to modelers and his knowledge of Erie locomotives and equipment can only be called encyclopedic. Equally important, Ray has collected Erie photos over these many years and was able to furnish photos from collections that are long lost. There was no question, no matter how esoteric, that he could not answer."
Ray’s articles and drawings appeared in Railroad Model Craftsman. He served as Research Editor and wrote many articles for Locomotive Quarterly. For years, the O&W Society’s Observer publication included Ray’s column chronicling historic events. Ray’s photograph collection supported numerous publications.
Ray commenced the first phase of his photography, black and white film, in the late 1930’s and concentrated on the Graham Line into the late 1940’s. The demise of steam on the Erie seems to have sidetracked Ray’s photography interest. However, the merger of his beloved Erie with the DL&W on October 17, 1960 apparently inspired him to pick up his camera and venture trackside along the Graham and main lines again, this time with color slide film. Ray’s second era of photography extended from 1961 to 1974. Having lived much of his life near the Graham Line, Ray was familiar with locations most photographers from outside the region never frequented; places such as Shin Hollow, Shoddy Hollow and Bradley’s Cut.
This book is available from the Erie Lackawanna Historical Society, the Middletown & New Jersey Railway Historical Society, the Phoebe Snow Company and Ron’s Books.
172 pages, 282 color images, 40 black and white images, 12 maps/illustrations, glossy paper, soft cover.
Pete Brill
