Mississippian #77

In sorting through our collection of negatives and memorabilia, and in organizing those images for posting on this site, sometimes I discover little treasures heretofore unrecognized. Take the postcard above, purchased by my father years after the subject matter was captured. In studying it again and comparing it to photos dad took at the same location — Belle Mina, Alabama — I realized that Craig Faulker (whose photo was used for the postcard) and my dad must have been on opposite sides of the track just moments apart, or no more than 24 hours apart. Either (option A) they both made their shots on the same day at the same time, one from the ground and one from the platform, and then dad stepped out of view near the depot after making his exposure ... or (option B) the two images are 24 hours apart, and the family on the platform in the postcard image is standing where dad would have stood the day before when 77 roared past. Either way, the "small world" connection is interesting to me. And both photos are delightful: Dad captured the little Consolidation "hauling the mail" down the line toward her destination; Mr. Faulker grabbed the wonderful moment when steam in all her glory solicited happy waves from ordinary folk who would otherwise pay little attention to a passing train.