A few CVRR pictures and some other related pictures....

[Rufus T. Firefly]

That's far and away the most rustic railroad structure I've ever seen.

Struck me similarly!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[rogruth]

Nice scene. Notice the guard "rails" through the bridge are on the outside of the track and do not continue all the way off the bridge.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Nice scene. Notice the guard "rails" through the bridge are on the outside of the track and do not continue all the way off the bridge.

Lots of details in there - tell-tale on the near side of the bridge; guess there's one on the other side; the tops of the bridge seem to be nicely roofed over with a bit of a crown for drainage, two poles built in on the one side of the bridge for electrical (telegram?), a bit of the bridge support on the far side is visible along with a raised roadbed to meet the near side elevation, and then there's all of the great rural farm scenery and that nice fencing, too!

[up148]

Nice scene. Notice the guard "rails" through the bridge are on the outside of the track and do not continue all the way off the bridge.

Yeah, and they appear to be made of wood timbers (lack of shine). Might just be an additional bracing for the ties and bridge. Neat photo!

BH

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Nice scene. Notice the guard "rails" through the bridge are on the outside of the track and do not continue all the way off the bridge.

Yeah, and they appear to be made of wood timbers (lack of shine). Might just be an additional bracing for the ties and bridge. Neat photo!

I suspect that you are correct - they appear visibly larger than the rail.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Nice scene. Notice the guard "rails" through the bridge are on the outside of the track and do not continue all the way off the bridge.

Lots of details in there - tell-tale on the near side of the bridge; guess there's one on the other side; the tops of the bridge seem to be nicely roofed over with a bit of a crown for drainage, two poles built in on the one side of the bridge for electrical (telegram?), a bit of the bridge support on the far side is visible along with a raised roadbed to meet the near side elevation, and then there's all of the great rural farm scenery and that nice fencing, too!

Mygosh, you guys see lots and lots and lots of details!!!! I salute you both! I doff my hat to you, sirs! And I have learned by this that I need to cool my jets and increase my artsfartsy scrutiny. Yup.
Murph the re-sharpened, hopefully.

[rogruth]

The photographer seems to be on a bridge over the tracks.
The tell-tale might also be for that. I can't make out one on
the far side of the bridge but there should be one there.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The photographer seems to be on a bridge over the tracks.
The tell-tale might also be for that. I can't make out one on
the far side of the bridge but there should be one there.

Yes. The photographer's vantage point is clearly quite elevated!

[MurphOnMillerAve]

OK. Please tell me about "tell-tales". I conclude they are the erect things, one at each end, above it all (?) I have heard the expression before, but simply thought it referred to such things as dribble on a baby's chin to evidence it has been slurping up stuff, for example. Or sunburn showing you have been at the pool instead of staying inside doing homework. Etc.

Or my potbelly being a tell-tale that I still eat far too much ice cream and pizza.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Here are a few more such expressions that came into use in interesting ways and/or from interesting sources:
Going on a bender... = Bending the elbow at the bar.

Saloon. = mispronounced "salon", from the French, an intellectual gathering of artists & politicians.

Heard it through the grapevine.. = The telegraph wire slung everywhere.

Acid test... = it's the real (gold) deal because it doesn't dissolve in Nitrous Acid.

Gold-digger.. = Women who prospected for men who found gold.

Stone walling. = Gen. Jackson stood like a stone wall.

[rogruth]

At a time when trainmen were riding on top of a car the tell-tales would give warning that a low hanging object was ahead and the trainman should
get down to a lower position so they do not get hit.
Lionel had a boxcar with a man on top that would laydown when it approached a tell-tale. I think they also had a giraffe that ducked.
Both of the Lionel pieces actually worked from track actuators. They were/are fascinating to kids.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

OK. Please tell me about "tell-tales". I conclude they are the erect things, one at each end, above......

.....the track before a low bridge or opening to a tunnel to inform anyone on top of the train cars to get down now.

Center of the card in the lower portion you can see the one - pole with a cross bar with what looks to be heavy ropes handing down...

[MurphOnMillerAve]

OK. Please tell me about "tell-tales". I conclude they are the erect things, one at each end, above......

.....the track before a low bridge or opening to a tunnel to inform anyone on top of the train cars to get down now.

Center of the card in the lower portion you can see the one - pole with a cross bar with what looks to be heavy ropes handing down...

Ooohhhh, I've seen them before. I knew what they were for, too. I thought you guys were referring to something attached to the bridge itself. Thanx.

[rogruth]

It;s too late if it is attached to the bridge, etc.