LIRR 2076
SALONGA

 

The "A" end of SALONGA (on the right) coupled to the "B" end of WICKAPOGUE (on the left). It is November 23, 1975 and these cars are in winter storage at Montauk Yard.

Photopgrapher's reflections: During the winter storage months, afternoons nearing sundown cast a settling mood upon the Montauk parlors, unlike the day’s earlier venue where “first light” sprang the cars’ infinite features alive in stunning drama.  On this late November day, long shadows will soon draw along the length of parlor Salonga, already evident upon the Dutch door of neighbor Wickapogue.

Photo/scan by Ed Frye

The "B" end of SALONGA (on the left) coupled to the "A" end of SETAUKET (on the right). It is January 18, 1976 an these cars in winter storage at Montauk Yard.

Photographer's reflections: One of the treasures I discovered visiting Montauk yard in the depth of winter was the bitter cold air and its attendant sunlight of remarkable vibrancy.  Midday views, such as this, bristle in every form and feature.

Photo/scan by Ed Frye  

After retirement by LIRR, the car became Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley 6 "LAKE WALLENPAUPACK."
This is the bedroom side of the car. August 18, 1980 on the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville at Gloversville NY.
Both the CACV and the FJ&G were subsidiaries of the Delaware Otsego System.

Photographer's reflections: During the late summer of 1980, I somehow found out that SALONGA was sold to the Delaware Otsego System, and was residing at Honesdale, PA, along one of their subsidiaries, the Lackawaxen & Stourbridge (reporting marks LASB). So…from Poughkeepsie (where I was living at the time), I drove over to Honesdale one Sunday – August 18, 1980, to be exact – to investigate. “Squirreling” my way along a labyrinth of two-lane blacktops through wooded areas (occasionally spotting stored ex-Pickens boxcars with LASB markings), I found my way to the Honesdale “terminal”, only to discover no SALONGA anywhere in the area! Upon asking somebody in the yard, I was told the car might be in the Cooperstown (NY) yard of another Otsego shortline, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley (CACV). So…there I promptly headed! Once I arrived, there was a variety of “oddball” CACV cars on the property, but still no SALONGA! Once again, I was sent “further up the road” to Gloversville, specifically to the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville (another Delaware Otsego System property) where I was “promised” SALONGA would likely be. By the time I got to Gloversville, the smell of leather tanneries filled the air, but my hopes were dimming as the sun was about to set. Railroad tracks there seemed to be going in every direction imaginable, and I frankly had no clue as to where to turn. Then…suddenly…seemingly out of nowhere, a “hard-hatted” FJ&G employee on his way to work spotted me, and asked me what I was up to. When I told him I was looking for SALONGA, he knew exactly where to send me, and – “tah-dah” – the pictures you see above (in the attachments) unfolded! Whoa…I couldn’t believe a day-into-night journey from upper Pennsylvania to lower New York state finally resulted in success!! Problem was…the sun was dipping below the horizon, and I had only precious minutes to take my pictures (of SALONGA) before night would fall. And, there you have it…SALONGA as CACV 6 LAKE WALLENPAUPACK !

Photo/scan by Ed Frye

Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley 6 "LAKE WALLENPAUPACK."
August 18, 1980 on the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville at Gloversville NY.

Photo/scan by Ed Frye

Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley 6 "LAKE WALLENPAUPACK."
This is the bedroom side of the car. August 18, 1980 on the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville at Gloversville NY.

Photo/scan by Ed Frye

 

Updated 3/14/2010