More Knott's Berry Farm Train Postcards
Recently, GDB pal Steve DeGaetano generously shared scans of his collection of vintage Knott's Berry Farm postcards, all relating to the two KBF locomotives. You might not know this, but Steve loves trains! See those three posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Now we have a bonus PART 4! What does Steve have to say?
So, since the last installment on my series of Knott’s Berry Farm postcards focusing on the Ghost Town a& Calico Railroad, I’ve managed to pick up a few more cards. Again, some are pretty common, but I’m saving the best for last.
I know the Major is big on variations, and that’s exactly what this one is. It’s nearly identical to one I posted previously here with one big exception: It’s got “Knott’s Berry Farm” prominently printed in yellow in the lower right corner. The shot is also cropped a little more, resulting in a cut-off cow catcher. Grrrr. Still, a nice portrait of Green River. The two lamps on either side of the smokebox below the headlight are “classification” or “class” lamps. They tell ground personnel whether the train is on the timetable, or running “extra,” or has other trains following behind it in sections. They usually have clear or green lenses—never red or orange as seen here—but those look cooler. This card is copyrighted 1993.
The next two don’t focus on the trains per se, but the trains do occupy the center of the shots, so I’m making exceptions. This one is a nice image of Calico Square, with some costumed cast members in the foreground, and Ol’ 41, Red Cliff, in the middle distance. A whisp of steam indicates the whistle has just blown. Someone hand wrote “1969” on the back of this card.
I always liked this view of the farm’s townsfolk milling about, while an engineer oils his steed, in the form of No. 40, Green River (this image was also used as the cover for one of the park’s souvenir guidebooks). With the lack of shadows, I’m guessing this photo was taken on a much more overcast day than the unrealistically intense azure sky suggests.
The three cards above I’ve seen many times, but this card is completely new to me. An undated “Plastichrome” card, featuring our beloved Red Cliff sitting front and center, unencumbered by chains, railings or fences. “Come closer,” it seems to beckon. “Some of my surfaces are only 300 degrees!” I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a clearer image of the train station, which, as some of you may know, is the actual Stanton, CA “Red Car” station from the old Pacific Electric Railway, which stood near the corner of Ball Road and Knott Avenue—originally known as Hansen Road.
Thus ends PART 4 featuring Steve's collection of Knott's train postcards. As a postcard collector myself, I really love these artifacts from the past, with their excellent views of features the way they looked decades ago. I even love the way the cards were printed, with their vintage colors, and occasional composited-in skies. True nerds (guilty) even enjoy the variations on the different card backs! Stamp box? No stamp box? Blue ink vs black (or brown) ink? And so on.
MANY THANKS to Steve DeGaetano for taking the time to scan his cards, and for taking even more time to write up descriptions of each so that we get some facts and context. I'm holding out hope that he finds more cards for a possible PART 5!
4 comments:
@ Steve-
We love seeing Knott's and trains. Naturally, these images fit right in.
Thanks, Steve and The Major.
1) Wow, a nice sharp picture! I love the clouds of steam billowing out the sides, engulfing the chain railing.
2) Fortunately, the Red Cliff is far enough away and partially obscured by people and such, that its color scheme doesn't assault the sensitivities of 'some people' ;-) ... not much anyway. This is a really nice postcard! The costumed ladies add immensely to its charm. The dappled sunlight also helps.
3) Again, the costumed folk (and that white baby carriage) add a lot to this image. That unbelievably blue sky makes the image look surreal.
4) With no fences or chains, I wonder if a CM (or whatever they're called at Knott's) walked ahead of the moving train to make sure people stayed clear of it?
Nice set of postcards, Steve. Thanks! Thank you, Major.
In that second image, we can see a kid posing on the bench with Nell & Belle (later known as Marilyn & Cecilia), over by the popcorn wagon. I wonder if the popcorn was 100% made-that-day, back when Walter and Cordelia were alive?
Even as a kid, I could always tell which postcards had the fake sky inserted into the pic and thought it looked bad!
I've mentioned this before, but back in 1985, Knott's moved the train station closer to the tracks and rotated it 180 degrees, when they were revamping the Ghost Town. That's also when they tore down most of the firehouse and left behind just some "ruins." The "1885" Ghost Town entrance sign went up at that time, too, and Mott's Miniatures was kicked out of Jeffries Barn so they could turn the structure into a performance venue.
Thank you, Steve and Major!
I wonder if a CM (or whatever they're called at Knott's) walked ahead of the moving train to make sure people stayed clear of it?
JB, before they installed gates to stop guests from crossing the train tracks, they did have employees stand there (one on either side of the track) and try to hold people back once the train was in motion. They weren't always successful, as some people would try to dash across the tracks. I don't know if there was ever any accidents, but either way, I bet some lawyers told them to install the gates. Oh, and the employees that stood there to hold people back, were the "train robbers." As soon as the train passed by, they would hop onto the caboose.
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