1928 Lowell MA Boston & Maine Train Wreck Steam Locomotive Glass Negative OOAK
Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negative captured in November 1928: a powerful Massachusetts industrial disaster photograph: a catastrophic collision and derailment in the rail yards of Lowell, Massachusetts, showing a Boston and Maine steam locomotive smashed into an overturned wooden railroad cab across the mainline switches.
Accompanied by its original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing sleeve with contemporary newsroom documentation:
Historical & Railroad Significance:
As one of Massachusetts' major textile manufacturing centers, Lowell hosted sprawling industrial rail yards and dense mainline trackage operated primarily by the Boston and Maine Railroad. Heavy yard transfers, switching maneuvers, and mainline freights operating over complex switch frogs frequently posed severe derailment hazards. In November 1928, this massive steam locomotive suffered a violent switch split or yard collision, crushing a wooden cabin car or switching cab directly into the ballast and tearing up the roadbed.
Captured on the tracks with crisp documentary clarity by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
The Collision Impact: The heavy steam locomotive sits tilted on the right-of-way, its cowcatcher, pilot beam, and boiler front jammed against the crumpled superstructure of a splintered wooden cab. The wooden car body is knocked completely on its side, exposing broken window sash, crushed wall paneling, and interior framing resting against the switch track.
Rail Crew & Track Details: Two railroad workers wearing flat caps, work coats, and heavy boots stand on the ties surveying the wreckage in the foreground, flanked by iron track frogs, tie plates, switch rods, and a mechanical trackside switch stand.
Tonal & Lens Quality: Outstanding continuous tone capturing deep blacks in the steam boiler jackets, iron driving wheels, and track ties, set against the overcast autumn sky.
Specifications:
Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera in November 1928.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage tan kraft darkroom morgue filing envelope.
Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative and its period paper archive sleeve only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what finished photographs print like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition:
Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound with no cracks, fractures, or perimeter glass breaks. The silver gelatin emulsion is remarkably clean, sharp, and stable throughout, capturing pinpoint clarity across the locomotive machinery, crushed wood grain, and track hardware. Displays only minor authentic edge silvering and faint handling wear strictly along the extreme outer borders outside the primary image area. Accompanied by the original period kraft morgue filing sleeve.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
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