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1929 Andover MA Boston Maine Railroad Steam Train Wreck Glass Negative OOAK
Original antique gelatin silver glass plate camera negative captured in September 1929 by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photographer Leslie Jones, documenting a major Boston and Maine Railroad locomotive wreck and derailment in Andover, Massachusetts.
Preserved directly within the historic press morgue of the Boston Herald-Traveler, this striking low-angle trackside negative captures the heavy industrial destruction of an active main-line rail disaster during the golden age of steam railroading.
The Original Morgue Sleeve Inscription:
Accompanied by the original vintage newspaper darkroom filing envelope bearing the newsroom hand notation:
Historical & Visual Content:
The Derailed Locomotive & Tender: A massive Boston & Maine steam locomotive lies knocked from the ties, its heavy steel tender prominently lettered \"BOSTON & MAINE\" along the side. The engineer\'s cab is crushed and torn open, revealing internal piping and a draped protective tarp.
Running Gear & Mechanical Damage: Massive spoked driving wheels, side rods, and valve gear sit deeply embedded in the ballast alongside sheared brake lines and track plates.
The Scene of the Crash: Derailed freight boxcars list precariously behind the engine, while railroad officials and a uniformed officer inspect the damage. On the clear adjacent running track, a second steam engine approaches under a plume of coal smoke to assist in clearing the wreckage.
Specifications:
Format: Antique silver gelatin glass plate original camera negative.
Dimensions: Standard 4 x 5 inches.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original vintage newsroom kraft darkroom filing envelope dated September 1929.
Please Note: This listing is for the single (1) physical antique glass plate negative and its original inscribed filing envelope only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual reference to demonstrate how the negative prints. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or reproduction print is included.
Condition:Very Good antique condition. The heavy glass plate is complete, flat, and structurally sound with no breaks, cracks, or chips. The gelatin silver emulsion is remarkably sharp and dense, retaining exceptional contrast and clarity across the crushed locomotive ironwork, track ties, ballast stone, and figures. Authentic period newsroom handling wear is confined strictly to the outer rebate margins. Accompanied by the original 1929 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)
