COUTERNE, FRANCE

This "Carte Postale" shows no signs of ever having been stamped or mailed, but is intriguing because of the address:

Private Samuel Spriggs
Battery C G S(?) 1st field Artillers
American Expeditionary Forces
France

(left click to enlarge)


I can't quite make out what the guy is saying about the french girls... "Here is - - - one of the French girls - - - my name".

Any suggestions?

THE SAN PEDRO, LOS ANGLES AND SALT LAKE RAILWAY

(left click to enlarge)

This is a penny postcard of their Riverside, Calif. Depot.

I have always liked this type of architecture, made famous by the Santa Fe.

The postcard - made in Germany - was issued by M. Rieder, Publ., Los Angles, Calif. No. 2716.

I know of a lot of defunct railroads, but this one is a new one to me. At the very least, they had fantastic depots.

WHAT $6,700 USED TO BUY...

(left click to enlarge)

The Minnetonka, an 0-4-0T that actually had a tiny tender tucked in behind, was built in 1870 and cost the princely sum of $6,700.

Notice how the water pump is powered by an eccentric on the mainrod? Great... if you're chugging along, but what if the loco was required to stay put for an extended period of time? That crown sheet could be in for a real problem.

$6,700.00. You can't buy a decent used pick-up truck for that sort of money today.