The tracks that go along the James to Richmond were placed right on the old tow path where the mules pulled canal boats. I have a photo of a canal boat being pulled by a mule with stacks of cross ties along the path so it was just before they switched from boats to trains. They had to change the route in places because it was flooded too often. The heavy trains go across the stone aqua ducts in many places, one is just up the river from james river high school near the old bridge site.
What a great sign! Sometimes the good ol' days weren't so good. I do remember a lot of tobacco chewers from my youth. It was just as gross then as it seems to be today! :)
Spittoons were disgusting, butt hen so is spitting on the street as it seems far too many do now (though without the chewing tobacco!) I like the map, it makes the trip look more interesting than just sowing the station names.
Great post
ReplyDeleteThese signs certainly rank as museum icons. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe second one is a hoot and the first one makes me want to go to Chesapeake bay all over again just to take a train!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun signs!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hate it when people dump their spittoons in my toilet.
ReplyDeleteThat sign is a hoot, I'm so glad I didn't live in public spittoon time :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that Porter's sign. How times have changed :).
ReplyDeleteThe Porter had a messy job!
ReplyDeletePorters had all the fun. :)
ReplyDeleteThe tracks that go along the James to Richmond were placed right on the old tow path where the mules pulled canal boats. I have a photo of a canal boat being pulled by a mule with stacks of cross ties along the path so it was just before they switched from boats to trains. They had to change the route in places because it was flooded too often. The heavy trains go across the stone aqua ducts in many places, one is just up the river from james river high school near the old bridge site.
ReplyDeletei'd love to see the picture! thanks for the info!
DeleteNot sure I would want to be a porter.
ReplyDeleteEwwww - glad I don't see spittoons much (or at all, actually)!!
ReplyDeleteewwwww!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great sign! Sometimes the good ol' days weren't so good. I do remember a lot of tobacco chewers from my youth. It was just as gross then as it seems to be today! :)
ReplyDeleteSpittoons in the toilet would not be fun, haha! These are hilarious:)
ReplyDeleteSpittoons? That is an old fashioned sign... and chewing tobacco's a filthy habit.
ReplyDeleteYuck!
ReplyDelete& i really needed to SPIT ... darn!! ( :
ReplyDeleteha, ha!!!!
Haha, what cool signs!
ReplyDeleteLove that spittoon sign!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why, but the part about leaving the strainers in the spittoons makes me cringe just a little bit!
ReplyDeleteSpittoons? What a disgusting part of our history. :)
ReplyDeleteSpittoons were disgusting, butt hen so is spitting on the street as it seems far too many do now (though without the chewing tobacco!)
ReplyDeleteI like the map, it makes the trip look more interesting than just sowing the station names.