Today we feature two photos that aren’t really related — unless you consider one is a train photo and the other was shot at a train station — but we felt they both were interesting.

The first, submitted by Roland Kerr of Harleysville, shows 10 county draftees leaving for military training, and is dated June 24, 1952. The men are shown at the Norristown train station and the caption noted that they “left for military training on the 7:43 train this morning.”

Kerr’s information indicates:

“These are the men drafted in the Korean War. Left to right are Edward Eisenhaur, Leon Overpeck, Roland Kerr, Arthur Stover, next five unknown, and Mr. Poole on the right.

Perhaps you recognize some of these faces.

The next photo, from a Reporter newspaper clipping:


The person who dropped it off did not leave any contact information and there was no date on the clipping.

The caption notes:

“The queen of the former Reading Railroad, engine 2102, roared, huffed, puffed and sent clouds of steam and smoke into the clear fall air this past weekend as the feature of the North Penn United Way ‘Train Days’ promotion. Number 2102 was on display all day Saturday and on Sunday was called upon once again to pull a trainload of happy passengers from Lansdale to Glenside. Four trips were made on Sunday.”

Moderator's note: This ride was indeed a popular United Way fundraiser, held in 1991. The train was part of the Reading and Blue Mountain excursion line. Local railroad fan John Almeida made a video of the event, which you can see here: