Some Unlikely Sources of Information

I am constantly trying different web searches in an effort to find information on the prototype be it operations or just photos.  It should be noted that Google and Bing will yield different results as they use different methods to determine search results.  Recently I have come across information in some unlikely places.  First was a picture from 1982 on a New Zealand travel blog that showed an eastbound train about to pass under the 16th Street overpass.  Here is a link to the full size picture on the blog http://transpressnz.blogspot.com/2015/03/southern-pacific-sd45-leads-freight.html

Another unlikely source of information National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) website http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/railroad.aspx which contains most of the accident reports generated over the years many in downloadable PDF format.  In these reports I have located three of interest; an accident involving HAZMAT at Thermal, CA, an Ordinance explosion at Benson, AZ and a head on collision in Yuma.  While the first two incidents do not yield information specifically about Yuma the trains involved had or would have passed through Yuma en-route to their final destinations.  All three accident reports contained what was effectively wheel reports and consist information for the trains. as well as operational information.  The reports also include pictures and diagrams however the pictures look like black and white photo copies of color photos.  The most interesting part of these reports turned out to be the attached railroad documents.  An interesting form contained in the Yuma accident report was the Rule G certification form; this form was to be filled out and signed by the conductors of outbound trains certifying that the members of the train crew were not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  This form could actually add an interesting twist to operations if implemented on a layout.

Rule G certification form from NTSB report NTSB/RAR-88/02

The final unlikely source of information was Facebook.  My wife deserves the credit for finding this gem but there is a group on Facebook that shares historical pictures of Yuma, many of them railroad related.  Since she has shown me this I have stumbled upon many similar groups for other cities. Hopefully the next few months will yield some great photos on that group.