Anybody know who the artist or company was that was commissioned to do the Southern timetable drawings in the late 30s and early 40s. The steam drawings of the Florida Sunbeam, Ponce de Leon, Crescent etc are beautiful as you all know. The diesel drawings of the Crescent and Ponce etc are equally beautiful and similar. Also, does anyone know the photographer or company that did the early photography for the Southerner, Tennessean, Crescent? Great photos.

-- Dwight Richardson (rdr77@aol.com), March 19, 2000

Answers

I don't know who did the specific artwork you are asking for, but in the late 1890's into the early 1900's, most advertising was done by the Presbry Adv. Agency of New York City. In 1898, Frank Presbrey authored a completely new and revamped version of the "Land of the Sky" picture books that had been put out by even the Richmond & Danville since 1880. Presbrey also authored a little known SR book entitled "Empire of the South," which for the first time embarked the railroad on a path to lure industrial, rather than passengers, to the southland. The book was hailed by critics as one of the best and most original of its time (although it borrowed heavily from a Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley publication format that had been put out 10 yrs before.) The artwork that the line put out from 1898 to around 1930 was indeed truly stunning. Good luck on your search!

-- Matt Bumgarner (stealthnfo@aol.com), April 01, 2000.