Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (14)
Cyve
Marvelous view and shot !!!
Buffalo1
A capture straight out of the past.
Faemike55
that's always so much fun to watch.
ontar1
That is cool!
flavia49
nice POv
KatesFriend
Excellent shot.
starship64
Very nice composition in this picture.
X-PaX
Very nice capture. I like the painting effect very much.
T.Rex
This photo is great not only for the locomotive taking in water, it's also great due to all the old historic rail road passenger cars visible on each side. I wonder how you could get in between these trains. It's a risky proposition squeezing in between trains in a railway yard. Keep up the good work (but BE CAREFUL!). :-)
rbowen
Very good capture!
junge1
@T.Rex! Thanks for your concern, but it is actually really safe. The train runs between Strasburg rail station and Paradise once every hour. When getting to the Strasburg station, the locomotive is up front pulling the cars, it stop, uncouples from the cars, goes to the first switch, backs onto the center track (the one I stood on when I took the picture), stops for water if it needs to, then continues to the first switch at that end which allows the locomotive to change tracks again and hook up with the cars again, except now the locomotive is pulling the cars while it is going backwards. This is necessary because there are turn-tables either at Strasburg or Paradise..
bobrgallegos
Wonderful shot Sig!! Great perspective!
UteBigSmile
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend. God bless.