[?]

Orange Blossom Special
Poster

.

The image below is of a magnificent poster showing several cars of the Orange Blossom Special.  It was created by Daniel T. Edwards.  Creation of the poster, research and drawing, took approximately 20 hours using CorelDraw.

The following is an excerpt from an e-mail I received from him concerning his reasons for creating the poster :

.

"There has always been a mystique about the Seaboard, and the Coast Line.  My family often talked of the two.  My father riding the trains to Fla. to see his brother back in the 50's, and my Grandmother and aunt taking the train to Wilmington for shopping at Christmas.  So it was not only the love of trains that got me wanting to do the poster, but it was family ties that held the two together.  The trains, which I loved, and the stories of my family who rode them.

Once I went to Hamlet and learned of the OBS, I new I wanted to do something to carry on the legend.  And what a legend it was, and still is, to all of those who remember the train or friends or family who worked on it.  It in itself is a tribute to those people, many long gone.

If I can keep the legend alive, then I will have fulfilled my dream.  And through Hamlet tonight I know trains will pass, trainmen will drink coffee to stay alert, while moving the freight that keeps our country supplied with the things we need, the food we eat, the cars we drive.  And way late in the night, only a few hours before morning, the Silver Meteor will stop to take on passengers, to let them off, just like those nights so many years ago.

I hope that in a bed near there, a young boy lays awake, listening for any sound of an oncoming train, just as I did 20 years ago.  It is for those who carry on that tradition that I keep doing what I love to do.  And to them I say thank you.

That is how I feel about the Blossom, trains, and memories of growing up trackside.  Who could ask for any better childhood.  Who would want any other?"

.

I can only add... AMEN.

.

Daniel has graciously allowed me to display this beautiful poster on my web site.

.

.

Physical copies of this poster are availible for $8.95 + $4.00 shipping and handling.

To order, contact Daniel by e-mail :

.

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

..

.

.

.

.