EL Monday: Inside the Marion Yard

The late Mike Ondecker seldom took photographs of railroad operations but he enjoyed traveling to view them.

Except for using a Kodak Instamatic in 1967 and his aunt’s nearly 30-year-old 120 medium format roll film camera in 1968, I doubt Mike took another railroad photo after that.

He, John Woodard, and I had some amazing trips together. Mike was a great friend, first-class driver, and the person who got photographic permission.

Here are some of his Instamatic photos from what I believe to be the Erie Lackawanna yard in Marion in 1967.

There are a variety of scenes including locomotives, rolling stock of various railroads, the coaling tower, the hump and the hump tower. The selection also include some cars damaged in a derailment.

Article by Robert Farkas, Photos by Mike Ondecker

Tags: EL in Marion Ohio, EL motive power, Erie Lackawanna, Erie Lackawanna in Marion Ohio, Erie Lackawanna locomotives, Erie Lackawanna motive power, Marion Ohio, Mike Ondecker photographs, railroad hump yards