Roberta Hill

[Kenneth and Tracie Josephson]

brathke at juno.com wrote:

> In the 1964-67 era, on many weekends - and some weekdays - I was out
> photographing the last days of the 2nd Avenue, North Side and East End
> lines.  Also, many times in that era, I recall seeing a woman
> photographing trolleys, but at some distance from the rest of us.  Over
> three years, we never came into proximity to allow conversation with her.
>  From the photograph dates that show up on this e-mail list, it's obvious
> that that person was Roberta Hill.  I was usually out photographing by
> myself, but on those excursions I met several - mostly out of town - fans
> that I still communicate with today.   At the time (before cell phones
> and scanners) it was important to exchange information with other
> photographers who may have heard something about a derailment, a
> rerouting or a special movement.
> I guess Roberta did it on her own.

It's hard to say. Her family doesn't wish to discuss her railfanning
activities. She did have a friend named Ed who apparently spent some time
with her photographing the North Side lines. She did have some contact with
other fans. Others called her "Carbarn Sally" (apparently behind her back.)
She had favorite cars: 1601 & 1727 were among her most photographed
Pittsburgh cars. She even photographed 1727 passing a toy store with the
address of 1727. I sometimes wonder what her reaction was when 1727 made the
national news for running away in the tunnel after its infamous brake
failure. In her honor, I ordered my 1700 city car model from Jim Holland as
1727.

I keep meeting fans who say, "Why didn't I think of that?" when they see her
style of composition. I copied some of her composition when I visited last
fall. She loved to work animals, churches, schools, cars with unusual license
plates, '54 Chryslers and '63 Chevys into her images. She also loved classic
architecture, fall colors and children. She could gain access to upper floors
and fire escapes to get a unique perspective of the cars.

I have a negative of Ms. Hill  posing with a 1600 on the "5-Bedford" line
(yes, I know it's really 85-Bedford...this is an inside joke between Don Galt
and me.) There she is in her day dress, with two U.S. Navy surplus canvas
bags for photo supplies, two cameras slung around her neck. The smile on her
face shows she is definitely in her element. She often had motormen snap her
standing with a car or sitting in the operator's seat. She often stroked the
dash or door post affectionately as teh picture was taken.

Ms. Hill's family asked me not to post her picture on the web, but I suppose
I can send a jpeg of her any of you who would like to see her image.

I promise this collection will be donated to PTM. I have left it to the
Museum in my will, but I may donate it sooner. Ken J.