Hello, I'm Gene Bowker and this is my blog, RustedRail's Ramblings!

I currently live in Greer, South Carolina in the Upstate, but am originally from Poway, California. I've lived in the Southeastern US since my college days at Arkansas State.

I enjoy traveling the backroads of America with my wife Patrice (also a great photographer), photography (my favorites), railroads, and learning about technology and how it will change our lives in every way.

I've had the chance to work for a variety of companies in many industries over the years and had the chance to live all over the South while working in Manufacturing Management.

You can learn more "About Gene" where I discuss some of my influences.

Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

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Santa Fe - An old friend in an unexpected place.

January 18, 2025 • Leave a Comment

Santa Fe 2013 (1 of 1)

I grew up near San Diego, California and the closest railroad to us was the Sante Fe (ATSF) which had the line between San Diego and Los Angeles (the surfline that the @pacificsurfliner still uses (with more frequency today) and also a few branches.

The blue & yellow warbonnet scheme became my favorite with the beautiful station in San Diego, which were so colorful to me compared to the Grey/Scarlett SPs and the Yellow UP locos we'd also see on trips around Southern California.

As I grew older and started learning more about railroads, I learned more about the history of Santa Fe's passenger service (which ended a week before I was born with @amtrak) highlighted by the San Diegans, Super Chief, and all the other Chief trains.

I was lucky in that my parents supported my growing interest in trains by taking me to places like Cajon Pass on trips and also regularly to the @the_la_mesa_model_railroad and the other layouts in Balboa Park.

Once I moved from California east to Arkansas it became a rare treat to see a Santa Fe locomotive in a train consist and I always enjoyed seeing their freight cars as they passed.

After the merger with the BN which created today's @bnsfrailway in the first few years, more Santa Fe units found their way into my area, but slowly they were repainted into the new unified schemes which honored both railroads heritage.

I was pleasantly suprised back in 2013 when @patricemchristian and I travelled over to Birmingham AL to see the #630 steam engine working on the @norfolksouthern steam excursions to also find an old survivor in the Santa Fe paint scheme still doing its job for the BNSF there. Head on you couldn't even see the small remarking under the cab.

Memories like this are why I'm still a huge fan of the old ATSF and why I enjoy learning more about it still to this day.

Out with the old.. goodbye 2024!

December 30, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Hard to believe that Christmas is over and so is 2024 almost! I'm busy at working trying to help push the last few orders out the door, but I'm looking forward to 2025 how about you?

I just wanted to take a moment to thank each of you for reading my posts and I always enjoy reading comments from you about your thoughts on them. It's really a way for me to share some of my images and thoughts on life in general with you.

As I look forward to 2025, I'm reflecting on what 2024 has been.

- I started the year in January by traveling to Sweden (and Europe) for the first time in my life. It took way to long and I look forward to visiting more of Europe and getting to ride more of the trains there.

- At work, we upgraded our ERP computer system in February. I always enjoy learning a new system and also being able to share my knowledge with others.

- At work, I was promoted to Site Manager which has brought a lot of extra hours and tasks, but has given me a chance to develop as a leader with my great team in Duncan.

- South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee survived Hurricane Hele in early October. Despite the destruction and the continued clean-up it has been heart warming to see how the region has pulled together to recover.

- I had the chance to make more new images in 2024 than in 2023! I'm looking forward to making and sharing even more in 2025! I really enjoy the time spent with my wife Patrice (a great photographer too) exploring the region and finding new things to record.

- I increased the number of posts here on my blog and have seen increased readership. My goal for 2025 is to be even more consistent.

Thanks to everyone again who has shared the journey with me.

let them glow, let them glowwwwww

December 14, 2024 • Leave a Comment

\ tree lights

We visited the Festival of Trees in Greenville yesterday afternoon which was a great experience again this year. One a weekday afternoon, there were no crowds and we had plenty of time to walk around enjoying the trees and making some photos.

Last time, I shared a photo which happened by accident in downtown Greer, so this time I set out to duplicate it which was a little harder than I expected but I was quite happy with the glowing results.

Part of the fun of photography is the ability to come up with abstract captures of things to share. Hope you enjoy this one!

Unexpected results

December 07, 2024 • Leave a Comment

window lights

Last night we braved the cold (at least for South Carolina) to go downtown in Greer to see the festivities around the tree lighting and also grabbed some quick pictures in downtown

This one ended up not being what I was planning, the lens focused on the window instead of the lights inside, but looking at it on my computer later, I was actually happy with the result.

Sometimes what we are planning doesn't go "right", but sometimes what happens can be a nice surprise!

Tomorrow we're off to see the Christmas Parade in our small town. Can't wait to see others celebrating the season and it's supposed to even be warmer!

Happy Holidays!

Rudolph and Santa

November 30, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Rudolph and Santa

In 2024, Patrice, her mother and I went to the Center for Puppetry Arts to see a special exhibit which had the original Rudolph and Santa puppets from the Christmas Special. They had their own room and were sitting in the glass case. When we got there we had the room to ourselves and plenty of time to examine them in detail.

I think the thing that shocked me was just how small they were. Somehow I had always imagined them being larger. However they were quite, quite small. Here is a video on Instagram that I took with my cell phone where you can see them in more detail.

I was so happy that to learn the story of how they were discovered and lovingly restored and also the chance to see them.

The Center is full of other puppets that are famous including a large collection of the original Muppets along with many other favorites. They have a nice gift shop and also lots of activities for the family along with puppet shows they present of course.

If you'd like to see Rudolph and Santa they are on display again at the Center this holiday season. https://puppet.org/programs/festive-features/