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This past April 27, my NMRA Division (Mid-Central Region, Keystone Division) held its model railroad jamboree. The featured dinner speaker was railroad historian and author Dan Cupper. He spoke about Grif Teller's artwork and its use by the Pennsylvania Railroad. I had a chance to speak with him afterwards and inquire as to the whereabouts of my favorite Grif Teller piece, "Crossroads of Commerce" (shown below).

Crossroads of Commerce

The painting was owned by Pennsy historian and collector Ken Murry. Unfortunately, he died at age 75 in a house fire at his home in Mountville, PA in April of 2014. The painting was destroyed in the fire. I last saw it on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, PA sometime in 2013. 

I was unaware of its demise.

This link provides more details. https://lancasteronline.com/search/?sd= ... n+Murry%22 

George

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Last edited by G3750
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A friend of mine, the owner of the now closed Catotin Mountain Trains give a set of 4 PRR Calendar art still in the original PRR folder.

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                                             "Crossroads of Commerce"

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                                           "The Horseshoe Curve"

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                                          "Partners in Progress"

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                                                       "On Time"

Mounted and framed hanging in my man cave/train room basement. I type up the narrative on the back of each print and mounted it under the print in the frame.

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Last edited by RJT

I’ve had Dan’s “Crossroads of Commerce” book since shortly after it was released and still enjoy looking through it periodically.  There are railroad books I consider timeless, including those authored by the late Don Ball; and Dan’s book on Grif Teller and the PRR calendar artwork is certainly in that same league.  It’s a “must have” for any fan of the late, great PRR and especially for folks with an interest in the PRR calendar art.

I’ll note that Dan and I are both originally from Lewistown, PA and in the dedication he thanks his mother and father for introducing him to the PRR at the Lewistown station in 1950’s.  I also credit my interest in railroads and the PRR in particular to my dad taking me to the Lewistown station to watch trains in that same era.

Curt

When I first heard about the reported demise of this painting, I was heartbroken. I thought that I had seen the painting more recently than 2014.

This past Saturday, while attending the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society annual meeting in Strasburg, I visited the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. There, hanging in its place in the Grif Teller exhibit on the 2nd floor, was the 1953 Crossroads of Commerce painting.

This morning I spoke with the museum's collection manager and she confirmed that the painting was the original and that the museum had negotiated with Ken Murry's estate and now is the owner.

This is excellent news!!!     

George

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