Book Description

One day in 1974 John Free took his white dog Casper and his black Nikon camera to the Los Angeles Freight yards on an invite from a stranger to meet under a bridge to see "how a real tramp lives."Under that bridge he found the "Home Guard of the Taylor Yard", at the End Of The Line, as far west as one could travel on trains and the best place for an old railroad tramp like Shorty, old man Peewee or Bobbi K, to live out their days. It's a part of Los Angeles that is now gone."They thought I was interested in the trains but it was their stories, their smiles and my respect for them that kept me coming back."End of the Line: Railroad Tramps of the Los Angeles Freight Yards is a collection of John's black and white, candid, full frame, available light photographs. These rare historical photographs document a place and culture that no longer exists. The book also includes the unique and moving stories told to John by the tramps as well as John's approach to getting to know these unique people and his photographic techniques.The Foreword by his son describes what it was like growing up as a street photographer's son.Also included are an historical perspective by Kevin Keefe, former editor of Trains magazine, a glossary of tramp terminology and technical details on the photography.The book is printed in duotone, using high resolution scans from John's negatives. Printed on heavy 100 lb. coated stock the photographs faithfully capture all the beauty found in John's original silver gelatin prints.