Hidden World of a Steam Chaser

N&W Class Js numbers 605 and 611 pass Flornoy tower, the 611 just coming off the inner branch.

Copyright N. Emerson

Class J 611 slips by K class 105 with a westbound passenger train.

I am posting this image of N&W 611 (the model), in honor of the real 611.  As of yesterday, the 28th of June, it was announced that this locomotives full sized counter part will be rebuilt for excursion passenger service.  It has been 20 years now since 611 last ran.  May this image represent a reality soon to be. 

 Copyright N. Emerson

Copyright N. Emerson

An NYC Hudson awaits a green signal to proceed south with the 20th Century Limited.

Copyright N. Emerson

A 3500 class pacific sits on the ready track along side Santa Fe diesel 4015.  They are both awaiting their morning passenger runs.  The photograph was taken just before sunrise in Santa Fe New Mexico in 1950.  The idea of a locomotive cab has evolved over the years, and in this picture we see what a different place the modern diesel cab is compared to the hot and dirty steam locomotive cab.  Still, the cab of a steam locomotive has an element of magic and danger that a diesel just doesn't have.  Where else does man have to work hand and had with fire so closely.  It's like working at the threshold of hell, but keeping the evil spirits at bay by adding water to the boiler when needed.  The diesel holds no such intrigue, yet, it slowly and steadily takes over, leaving nothing but a rumbling growl across the countryside.

On a trip out to New Mexico, I photographed this Santa Fe 4-6-2 #3423.  Though not the object of my photographic journeys, I caught the nose of one of their beautiful new F units in the foreground.  The pacific, though built to pull passenger trains, is seen here with a reefer train in tow.

An old Southern Railway Ps4 from the 1920s simmers along side a new N&W Class J in Bristol. Despite the age difference, these two engines make a mighty fine pare as they wait for their assignments on their respective railroads.

My photo is actually my HO version of a famous O. Winston Link photo, (the lower image). I may be trying again at a later date for closer accuracy.

Two Y class engines and a class A are all waiting to head east. Y6b 2191 on the middle track has just been outshopped, while the unidentified Y on the far track wears a thick layer of road grime.   Her safety valves are lifting, signifying that her crew is building up a good head of steam for her to start her train.  The A will be the next to leave, stretching her legs on the main with an eastbound time freight.

K class 105 is about to back to the ash pit after having been watered and her tender topped off with coal.  There, her fire will be dumped and the hostler will take her to the roundhouse.  A pristine class J waits to the left.

I went to the N&W yards and bluefield and took some night timed exposures after dark. Here, a K1 and a J sit on the servicing tracks.  The J has been freshly washed and is ready for her run east.  The K1 has just finished her assignment on a local freight.  Moments before I took this picture, the crew had dropped her off, and the hostler will now top her tender off with a load of coal and make sure her water tank is full and ready for her next run.  Moments later I got to watch them drop the fire and back her off towards the round house. 

Southern Railway 1402, waits to head South on the Washington to Atlanta Main line.  The 1402 is one of my personal favorite Southern engines, as she is one of the first locomotives I photographed years ago. I was lucky to get so many images of her in service. I caught this on the same trip to try to capture as many images of Southern steam as I could.  it's hard to believe that these beautiful engines will soon be nothing but a memory.