October 20, 2015 – Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad’s 484, a K-36 class 2-8-2 engine, heads for the water tower at Chama, New Mexico.
Tech Info: 1/640 | f/5.6 | ISO 125 | Lens: Nikon 70-300 @ 122mm with a Nikon D800 shot and processed in RAW.
October 20, 2015 – Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad’s 484, a K-36 class 2-8-2 engine…
October 20, 2015 – Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad’s 484, a K-36 class 2-8-2 engine, takes on water in the yards at Chama, New Mexico as engine 489 drops ashes in the background.
Film Wednesday – October 9th, 2024, The Valley Railroad Company steam engine #40 heads out of Essex, Connecticut
Film Wednesday – October 9th, 2024, The Valley Railroad Company steam engine #40 heads out of Essex, Connecticut with a mixed freight, during a Dak Dillon Photography photo charter.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad No. 97 is a preserved 2-8-0 steam locomotive that was built in 1923 by the American Locomotive Company’s Cooke Works.
Tech Info: Mamiya C330 Professional, Ilford HP5 Film, Mamiya 80mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 400.
Film Wednesday – October 9th, 2024, The Valley Railroad Company steam engine #97 heads out of Essex, Connecticut
Film Wednesday – October 9th, 2024, The Valley Railroad Company steam engine #97 heads out of Essex, Connecticut as the fireman keeps a watchful eye on the track ahead, during a Dak Dillon Photography photo charter.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad No. 97 is a preserved 2-8-0 steam locomotive that was built in 1923 by the American Locomotive Company’s Cooke Works.
Tech Info: Mamiya C330 Professional, Ilford HP5 Film, Mamiya 80mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 400.
Film Wednesday – The Valley Railroad Company #40 crew poses for a portrait at a siding…
Film Wednesday – The Valley Railroad Company #40 crew poses for a portrait at a siding with a rare mixed freight move out of Essex, Connecticut on October 8th, 2024, as part of a two-day photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography. These folks helped make the magic happen!!
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad #40 is a ALCO 2-8-0 that was built in 1923. It was built as Portland, Astoria and Pacific No. 101, but never used there; transferred to Minarets and Western Railroad in 1921, later to Southern Pacific, then to the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. Purchased by the Valley Railroad in 1977.
Tech Info: Mamiya C330 Professional, Ilford HP5 Film, Mamiya 80mm, f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 400.
East Broad Tops M1 motorcar passes steam locomotive 16 in the yard at Rockhill, Pennsylvania
East Broad Tops M1 motorcar passes steam locomotive 16 in the yard at Rockhill, Pennsylvania, on October 6th, 2024, as they make their way to the depot.
According to their website: Built in 1927, the M-1 is the only original narrow-gauge gasoline electric motorcar still in existence in the United States. Constructed in the EBT’s very own shop complex, this one-of-a-kind piece of railroad history has been painstakingly restored and still runs using many of its original parts and components over the same railroad it was built to serve over 96 years ago.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 64.
East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 moves onto the wye next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania
East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 moves onto the wye next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania on October 6th, 2024 as they begin to turn the train.
According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, 16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 48mm, f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 64.
The fireman on East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 keeps a watchful eye ahead…
The fireman on East Broad Top steam locomotive 16 keeps a watchful eye ahead as they pull their train through the crossing next to the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania in preparation for another trip, on October 6th, 2024 in the early morning fog.
According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, 16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/50, ISO 90.
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train towards Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train towards Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, as they approach Nesquehoning Tunnel on October 5th, 2024.
According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.
The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.
In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 170mm, f/5.3, 1/400, ISO 1800.
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train as they turn their train on the wye
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train as they turn their train on the wye just outside of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania on October 5th, 2024.
According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.
The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.
In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 60mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.
Reading and Northern SW8M 803 waits on the turntable to pull locomotive 2102 onto the main at Port Clinton, PA
Reading and Northern SW8M 803 waits on the turntable to pull Steam locomotive 2102 onto the main at Port Clinton, Pennsylvania on October 5th, 2024, for the first day of the year of 2102 pulling Fall Foliage Excursions.
From what I find on the web: Reading and Northern locomotive 803 is an EMD SW-8m model. It was built in September 1951 with builder number 14495. It was previously owned by Conrail (CR) as 8684 and originally by Lehigh Valley (LV) as 270.
According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.
The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.
In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 28mm, 2.5 seconds, f/5.6, ISO 200.
In this week’s Saturday Infrared Photo, The Valley Railroad Company 40 as they prepare to head to Essex, Connecticut
In this week’s Saturday Infrared Photo, we find The Valley Railroad Company 40 as they prepare to head to Essex, Connecticut, with a rare mixed freight move on October 8th, 2024, during a two-day photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.
This section of trackage isn’t normally seen on the railroad’s regular operation as it’s south of the depot.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad #40 is a ALCO 2-8-2 that was built in 1923. It was built as Portland, Astoria and Pacific No. 101, but never used there; transferred to Minarets and Western Railroad in 1921, later to Southern Pacific, then to the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. Purchased by the Valley Railroad in 1977.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 19mm, f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 400.
The Valley Railroad Company #40 steams through the early morning sunrise with a rare mixed freight…
The Valley Railroad Company #40 steams through the early morning sunrise with a rare mixed freight move out of Essex, Connecticut on October 8th, 2024, as part of a two-day photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad #40 is a ALCO 2-8-0 that was built in 1923. It was built as Portland, Astoria and Pacific No. 101, but never used there; transferred to Minarets and Western Railroad in 1921, later to Southern Pacific, then to the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. Purchased by the Valley Railroad in 1977.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 270mm, 5.6, 1/200, ISO 360.
The Valley Railroad Company #40 sits at the depot at Essex, Connecticut
The Valley Railroad Company #40 sits at the depot at Essex, Connecticut as the conductor is surrounded by steam, on the night of October 8th, 2024, during a photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 45mm, 2.8, 1/100, ISO 10,000.
The Valley Railroad Company #40 steams toward Essex, Connecticut on October 8th, 2024
The Valley Railroad Company #40 steams toward Essex, Connecticut on October 8th, 2024 with a rare mixed freight move as they approach Bokum Road – MP 2.99, passing a driver standing next to what I’m told was a 1930s Packard car as part of a two-day photo charter conducted by Dak Dillion Photography.
According to Wikipedia: The Valley Railroad, operating under the name Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut on tracks of the Connecticut Valley Railroad, which was founded in 1868. The company began operations in 1971 between Deep River and Essex and has since reopened additional parts of the former Connecticut Valley Railroad line. It operates the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.
Valley Railroad #40 is a ALCO 2-8-0 that was built in 1923. It was built as Portland, Astoria and Pacific No. 101, but never used there; transferred to Minarets and Western Railroad in 1921, later to Southern Pacific, then to the Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad. Purchased by the Valley Railroad in 1977.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 40mm, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 1250.
Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotive number 11, (C-90-3) passes through the crossing at Black Mountain Road…
Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotive number 11, (C-90-3) passes through the crossing at Black Mountain Road as it starts the climb up the mountain, during the Cass Rail Heritage Photography Weekend, at Cass, West Virginia on November 5th, 2022
Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now WestRock), Cass was built as a company town to serve the needs of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting spruce and hemlock for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of WVP&P. At one time, the sawmill at Cass was the largest double-band sawmill in the world. It processed an estimated 1.25 billion board feet (of lumber during its lifetime. In 1901 work started on the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in standard gauge railroad, which climbs Back Allegheny Mountain.
The railroad eventually reached a meadow area, now known as Whittaker Station, where a logging camp was established for the immigrants who were building the railroad. The railroad soon reached the top of Gobblers Knob, and then a location on top of the mountain known as ‘Spruce’. The railroad built a small town at that location, complete with a company store, houses, a hotel, and a doctor’s office. Work soon commenced on logging the red spruce trees, which grew in the higher elevations.
Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6 passes through Nottingham, WV
On November 4th, 2022, Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6 passes through Nottingham, WV, during the Mountain Rail WV, Rail Heritage Photography Weekend. The event was held at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Durbin, WV, and Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass, WV, from November 4-6th, 2022. Heisler No. 6 was built in 1929 and is a Class C-90 locomotive with 3 trucks.
According to Wikipedia: The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (reporting mark DGVR) is a heritage and freight railroad in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. It operates the West Virginia State Rail Authority-owned Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad (reporting mark WVC), as well as the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Virginia.
Beginning in 2015, DGVR began operating the historic geared steam-powered Cass Scenic Railroad, which was previously operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as part of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 140.
Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6 at Hosterman, West Virginia
Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6, leads a freight train past a wetlands area at Hosterman, West Virginia during the Mountain Rail WV, Rail Heritage Photography Weekend. The event was held at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Durbin, WV, and Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass, WV, from November 4-6th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (reporting mark DGVR) is a heritage and freight railroad in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. It operates the West Virginia State Rail Authority-owned Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad (reporting mark WVC), as well as the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Virginia.
Beginning in 2015, DGVR began operating the historic geared steam-powered Cass Scenic Railroad, which was previously operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as part of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
East Broad Top (EBT) steam locomotive 16 leads a passenger train as they wait to depart from the depot
East Broad Top (EBT) steam locomotive 16 leads a passenger train as they wait to depart from the depot at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, on October 6th, 2024.
According to the East Broad Top Website: Locomotive #16 was built in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Entering the age of modern steam in 1916, the EBT received its first of three large Mikados. Unlike the previous three smaller locomotives, #16 came with superheaters, piston valves, and Southern valve gear. One story mentions #16 pulled 60 empty hoppers from Mt. Union to Rockhill in one train, literally clearing out the yard. #16 underwent an overhaul in 1955 and made only a handful of trips in early 1956 before the railroad shut down an overhaul when the EBT shut down. On February 1, 2023, the locomotive returned to service.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 180.
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train just outside of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train as they turn their train on the wye just outside of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, passing through Nesquehoning Tunnel on October 5th, 2024.
According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.
The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.
In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train towards Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Reading & Northern’s 2102 steam locomotive leads a passenger train towards Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, passing through Nesquehoning Tunnel on October 5th, 2024.
According to their website: The Reading Company T-1 class #2102 was built in the Reading’s own locomotive shops in 1945. With drivers of 70” diameter, it weighs 404 tons, and its tender holds up to 26 tons of coal, and up to 19,000 gallons of water. After the Reading Steam era was over, the Reading Company used 2102 for the Reading Rambles on several different excursions. The 2102 has had many different owners since it was retired by the Reading Railroad. It is one of only four to survive. The other remaining locomotives are the 2100, 2101, and 2124.
The Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad purchased the 2102 in 1987, and it ran on the Temple to South Hamburg line into the early 1990’s. Once the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad became the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern, the 2102 ran over Reading & Northern’s rails for a short time before it was removed from service in the early 1990’s.
In 2022, steam locomotive 2102 reentered service on the Reading & Northern. The locomotive has been used actively to pull both passenger excursions and revenue freight trains.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 70mm, f/4.5, 1400, ISO 400.