Steam & Excursion > Long Before Drones This Was Still A Good View Of Steam In Action!

Railfan photographers have been looking for new angles to shoot photos of trains in action for decades.  The recent advent of drones has only added to the possibilities available to these railfans.  However, this quest for a new and unique angle will likely continue on into the future.

Back in July, 1944 noted railfan and Northern Pacific locomotive engineer, Al Farrow decided to capture NP's train #4 leaving his home town of Auburn, Washington from a new perspective.  The day was clear and sunny and the morning air was still good enough for a white plume of steam from NP 4-6-2 #2111 and #2265 on the point of this 12-car train.

Al decided to climb up a hill near the NP crossing of the Green River to capture this classic view os NP steam in action.  I think we all feel that the photo that he captured that day was certainly worth that climb up the hill.



Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/20 01:47 by LoggerHogger.

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Great perspective on the Northern Pacific during World War II.  Thanks for sharing this special action image.

As a rule (well, more like a guideline) I'm not a big fan of Pacifics but NP Pacifics are the exception, Q-6 #2265 in particular. I've always figured it must have been a favorite of engine crews as well, of the 8 or 10 photos I've seen of it, it was always clean and shiney. Cool photo..

Cheers, Dave

No. 4 was listed in public timetables as simply the "Alaskan".
No's 3-4 were the secondary train to NP's "North Coast Limited" schedule on the Seattle-St. Paul route.

The bridges remain today much as Al pictured them 1944, with the addition of graffiti, of course.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.3029847,-122.1767844,3a,42y,133.99h,90.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQrFEQ7A7JRjy3JAUR9qwqg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Charlie
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/20 11:49 by cewherry.