Steam & Excursion > Steam Locomotives Provided Some Of The Most Bucolic Images!

While many actions shots of steam locomotives were at high speeds with tall plumes of smoke and steam erupting from their stacks in violent fashion, there was another side to these steam powered machines.  We see that her in this fine view captured by Glenn Beier.

The date is July, 1958 and Glenn has made the trek deep into the woods out of Tuolumne, California, and has reached all the way to Camp 45 on the narrow gauge West Side Lumber Co. railroad.  WSL 3-truck Shay #7 is assigned to bring the loaded log cars down from the landing in Camp and then begging the climb to the siding at Fleming where they will be stored until the next morning when Shay #15 would leave Camp with one string of 10 cars, and then pick up the loads stored at Fleming to make the run to Camp 24 to meet the road engine, WSL #9 to exchange empties for loads. 

The peace of the pine forest is only briefly interrupted here by the passing or Shay #7 and her log train.  If there was ever a Shay in it's intended natural environment, this was it.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/21 04:15 by LoggerHogger.

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That's a beautiful images, especially with the switchback in the background!

Are those storage tracks in the pic?

Mike Root
Madras, OR

I like the "framing" of the two trees around the subject and have done some of that in the past.

This is the best photo you've ever posted, Martin!  The composition is excellent and, as you say, it's a great depiction of a Shay locomotive in its typical environment.  Thanks for sharing.
 

shortlineboss Wrote:
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> Are those storage tracks in the pic?

I was wondering about those too. Were there switchbacks on that railroad?

There were no switchbacks on the West Side.  Those are storage tracks at Camp 45.

Martin