Thunder at Sunset
As the last rays of afternoon sunlight filter through the leafy canopy of summer, there is a low-pitched husky whistle in the distance, accompanied by the ever-closer syncopated chuffing of a very large steam locomotive. The ground begins to tremble, as the huge iron beast rounds the curve and looms into view with its long train of heavy-weight passenger coaches. The trembling increases with the thunderous sounds of the two sets of huge cylinders, pistons, and driving wheels that propel this 1940s-vintage Norfolk and Western 2-6-6-4 articulated locomotive, No.1218, one of the most powerful steam locomotives ever built.
From a color transparency.
This image is available in archival gallery prints and as a custom printed photo greeting/note card.
©Steve Ember
Tatjana Puc Kous 28/02/2011 20:20
Good night shot! JanaDragomir Vukovic 25/02/2011 17:45
excellents. sabine krause 31/01/2011 9:13
there she blows!! what the white whale was to ahab, this thundering locomotive must be to trainspotters all over the world ; ))! a beautiful capture of the advancing beast, which really makes you feel the thrill and excitement of machine power come alive! love how the orange light matches the beautiful late summer gleam of the surrounding vegetation! greetings, sabine.