Many thanks to Lerro Photography for providing the lighting and the East Broad Top Foundation for letting us play with their Mikes! EBT #12 “Millie” sits on the turntable outside the roundhouse in this view from above an empty stall with simulated steam aka smoke bombs for effect.

EBT #17 is working the yard at Rockhill after returning from Robertsdale with a set of bad ordered cars. Who would have thought even this scene could be replicated in 2020 albeit with smoke bombs. Many thanks again to Lerro Photography and the East Broad Top Foundation.

A night in the Rockhill Furnace yard of the East Broad Top Railroad… in 2020.

East Broad Top 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotives 12 and 17 sit out front of the EBT shops in Rockhill Furnace, PA at dusk to let off a little simulated steam on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

N&W 611 is readying to stroll onto the turntable at the North Carolina Transportation Museum on Saturday September 19, 2020.

N&W 611 J Class and Southern FP7 locomotives pose side by side at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. Both were built in 1950.

Part of the 2017 annual “Railfan Day” at Steam Into History. This year I was asked to help provide lighting for the event and had a mission to make it more realistic with active steam. Here York 17 looks as though it is enroute from York to Baltimore at the depot at Hanover Junction as locals look on.

SRC 90 returns to East Strasburg on a recent Dinner Train.

NEW FREEDOM, PA

YORK ARRIVAL: NEW FREEDOM, PA – The “William H. Simpson” York #17 is a faithful replica of a Civil War era 4-4-0 steam locomotive. In 1863, a locomotive of this type pulled President Abraham Lincoln’s train from Baltimore along this line to Hanover Junction roughly 10 miles to the North where he transferred onto another train and head West to Gettysburg to deliver his now famous seven minute address commemorating the new cemetery where thousands from that summer’s battle had perished. The locomotive is named in honored of Mr. Simpson who was a driving force behind the creation of Steam Into History, the company that runs the excursions between New Freedom and Hanover Junction. He died in May, 2012 not having seen his vision come to life. Lighting provided by Sean R. Hoyden

HOME: Returning with the final excursion of the day is SRC (former N&W) 475 as it enters the yard and shop complex.

POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE – SRR 90 leads the first run of the Long John Limited on the railroads Opening Day. The temperature hovered in the single digits and the wind chills at times were in the negative teens.

J TOWER, STRASBURG, PA

STRASBURG MEMORIES

Passengers await to board their train to Baltimore on the Northern Central Railroad at New Freedom, PA but first are detained by a Union soldier while a crew member keeping time looks on. Part of the venture’s second annual railfan day was this night charter with lighting provided by Steve Barry.

LEVIATHAN: Lighting Courtesy Sean Hoyden

SLEEPING GIANTS – Three Mikakos sleep inside the East Broad Top Railroad Roundhouse silently awaiting the next call of duty on the East Broad Top Railroad

LEVIATHAN CREW B/W: NEW FREEDOM, PA – The crew of #63 the “Leviathan” discusses their switching moves before putting their train together on the Northern Central Railroad. Thanks to Sean Hoyden for the use of his lighting equipment and the crew of the Leviathan. http://www.leviathan63.com

ALL CLEAR AHEAD: The Strasburg Railroad 475 engineer looks out ahead as the engine lurches forward toward the shop.

BLOW OUT

APPROACHING CARPENTERS

LEVIATHAN CREW: NEW FREEDOM, PA – The crew of #63 the “Leviathan” discusses their switching moves before putting their train together on the Northern Central Railroad. Thanks to Sean Hoyden for the use of his lighting equipment and the crew of the Leviathan. http://www.leviathan63.com

REPOSE: During the quick stop at the Glen Rock Mill Inn, I took advantage of some unique angles of the “William H Simpson” York 17. Lighting provided by Sean Hoyden

COLD FIRE – Coal sits on the floor of the cab of EBT 12 aka “Millie” awaiting its turn to burn inside the firebox during a recent Spring afternoon inside the railroad’s roundhouse.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

MIKADO REPRISE

ALIVE IS STEAM

GENERATIONS

WORKING ON THE RAILROAD: After pulling SRC 475 out of the shop for the days excursions, the locomotive is looked over by various employees and crew members before being put into service.

RETIRING FOR THE DAY: SRC 475 and tender retire for the day to the shop building after pulling excursions this day as part of the railroads “Bunny Trains.”

STRASBURG RAILROAD

GLEN ROCK MILL INN: GLEN ROCK, PA – The Northern Central Railroad York 17 stops at the Glen Rock Mill Inn for an evening excursion. The line built in the 1830’s-1850’s connected Baltimore, MD with York, Harrisburg and Sunbury, PA. It was purchased as a subsidiary by the PRR in 1861 and was in regular use until it was abandoned after heavy damage by Tropical Storm Agnes in 1973. Today the length of most of the line is used as a bike trail in York County, PA as well as Baltimore County, MD where the southern end is used as part of MD’s Light Rail system into the city.. Only 10 miles of track between Hanover Junction and New Freedom remain and is used today by “Steam Into History Inc.” The Mill built in 1837 is the oldest building in Glen Rock and was in use until the the 1960’s. The Mill was renovated into an Inn in the 1980’s and is still in business today. Lighting provided by Sean Hoyden.

SHROUDED IN STEAM

YORK ARRIVAL B/W: NEW FREEDOM, PA – The “William H. Simpson” York #17 is a faithful replica of a Civil War era 4-4-0 steam locomotive. In 1863, a locomotive of this type pulled President Abraham Lincoln’s train from Baltimore along this line to Hanover Junction roughly 10 miles to the North where he transferred onto another train and head West to Gettysburg to deliver his now famous seven minute address commemorating the new cemetery where thousands from that summer’s battle had perished. The locomotive is named in honored of Mr. Simpson who was a driving force behind the creation of Steam Into History, the company that runs the excursions between New Freedom and Hanover Junction. He died in May, 2012 not having seen his vision come to life. Lighting provided by Sean R. Hoyden

MANUAL SIGNALS: A crew member directs the engineer by use of hand signals to move forward after lining a switch to the lead into the shops for the evening.

Disregard the modern street signs and the out of place Wrigley’s ad and you can venture back to the American Civil War as a night passenger run rolls into Glen Rock, PA to pick up a few passengers as Union soldiers guard the train and her passengers. Part of the venture’s second annual railfan day was this night charter with lighting provided by Steve Barry.

SHINE ON

APPROACHING GROFF’S SIDING

York 17 and train stop to pick up passengers just as trains have done here in the past like the one Abraham Lincoln did and from Gettysburg. The crew makes adjustments before continuing south to New Freedom, PA and Baltimore, MD. Part of the venture’s second annual railfan day was this night charter with lighting provided by Steve Barry.

1924