The most powerful steam locomotive on the Wilmington & Western Railroad isn't the one you typically see in the publicity shots for this line. While the 98 may grab most of the attention, this beefy 1907 Baldwin Switcher has the edge on power....more than a 30% edge. She was built for the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad, but her career spans a bunch of other lines. She was finally donated to the Wilmington & Western in 1998 by a private owner and has been a mainstay of their steam program ever since. In this photo, she throws a pretty reflection on a private fish pond as she pushes one of the line's popular Easter Bunny Trains south toward Greenbank Station. Special thanks are due to Mark and Steve...two dedicated W&W Volunteers who kindly took the time to show me some of the best photo spots on the line. I'd also like to thank the gentleman who owns this pond for graciously allowing us to shoot this pretty scene.
