At last! Pretty light on the 98! Trailing a gorgeous plume, the Wilmington & Western's classic 4-4-0 #98 steps out across the Lancaster Pike in the evening light. Fans of the Wilmington & Western Railroad know well the challenges of getting great light on the trains. With the line pretty much running north/south and the engines always facing north, the opportunities for pretty light are limited to just a few key events every year. One such event is the annual Fireworks Train to Hockessin on the 4th of July. With a 7 PM departure time, there are a ton of shadows, but those spots that are lit are just magnificent. The first time I attempted to photograph this train a couple of years back, I was skunked by a layer of cirrus clouds. On this particular night however, there were no such issues.
Unfortunately, for those who couldn't make it to Greenbank this year, there may not be another opportunity. The folks up in Hockessin have apparently announced that this year's Independence Day Fireworks Display would be their last. Hopefully, they will reconsider that position!
