Photographer- Dave Leonard- from my personal collection. 35mm Kodachrome original slide.
A gorgeous late Spring day finds the "Mercedes of Steam," N&W Class 'A' #1218 attacking Blue Ridge Grade on a ferry move to Alexandria, Virginia. She is on the first leg of this ferry move with freight in tow to Lynchburg, where she will pick up passenger cars and storm the former Southern mainline up to Alexandria. The next day would be my first time seeing the 'A' in action on an Alexandria to Front Royal round trip on the Norfolk Southern B-Line. What a magnificent machine the 'A' Class was.
