Classic Carland....with a twist. Anyone who has made the journey out to Owosso Michigan knows that the classic, must-have image is that of a big Berkshire Locomotive charging past the classic old grain elevator in Carland, Michigan. Of course, most folks come away with that shot, but the Berk in the shot is typically Pere Marquette #1225, which is operated by the Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) in nearby Owosso. In this image however, we were lucky enough to see something different, in the form of the only other Berk that can still steam under her own power. Nickel Plate Road #765, which normally calls Ft. Wayne, Indiana home, just happened to be visiting the SRI in August of 2009, for a train festival event which occurred earlier in the summer. Charter Operator Pete Lerro jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of that situation in late August, by organizing a 2-day photo charter, the first day of which was dedicated to Nickel Plate #765. Although the weather was cloudy for most of that first day, we got a break shortly after our arrival at this location and were blessed with perhaps 2 minutes of sun, if that. Pete called an audible on the radio and had our massive freight train back up only about 200 feet, before asking them to bring it forward. It wasn't a track speed charge, but it took full advantage of the only sun we would see this day.
