High plains drifter. An Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe local rolls across the high plains of eastern Kansas, just east of Abilene, at sunrise.
This image depicts AT&SF 3415, a Class 3400 Pacific Locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1919. Originally a coal-burner, built for fast passenger service, this locomotive was converted to burn oil in its later years and was eventually relegated to freight service. It was retired in 1954 and literally spent 40 years in a public park in Abilene, before being restored for service on the Abilene & Smoky Valley tourist operation where she runs now. In service since 2009, the locomotive will be due for an FRA 1,472 Service Day Inspection at the end of 2023. This image was captured on a Dak Dillon Photography Charter in September of 2023, featuring the 3415 with her freshly-painted excursion consist. The train is pictured at the Jeep Road crossing, just over 2 miles east of Abilene on former Rock Island trackage.
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)