Searching through my slides sometimes yields unexpected images. While looking for views of historic Baltimore & Ohio equipment, I searched one of my Logan storage boxes from the 1990s labeled “Museums.” I’d used this title as a loose category for photos of historic railroad equipment, heritage railways, and tourist train operations.

In October 1999, I traveled aboard Conway Scenic’s Notch Train while working on contract for the Washington-based tour company Great Train Escapes. On one of many similar journeys over the old Maine Central Mountain Division during a two-year period, I made this Fujichrome photograph from the open car Silver Cascade as the train crossed Frankenstein Bridge on its ascent through New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch.

I never would have imagined that twenty years later I’d begin my role as Conway Scenic’s Marketing Manager, nor would I have believed that the railroad’s attractively painted FP9s would eventually become the property of CSX after serving as Pan Am Railways’ executive locomotives.

Tracking the Light examines railroad photography!