Following along with Reading & Northern T-1 No. 2102 on its run from Tamaqua to Port Clinton, Pa., we passed the popular field where my father photographed double-headed Reading Company T-1s in October 1963. There, at least 200 modern-day photographers vied for position to make evening images of the train against Hawk Mountain near Molino.

As we carefully glided past dozens of awkwardly parked cars, Kris asked, “We are not stopping here, are we?”

“No, not today. Pop already has that shot.”

He had told me the story many times about how he and his friends waited what seemed like hours to catch a late-running Reading Co., Iron Horse Ramble here. I’d grown up with the photograph, and somewhere along the line, I published it in a book.

Instead, we stayed ahead of 2102, turning down Molino Road to catch the train near R&N’s recreated Molino halt. The setting sun made for stunning early-evening light. With only moments to spare, I parked our car, grabbed my Lumix LX7, and made these digital images.

Had time permitted, I would have made a few Ektachrome slides with Pop’s old Leica. Maybe next time.

Tracking the Light Explores Generations of Railroad Photography . . .