Not every situation is made to order for photography.

I was on my way to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to conduct research for my next book. Since I was just a little early, I opted to divert via Esbenshade Road and roll by Strasburg Rail Road’s returning 1pm train.

I heard the engine working the grade. On most recent visits, former Canadian National 2-6-0 No. 89 has been assigned to the run. Since this is a relative small locomotive the crews have to work it reasonably hard ascending the grade from Cherry Hill.

However, on this afternoon I listened carefully; the softer bark of the stack told me that the engine wasn’t working especially hard. This couldn’t be 89, so it must be No. 90—the former Great Western 2-10-0 (a relatively big Baldwin).

Inded it was!

Canadian wildfires made for the air thick with particulates, and the sunlight was tinged with brown. Not pretty light at all.

Photos exposed using my Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.

NEF RAW files were adjusted using Lightroom to maximize detail.

Tracking the Light Posts Daily!