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Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania—Focus on the Details

On Tuesday November 18th, I gave my fifth Railroad Photography 101 class of the 2025 season at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

For the class-room portion, I focused my presentation on digital image processing using Adobe Lightroom. Specifically, I demonstrated using a series of steps how I prepare an image for print-presentation by adjusting highlight, mid-tone and shadow areas using Lightroom’s slider controls.

The second part of the class was an open photography session in the museum’s main hall. Museum Director Patrick Morrison opened some of the locomotives for students. During this part of the program, I answered questions and made detailed photos of the locomotives on display using my Nikon Z6 mirror-less camera.

My next class at the museum is scheduled for Saturday December 13, 2025. This will feature a holiday theme.

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Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Railway Gems of the London Science Museum

Enter the exhibit ‘Making the Modern World’ and you will find some gems of 19th century railway technology.

This includes Puffing Billy—the oldest preserved locomotive, and a variety of other full-size equipment and vintage scale models.

One of my favorites is the 1870s model of a broad gauge Erie Railroad 4-4-0, which has been in the science museum’s collection since 1880.

Photos expose in February 2024 using my Lumix LX7.

Model of the Firth of Forth railway bridge.
Model of the Firth of Forth railway bridge.
Model of the Firth of Forth railway bridge.
Puffing Billy
Columbine.
This period model of a 6-foot gauge Erie Railroad 4-4-0 has been at the London Science Museum since 1880.
Model of a Norris locomotive built in Philadelphia.
Model of the famous Rocket of 1829. The real Rocket is presently on tour elsewhere in the UK.

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New England Central Numerical Transition

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New England Central Railroad (NECR) began operations of the former Central Vermont route in February 1995. Initially, it ran the railroad with a small fleet of largely former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio GP38s numbered in the 9500-series.

In 1998, NECR was in the process of renumbering these locomotives into the 3800-series, which logically echoed their model type.

In October 1998, photographer Mike Gardner and I spent a morning photographing the southward 608 on its run from Palmer, Massachusetts to New London, Connecticut. The lead engine displayed its new 3800-series number, but the trailing engine still had its old number.

Many of the GP38s have carried these 3800-series numbers ever since that time.

Exposed on Fujichrome using a Nikon N90S with Nikon f2.8 80-200mm AF zoom lens. The freight is crossing the Yantic River at Yantic, Connecticut.

Enlarged view of the same color slide.

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