We traveled on the Orient Point—New London ferry. From the top deck, I watched the progress of Amtrak Acela Express 2166 enroute to Boston on my iPhone using the asm.transit.docs app. As well approached New London harbor, I said to Kris, “We ought to be seeing the Acela pass any minute now.”

The Coast Guard’s Eagle sailing ship was docked near the tracks, not far from the Shaws Cove draw bridge. It was dusk, with a rosy glow in the sky.

As we glided along the water, I framed up a view, anticipating the train, watching the scene evolve in my viewfinder.

“There!” Amtrak came into the frame, rolling silently along, and I exposed a series of photos.

The train is small in the scene and the file required a bit of post processing adjustment, but the overall image is satisfying. In more than 40 years of making photos around New London, this was the first time I’d ever viewed the city from this angle. I cropped the final image for presentation here.

I made two variations by altering contrast, exposure and color saturation.

Tracking the Light explores railroad photography.