Moon Smoke #15310

The Story

Railroad steam engine #16 raises smoke and steam high into a still night sky filled with a full moon and stars. The front end of the boiler is wreathed in steam as the headlight burns blue through it. The East Broad Top Railroad engineer leans out the cab window, preparing to release the brake, apply some throttle, and pull out.

For this shot, the locomotive was an actor with a part to play in a scene. It was set and lighted this way as part of a 1950s drive-in movie recreation, complete with period cars and human actors in period clothing. You can see that interesting drive-in image here as Saturday Night Special #15309.

Location: the EBT Railroad yard at Rockhill Furnace in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Picture and story © Andrew Dierks