With that celebration now thankfully over, the train had to get back home, so it traveled through Cleveburgh again. And again, I jiggered my schedule to see it. Unfortunately, 710 could not.
Last time we viewed from a parking garage 1/10th of a mile away. The iPhone 17 just has a decent zoom feature.
This time, I more carefully scouted a site and went to decent lengths to get down onto, then next to, the tracks. Driving to the area I wanted, I saw dozens and dozens of people a half mile upstream crowding a bridge so they'd see the locomotive from a higher vantage point.
Me? I was down there. Right there.
I checked the schedule and got to my general location about 20 minutes before the train arrived. I spent another 5-7 minutes finding just the right spot - and I think I nailed it.
It has a curve to the track. It had a trestle. It had a view of downtown behind where the 4014 would be.
What I wasn't expecting was it would have a Goodyear airship flying overhead. That, in theory, was going to make for a good photo.
There were too many elements for that to actually happen.
The blimp was too high and out of frame. It was moving faster than the train, even though it kept trying to double back. No offense to Goodyear, as they were a former client of mine, but the airship wasn't the star of the day.
A few others wandered down to where I was, but honestly you could count them on two hands. No one was anyone else's way.
The engine is impressive. And loud - whistle or not. And. it. is. hot.
Heat exuding from the engine and the cars was stifling. It was already 86°F without the train - so I can't say it was a pleasant experience. On the other hand, it's not like was a photojournalist out in the fields covering the horror of the Viet Nam War.
Again, not a train guy, but I got caught up in the excitement and I figured I'd never see this engine again. I mean, I am looking at "middle age" in the rear view mirror. Actually, it's out of sight.
Still it was fun to share pictures and video with 710.
And I got a decent shot or two.
Song by: Nazareth
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