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NEW FREEDOM, PA - The "William H. Simpson" York #17 is a faithful replica of a Civil War era 4-4-0 steam locomotive. In 1863, a locomotive of this type pulled President Abraham Lincoln's train from Baltimore along this line to Hanover Junction roughly 10 miles to the North where he transferred onto another train and head West to Gettysburg to deliver his now famous seven minute address commemorating the new cemetery where thousands from that summer's battle had perished. The locomotive is named in honored of Mr. Simpson who was a driving force behind the creation of Steam Into History, the company that runs the excursions between New Freedom and Hanover Junction. He died in May, 2012 not having seen his vision come to life. Lighting provided by Sean R. Hoyden

Western Maryland Railway 7471 sits idling and awaits for it's crew to board at Cumberland and take it and its train to Connellsville. Actually it was 2012 and the engine had recently been shipped "home" after repainted into its former WM glory for use on the George's Creek Railroad. On this night a few friends and I with permission from the railroad did a mini night shoot at the Cumberland station

I had done this shot a handful of times and there is no denying how awesome it is as the signals sat at the east end of a long straightaway and the headlights of approaching trains or westward rear helpers absolutely does their magic. It's 2am and it's absolutely pouring down rain. I'm in my makeshift trash bag turned poncho while the camera is housed in a white shopping bag. Along comes a set of helpers on track 3 going west and wallah! The closeness of the track to some of the branches helps as they create shadows in the light the further the engines move away.