Nickel Plate Road No. 170

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More train bits! Details below for fellow rail enthusiasts like Martin.

Dr. John Watson: “Did you just kill my new wife?!”

Sherlock Holmes: “Of course not!”

Dr. John Watson: “How can you say that, when you just threw her off a train?!”

Sherlock Holmes: “As I said, I timed it perfectly!”

Jude Law & Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

About this image: digital photograph (Canon 300D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop

The following Information is from The Museum of Transportation, St. Louis:

‘# 170 – New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road) 1927 – Built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), this 4-6-4 “Hudson” type locomotive was originally used in heavy passenger service until 1947 when the Nickel Plate Road converted to diesels. It went to light freight and passenger service. Altogether this locomotive traveled over 2,000,000 miles which is the equivalent to 80 trips around the world. It weighs 536,000 pounds, has 74 inch drive wheels, 25 x 26 inch cylinders and has a tractive effort of 42,000 pounds. The smoke deflectors on the front along the smokebox, often called “elephant ears”, lift the smoke over the cab and out of the faces of the crew. Donated in 1957 by the Nickel Plate Road.’

56 thoughts on “Nickel Plate Road No. 170”

    • Thanks, B.F! I’ve heard that diagonals bring energy into a photo… so I try to use them if I can remember! I’ve always been kind of fascinated by trains, so one of the toughest parts was trying to decide which one to photograph first! Absolutely! I’m tired out after just one trip around the block!
      🙂

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  3. This steam engine is absolutely brilliant
    SIG I have always liked these locomotives
    and you have certainly done us all proud
    with this fine creation 🙂

    Superb detail as always…

    Androgoth

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    • Many thanks to you, Andro!
      I’m very happy to hear you liked this one… I’ve always been kind of fascinated with / by trains…
      as you can imagine this museum is the kind of place where I could very happily spend quite a bit of time!
      🙂

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      • I agree with you, I figure that it is the nostalgia
        that draws us in, indeed those awesome steam
        engines were brilliant 🙂 I always enjoyed riding
        them, well inside the carriages anyway 🙂 lol

        Hvae a superb Christmas SIG 🙂

        Androgoth

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        • It’s interesting how some subject matter just seems to have that interest built-in to it’s nature…
          HAHAHA… what?! You mean you weren’t doing any… ‘acrobatics’ up on the roof, Andro?! I find that a bit difficult to believe, my friend! 😉

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          • Yes well Steam Surfing wasn’t around in
            those days SIG or I might have tried it 😉 lol

            MERRY CHRISTMAS SIG 🙂

            Androgoth

          • Yes that would definitely have been funny 🙂
            Hey SIG now talking of naughty and wickedness…

            If you enjoy a bit of porno
            then call into my extra pages
            Don’t worry there is a funny
            twist to this request but for
            you to find out what that is…

            You will have to call in to watch
            Have a wicked rest of evening…

            Androgoth

  4. Hello my friend, what a coincidence… I had just posted in my blog and had mentioned trains… I have a photo of a caboose though lol 🙂 I went WOW went I saw this shot. IT´S IMPRESSIVE. Hope you are doing well. I´ll be back latter to look at some more of your work and catch up on your blog….

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    • That sounds fascinating, Juana! I’ve always liked trains… and I’m really looking forward to checking it out!!!
      And thank you so much for your kind thoughts! I hope you are doing well, too, Juana! Wishing you only great happiness this Christmas!!!
      🙂

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  8. Excellent as always. That whole bit in the movie with Holmes done up as a woman gives “Petticoat Junction” a whole other meaning. 😀

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  11. I’m always fascinated by the golden age of train travel. In fact I wrote a short story where the characters were on one of the old Streamliner trains of the 1940s. Something so romantic about traveling that way, don’t you think?

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  14. I have always lived in active-train (both freight and passenger) towns, and one day a steam engine pulling grain as a gift for somewhere came through here, and I can’t tell you how solidly people lined up for it and cheered –this is how they spent their lunch half-hour. Whatever type of train, what a thrill to see it coming (and arriving), and how lonesome to see it going. I had loved trains ever since Toys for Tots misdelivered in my childhood: I got a box intended for a boy.. a Lionel set, a telescope, microscope –OMG, did I die and go to heaven, I wondered! The one thing that damped it all was reading of the Nazi trains.. but we had large train sets for our kids, and then for the grandkids. I hope you have one, too. Such a wonderful shot, SIG.

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    • Oh, I love trains, too! Although, very sadly, evil can use the best of things in ways they were never intended. And of course there are always tragic accidents, etc. I had a (great-great?) grandfather who was killed when the horses he was using to deliver grain to an elevator were spooked by the sound of an approaching train. Very sad, indeed… but when you think of all the positive things… I think that helps quite a bit. And I did indeed have a train set when I was a kid… it was SO much fun! Someday I’d like to build a tiny train / cityscape under glass / in an end-table… I always thought that would be pretty cool!
      Thanks so much for sharing your memories, C.O.B! And for your generous encouragement as well! I appreciate it very much!
      🙂

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  15. Trains are always neat, especially the old steam locomotives. You’ve got a really nice angle on this shot. It would make a great large-size print for a living room.

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    • I agree, Binky! I love trains… but the steamers are among my very favorites, too! I think the additional history adds another layer of interest, somehow.
      Thank you so very much, sir!
      🙂

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  16. love old trains…. and i learned something new in a comment of yours above – how diagonals lend energy to an image. hmmmm…. that puts a whole new light on my previously discarded sunset photos where the horizon tilts to the right or left, LOL.
     
    but seriously, will bear that in mind for future reference.
     
    and this is a very cool composition! thanks for sharing.

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    • I’m so happy to hear that, P&K… I love old trains, too (not that you’re surprised to hear this, I’m sure)!
      I’ve indeed read that diagonals can add a dynamic feel (and often draw the eye in to an image), so it’s kind of fun to play with that at times (hahaha… I’ve experienced plenty of unintentionally ‘dynamic horizons’ myself)!
      Thanks so much, P&K!
      🙂

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  17. Cool pic and script . . . loved that scene between Sherlock and Watson.

    Have you watched Elementary yet?
    It’s on Thursday night at 10 (after Person of Interest).
    My new favorite show . . . featuring Sherlock Holmes and Watson.

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    • Thanks so much, Nancy! Hahaha… I feel the same way… that conversation still makes me laugh every time I hear it!
      To tell you the truth I haven’t even heard of ‘Elementary’ (mostly because I live under a rock)… I’m sure curious about it now, though! I’ll have to see if I can’t check it out!
      🙂

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    • Thank you very much, Martin! I did quite a bit of dodging and burning (as I can never seem to help myself – I always feel the need to play with most photos for at least an hour or so).
      Very, very cool! Nothing like seeing one of these beauties in action!
      Don’t mention it, sir! My pleasure!
      🙂

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    • Ha! That was pretty cool! There must have been rails in the water!
      Hmm… a very good question… I don’t think this particular locomotive saw much service too far south of Saint Louis, but I’m not sure about that… (I could be way off base on that).
      🙂

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