#1225 Steam

It is the start of the Steam Railroading Institute's 2019 North Pole Express Season.  I told myself that I wouldn't chase every weekend, just those with blue sky and if there is fresh snow.  That lasted one weekend.  But the sky did start out blue yesterday.  And there was snow on the ground.  Not fresh, but it will do.
Prior to the day's activity, the #1225 is loaded with coal and water.  I caught some of this action last year, here.   After the fuel loading, the engine moves into position ahead of the passenger cars, separated by Washington St.  Yes, the railroad crossing bells/alarms go on.  Constantly.  If you are standing in line to get on, you hope the line moves quickly.

Not the most photographic environment.  Cars to the left, phone poles to the right. 
But there is a lot going on.  Apparently once these things get lit up, you need to keep it lit up.  There is always an Engineer in the seat, or at least in the cab.  Can't just leave the levels of heat, steam pressure or water un-attended.  And all those sight-seers.

I was around for almost an hour, and during that time I heard the automatic coal loader engage a few times.  You could feel the increased heat.  You could see the different colors of exhaust coming out of the front stack.  There are vents along the bottom of what I guess is the fire box to ram air into the fire once the engine is moving.  All very cool to see - while the engine is getting ready to depart.
I am used to maintenance hours per hour used figures.  My C5 aircraft required between 20 and 40 man hours per hour flown, depending on what source and what model you use for the estimates.  I'm going with the #1225 needs a lot of TCL as well.  When ever it is not moving, something is going on.

But for the day, I wanted one shot.  I wanted the front of the engine, as much as possible without the parking lot on the left and the building in the right.  And not have a wayward distraction with a camera walk by.  
When the engine moves, in any direction, from a standstill there is a large release of steam.  This much I know from a lot of hours watching.  So, I can be sure of a release prior to the engine moving rearward to hook up to the cars.  And I wasn't disappointed.

#1225 Steam

NIKON D7200 Ver.1.04/18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6

20 mm, 1/500 Sec, f/9, ISO 200 (Auto)

EV -1, Manual Mode, Size DX

There was some touch up work required.  On the original, there were hints of phone poles and wires.  This has the snow and blue sky I was looking for in the day.  I think the angle is good, gives some depth on the engine.  At the time the picture was taken, is was slowly moving backward.  And that helped the effect.