“I was once one of the most powerful engines on the line with ten large driving wheels–originally built to go to Russia but I was rerouted by a revolution to serve here. I proudly pulled U.S. war supplies in World War I as part of the United States Railroad Administration and reliably transported people as well.
I was loved. Children would wait beside the tracks to see me roar by with my long line of cars trailing behind. They would wave and call to my engineer while making hand gestures so he would sound my steam whistle. Many would laugh yet some would cry because of the power of my passing, but they always come out to watch and admire me. Parents would also stop what they were doing to watch me pass.
I was fast. With a light load even the swiftest horse could not match my speed. There was so much power often my wheels would spin when starting and my engineer would have to throttle me up slowly.
But now I sit parked with dust and rust gathering on my unkept and unused parts. I seldom move and I’ve heard people say that I am old and there’s no longer any productive work for my kind. But yet some children come by and I can still see admiration and wonder on their faces.
I know I was once one of the most powerful engines on the line and perhaps someday they will need me again. So I wait–for now, the children are enough.“
– Seaboard Air Line Locomotive #544
As I was viewing this photo during post-processing I felt a certain sadness at what was a state-of-the-art steam locomotive sitting idle gathering rust and dust. How would this locomotive express its situation, if it could–the above was my efforts at expressing this.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful, Earl, and very sad. As we all end up, eventually. The picture is really good, with the reds and the blue, and you can almost smell the dust you write about.
Wonderful, Earl. Very poignant. We all have our moments in the sun, but they pass, sometimes too quickly. Very nice and thought provoking prose! I really like the photo a lot, too!
Very well said, Earl! It is sad to see such things sitting dormant as new and modern things take over. I can write almost the same thing for my film cameras and now my D100’s.
@Ove: Thanks! Being there I “could” actually smell the dust/rust and I could remember that smell as I was writing the post.
@Paul: Thank-you! Those words came easily, perhaps too easy. Maybe somedays I feel a little like the dusty/rusty old engine!
@Monte: Yea, it applies to almost everything but it struck home when I viewed this photo and remember being there and taking in the sights and sounds. Thanks!
The “old engine” might also be thinking something like the following” “On no, not those little kids again with their stick fingers that will dull my shiny finish!”
Hopefully, there will always be someone to tell the engine’s story because hearing it might cause the kids to think and dream and that’s always a good thing.
@Steve: LOL, you may well be right!