New Zealand Railways J class Loco

I love this shot because the scale and perspective is so mind bending and the steam and the hazy background help a lot too.

lovely shot Erin...where did u take this shot?

I have been around guys who work on these trains and they are a unique lot. In addition to this image's nice visual style, with the locomotive seeming to zoom almost out of the frame, there is the human aspect of the youngster carrying on a tradition or learning the ropes from the old man, who may have been alive when the full-scale versions rode the rails. But to the youngster that model is the closest he will get to the golden age of railroading. Cool picture.

Nice shot Erin. Great color tones and clever composition. Do visit my site. Any comments will be appreciated.

The love of steam trains large, or small like this one, affects young

and old alike. there is some aura of romance associated with these

relics from a bygone era. Comments critiques and bashings welcome as

always!

Quite interesting subjects, and good composition.

Is this a car in the background next to the boy? I would have tried to crop it out. Otherwise very nice picture.

Good shot of a magnificent model. I like the concentration on the faces. There is something about live steam that is a whole dimension away from the electric ones. As a kid I used to collect the names and numbers of the steam locomotives in my area in UK. By the time I was ten they were all being phased out. When did this beauty last run in NZ in its full size version?

They ran these particular locomotives in the North Island of New Zealand only Colin. (I am a South Islander so this is the only version I have personally seen). Steam was phased out during the late 19-60s. Yes, I too am old enough to have travelled in a few steam drawn trains in my childhood and youth. The taste of coal dust and smell of smoke and sulphur plus the inexorable power of the loco chuffing up to speed makes a diesel powered train a rather soulless device in comparison. Thanks for the comments everyone.