Locomotive

The Electro-Motive Divison of General Motors constructed streamlined diesel locomotives beginning in 1939. Their performance and aesthetic appeal led to the demise of the steam locomotive’s costly burden. Although most railroads in the United States were either gone or in severe financial straits by the 1960s, these locomotives remained in service. They stand as historical relics, pieces of equipment that witnessed the pre-1950s railroad hegemony transition into today’s geographically indistinct rail conglomerates. This is an ongoing project where I am documenting existing F- and E-series locomotives carrying markings of these once powerful and regionally distinct railroads. Affectionately called “Fallen Flags”, these roads crossed the country with over 230,000 track miles, more than double today’s mileage.

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Burlington Northern #9917, Larry's Truck & Electric, Warren, OhiBurlington Northern E9 sits idle at Larry's Truck & Electric.

Burlington Northern #9917, Larry's Truck & Electric, Warren, Ohi

Burlington Northern E9 sits idle at Larry's Truck & Electric.

Burlington Northern #9912, Nashville, Tennessee

Burlington Northern E9 Streamliner sits at railroad museum in Tennessee

Burlington Northern E9, Larry's Truck & Electric, Warren, Ohio

Former Burlington Northern locomotive sits idle at Larry's Truck & Electric.

Central of New Jersey #727, Winslow Junction, NJ

A streamliner carrying the paint scheme of the New Jersey Central railroad, a fallen flag.

Lehigh Valley #576, Tuckahoe, New Jersey

Lehigh Valley #576 part of the collection of the Southern Railroad of New Jersey. Red and black paint scheme of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The black diamond represents its main commodity, coal.

New York Ontario & Western #728, Winslow Junction, NJ

Burlington Route #9913. Miami, Florida

Burlington #9913. Miami, Florida part of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Seaboard Air Line #4033, Miami, Florida

Seaboard Air Line #4033, Miami, Florida part of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Florida East Coast #1594, Miami, Florida

Florida East Coast #1594, Miami, Florida part of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Texas Star Clipper #407, Staunton, Virginia

Texas Star Clipper #407, Staunton, Virginia

New York Central E8, Duanesberg, New York

EMD E8 Class Locomotive sits on display in upstate New York. Streamliners like these were crucial to the transition from steam to diesel electric power for American railroads in the 1940s and 1950s.

New York Central #4083, URHS, Boonton, New Jersey

This locomotive carries the Century Green paint of the New York Central Railroad as well as the cigar band logo. It is part of the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey.

Pennsylvania Railroad #5809, Spencer, North Carolina

Bennett Levin's famous twin E Unit locomotives Nos. 5809 and 5711 are restored to operate on main line railroad. One is seen here at the Streamliners at Spencer event at the North Carolina Museum of Transportation.

Burlington Route #9911A, Spencer, North Carolina

Burlington Route #9911A, Spencer, North Carolina during the Streamliners at Spencer event

Lorain & West Virginia #101, Wellington, Ohio

The L&WV was part of the Wabash system of railroads and served north-east-central Ohio. It is currently operating as a tourist railroad.

John Sanderson Lackawanna Railroad F7, Scranton, Pennsylvania.jpg

Lackawanna #664, Scranton, Pennsylvania

Southern Railway (Unnumbered), Ironton, Alabama

E Class Locomotive placed in parking lot of shopping center with wooden platform constructed next to it. Railroad crossing signs flank the locomotive. Large At Home department store in background.

John_Sanderson_Soo Line 500_Ladysmith_Wisconsin_Locomotive.jpg

Locomotive 500-A, nicknamed Sweet 'Soo', was the first passenger diesel on the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway ("Soo Line"). It is on static display in Wisconsin.

MTA #2021, Westchester Medical Center, New York

This FL-9 Class locomotive is derived from the F Series units and was modified to operate using both third rail and diesel electric power. This allowed it to operate within New York City's electrified lines as well as points beyond.

Chesapeake & Ohio #8016, Spencer, North Carolina

Chesapeake & Ohio F Unit at North Carolina Museum of Transportation at Spencer

Wabash #1189, Spencer, North Carolina

Erie #833, Port Jervis, New York

Erie #833 sits on on a turntable as the sun sits low on the horizon. An E8 class locomotive built by General Motor's electro motive divison, ditch lights were added to this locomotive to meet FRA regulations for operation on main line railroad tracks.

South Dakota Central #103C, 1880s Town, Midland, South Dakota

I have an ongoing series called Fallen Flags. It's a document of Streamlined locomotives scattered all over the country. Some are in museums, others are in parking lots, this one found its resting place at 1880's Town near Murdo, South Dakota. I had mapped out where these are located along the route to Wyoming. I had been planning to photograph this particular locomotive for over a year. The day I planned to arrive here was late in the day -- to catch light on the nose. My day began early with photography across SouthDakota of Railroad Landscapes -- grain silos, small towns, lone trees against the vast expanse of the Great Plains. I felt the day was pretty fruitful so far -- but as I began my final approach to photograph this locomotive, I encountered some nasty weather. Driving along I-90 the sky darkened dramatically and everything was near pitch-black as rain came down in buckets and traffic on the interstate decreased to a snail's pace. I was resigned to my fate. As I got nearer to my destination, the sky was still very dark and rain continued to fall. I began working with the medium format camera and suddenly the sky began to break apart in the West, where the sun was falling. I saw an opportunity and as the rain stopped I grabbed my 8x10 and placed the camera in-front of the locomotive. I shot one sheet out of fear : having traveled this far from New York I didn't want to leave here without something -- even if it's not perfect. So I waited longer but time was running out. After praying to St. Ansel and the Gods of Photography, the sky cleared and this is what unfolded in front of me. The sculptural quality of these locomotives in context of their surroundings is what interests me.

Chicago Great Western #116-A, Oelwein, Iowa

Chicago Great Western #116-A, at Oelwein, Iowa outside the Hub City Heritage Corporation Railway

Maine Eastern #488, Whippany, New Jersey

Milwaukee Road #101-A, Cresco, Iowa

Milwaukee Road F Unit on static display at a park in Iowa

Denver & Rio Grande Western #5771, Golden, Colorado

Denver, Rio Grande & Western locomotive at railroad museum in Golden, Colorado.

MARC #61, Cleveland, Ohio

NJT E8A #4325, ex-PC #4253, nee-PRR #5793A (MARC #61) is seen near a steel mill in Cleveland, Ohio.

West Virginia Central #92, Belington, West Virginia

West Virginia Central Streamlined Locomotive has seen better days. It sits on the sidelines awaiting restoration. This is a former E8 Class Locomotive from General Electric's Electro Motive Division.

Nickel Plate Road #83 A, Railway Museum of Indiana

The Nickel Plate Railroad did not operate F Class locomotives. This unit was painted as it might have been if they had.

Louisville & Nashville #796, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Penn Central #4321, Bellevue, Ohio

This Streamlined Locomotive is part of a railroad museum in Bellevue, Ohio. The Norfolk Southern Locomotive is changing crews in the background, its heritage paint scheme represents the Nickel Plate Road, a railroad that no longer exists.

Western Maryland #67, Elkins, West Virginia

Western Maryland F-7 Unit on scenic railroad excursion in West Virginia.

Milwaukee Road 36A, Deer Lodge, Montana

This locomotive operated over the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. It is an E9A Class locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro Motive Division.

Chesapeake & Ohio #7094, Elkins, West Virginia

Milwaukee Road 37A, Illinois Railway Museum

F7 Class Locomotive in storage at railway museum with various rolling stock surrounding.

Louisville & Nashville #819, Nashville, Tennessee

Louisville & Nashville #819 on display at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum.

Southern Railway #6900, Spencer, North Carolina

Burlington Norther BN-1, Illinois Railway Museum

This Burlington Northern unit (along with its sister unit on the right) was used by the railroad to pull special excursions and executive trains across the system's route from Chicago to the West Coast.

Frisco #814, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Frisco (St. Louis–San Francisco Railway) #814 located in Oklahoma.