Through The Lens 181 – Mr. Helmstetter’s Barn

Mr. Helmstetter's New Barn

Digging into the archives, here’s one from 2010. Winter 2010 saw fresh snow on the ground for a photo charter on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. At that time we were celebrating Mr. Helmstetter’s new barn which was built with the help of railfans to replace the one he lost in a tragic fire the previous summer.

Hard to believe its been 13 years already.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 180 – I Never Thought I’d See The Day…


Standing in the roundhouse in June of 2018, as I took this photo of a sunbeam illuminating #16’s pilot, I never thought I’d see the day that a steam locomotive would move under its own power at the East Broad Top Railroad.

Happily, I was wrong. On Wednesday February 1st, 2023, Locomotive #16 moved under its own power for the first time in 67 years! Congratulations to the entire team at the East Broad Top Railroad on a job well done!

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 179 – Domino Sugars

A fixture in the Baltimore skyline since 1951, the Domino Sugars sign is classic Baltimore. When Domino announced that they were going to replace the aging neon sign with LED, I made a trip to photograph the sign while it retained its original neon.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 178 – Flour and Feed

The belt driven machinery of a former flour and feed mill rest silently during an Abandoned America photo tour. Thankfully, unlike some of the other abandoned sites I’ve visited, this one is being maintained and preserved for the future.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 177 – The Greatest Show on Rails

MP 341

In February 2020, the Cumbres & Toltec hosted a special photo charter featuring Rotary Snow Plow OY. This was the first time the railroad had run the rotary since the 1990’s so it was a special event; it was the greatest show on rails.

Check back on Tuesday for a trip report.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 176 – Steam in the Snow

Jim Thorpe Station

One of my favorite images of Reading & Northern locomotive #425 during a photo charter in February 2016.

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything here. Life got in the way, but I did a lot of shooting and will share images more frequently here.

Through The Lens 175 – East Broad Top

Yesterday was the 60th Anniversary of the the East Broad Top Railroad’s first tourist trains under the ownership of the Kovalchick Family who saved it from being scrapped. It was fitting that yesterday was also the first public train rides hosted by the EBT’s new owner, the EBT Foundation. Great things are coming from what is arguably the best preserved railroad site in the United States.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 173 – Carland Elevator

Carland Elevator

Pere Marquette 1225 storms past Carland Elevator in Elsie, MI on a late evening run west. More to come Tuesday in Part 2 of my Steam Railroading Institute Trip Report. Check out Part One here.

Happy Friday!

Through The Lens 172 – Steam Railroading Institute Sunset

West Wilkinson Road Sunset

Pere Marquette 1225 runs past the photo line at West Wilkensen Road outside Owosso, MI on a Lerro Photography charter. I’m almost finished my photos from this trip. Look for part one of the trip report on Tuesday.

Happy Friday!