Still Life at Morbi
How many men does it take to drive a steam engine? With four on the footplate and the fireman standing with his shovel, that makes for a very crowded cab. Perhaps some of them are hitching a lift, after all this steam loco has only a short time working these trains, so the opportunity will soon pass into the history books.
Despite the number of people in this scene, it is a very static view. They look rather like tailor’s dummies that have been carefully placed. The three boys who are staring off into the distance give a strangeness to the picture. The same three appeared in yesterday’s posting.
The hair styles seem to have moved on since 1997. A recent view in Mysore shows the current style.
Life, Photography & Other Mistakes - is now dormant 
I’m crazy about this image. A snippet in time – I wonder what they’re all thinking and where they were going. Well done!
It’s funny Debi, but I was staring at the image wondering the same when your comment arrived. It’s like they all knew where to stand, and came together for that instant, then all went their separate ways……a strange conjunction….as you say, a snippet in time.
This is beautiful image, John. Great to hear the story behind too.
Thanks very much Sreejith. Do you remember the steam trains….and didi you photograph them?
The experience of riding in the cab of a steam engine would be thrilling and something to tell about for a life time. Early in my museum career I interviewed railroad men who worked the line between Jacksonville Florida and Savanna Georgia. Some of the stories included derailments, exploding boilers and overworked firemen. Some of these men were great storytellers. We had a stable Baldwin steam locomotive and an assortment of cars on the property of this general museum, so the oral history project was very appropriate. Here is a link to the museum and to the Baldwin exhibit http://okefenokeeheritagecenter.org/old-nine/
Thanks for that Tim. Ol’ Nine is in superb condition…what a beauty…… and what a fascinating experience to interview those railroad men.
Yes it was fascinating. I wish I’d kept a copy of the interviews.