I was flipping through my John Henderson collection today and found this gem. As you may already know, number 701 is a Baldwin 2-8-2 bought new on October 1926. It was retired April 1954 and was sold to F.C. Langreo in January 1958. I haven't a clue where or when this was taken or who the photographer was. However, it is always stirring to see one of these locomotives under full steam. For those of you who love to analyze every inch of photos like these, I have an 1.3MB enlargement here so you can study the boogers of the trainmen. Enjoy!

Commentary from Patrick Durand added 3/15/10:

Thank you John for sharing John Henderson's photo of 701 in full steam. This photo provides more detail than any other image I have seen of the 700 Class and your high resolution offering is fantastic.

You wanted to know where and when? Some detective work subject to later correction leads me to believe this photo was taken in mid 1940's at Matanuska Junction. Probably early morning on a late March or April day. The locomotive is facing North and has just uncoupled from a string of loaded hoppers standing on the main. The brakeman is riding the back of the tender and will set the switch shortly so 701 can back down the leg of the y toward Palmer. The other crewman at the left is walking across to catch a ride as the loco passes.

Why such a movement was taking place at that location I cannot imagineer. Loaded coal trains at that location would usually be South bound to Anchorage on the other leg of the Y passing straight through from Jonesville Coal Mine via Palmer and Matanuska to Anchorage. It is possible these loads for some reason were North bound for coaling facilities along the line and the power plants at Curry and Cantwell. Fairbanks area plants, were being supplied by mines at Healy.

The date is estimated because there are dated photos of 701 without the home built Vestibule cab and pilot mounted air compressor circa 1947 in train with yellow and blue coaches (post war). By 1949 she had been shopped and both of those modifications were completed. Prior to the war she still had plumbing in place for the auxiliary steam booster on the trailing truck while in the photo the steam line is missing.

The location is pretty well cinched with the unmistakable summit of Pioneer Peak just visible above the rear of the tender. That perspective and orientation of the train could only be obtained from the old North end of the Matanuska Y. The mix of low lying spruce and birch in the right background is typical of the area at that time.

Time of year is indicated by the light dress of the crew members, the rotten condition of the wind blown snow drifts and the sun location. By late March and April the spring sun is rising early behind Lazy Mountain off to the North North East of this location and would provide the proper sun angle for the shadows cast on the locomotive. It is early morning because by 11 am the sun would be coming from behind Pioneer Peak and the foreground side of the locomotive would be in shadow.

The question of who took the photo is more complicated. Track at this location today has been relocated making an easier curvature going toward Anchorage and a longer passing siding all within a 1/2 mile walk from the Parks Highway overpass. At the time of the photograph you would have to drive from Anchorage to Palmer on the Old Glenn Highway and then drive South of Palmer toward Old Matanuska. The Y and water tower were located in the river bottom at Matanuska. So the photographer was probably a RR Employee who knew what he was doing with a camera or was just extremely lucky.