Saturday’s tour of the Midwest railway Roundhouse promised to be wet and overcast. However we had a good showing of members that came out to see the big iron of a steam engine up close and personal. Some of us got there early and prowled the areas in the railroad yards and beyond with our cameras.
We endured a steady rain all day. As our reward, we learned the history of the steam engine and it’s working parts and the engineering minds it took to bring that all to life. Nicholas Resar put a fine program together for us. And many volunteers that work the Midwest Railway yard came out to give their time to us in explanation and respect for an important piece of our Industrial past.
For myself as a shooter, I just wasn’t sure how much I would see. And I have to say that my interest was lukewarm. I could not have been more wrong. Bad weather makes for great photographs. As I began to wander around, I let the steel yard, the roundhouse and it’s surrounding areas seep into my soul and the beauty began to reveal itself to me.
What man has built. There is gritty poetry and timelessness here. There is grease and hard labor. There is long hours, weary bodies and sweat, dust and toil. I saw glass block windows lined with cracked brick and white caulk that represented alters in my mind. I saw the red lazy eyes of expired railroad crossing signs laying about in the green grass warning me that “ Thou shalt not pass”. I saw an old man paying homage to the engine, his hands and clothes gritty with the residue of iron dust. I saw engineering minds leave their scrimshaw writings In the iron belly of the beast; a puzzle that only the engine knows the answer to. I saw a tiny tug towing a barge. This was a great source of wonder to me. I was reminded of the little engine that could who whispered in my mind” I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...” I saw the permanence of iron, the exquisite patterning of rivets and let my mind wander endlessly around mans capacity to dream, sweat and build. I saw white columns of bridge underpasses that took on the look of doorways to a past that could not be traversed.
It was surreal landscape I saw that day wandering around in the wet. And my mind played with it like Salvador Dali played with time.
There is a big lesson here. Roger had told me before I came out to take pictures there was going to be lots to be seen. He was right. I had one of my best shooting experiences that I’ve had in a while. And then I warmed myself with a very large bowl of Thai pho afterwards.
Peace everyone. Thanks for a fabulous day. Click here to see our pictures from the field trip.
Fantastic commentary, Elizabeth. You have added such a personal touch to what could have been a drab "News at Eleven" report. I makes me wish I could have attended. Hopefully another day.