In Lincoln, Nebraska, downtown, there are old brick and mortar buildings converted to shops, bars, and restaurants. One in particular, the old train station est. 1869, was magnificent stone and marble. The grand lobby, once the transportation hub of this locale, had tall cathedral like spaces. One could only imagine the activity and drama that played here. Echoes.

Outside, an old long silent locomotive relic dated 1901 was the item of interest. Studying the design I tried to guess what was what and how it worked following which pipes lead where and did what. That’s my thing. Fun to analyze for authenticity. What was period and what was added later. Tech for it’s era it must have been a fearsome thing to get close to such a monster when it was fired. Steam would be hissing and oil and water oozing and dripping. Groans and sounds from deep within as the beast heated or cooled. Breathing and heaving and that’s just standing idle. When it went to work, whistle shrieking, the engine must have been glorious. I get my thrills pushing the thrust levers forward (9200lbs cumulative) and hurtling down the runway. Opening the throttle on this iron horse would give me goose bumps for sure.