UP 3985 makes a run on Sherman Hill in the days before she became a show horse. Cold winter days really accentuate steam exhaust.

UP Big Boy 4019 leaves Cheyenne with a great plume of smoke. Steam leaks can be seen surrounding the boiler.

A UP Challenger equipped with smoke lifters barrels down the UP mainline with a freight consisting mostly of boxcars.

A UP early Challenger speeds through Willow Island station with a long freight.

Union Pacific 4-8-2 7851 is in charge of eleven cars at San Bernardino California in 1934. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

SP 4-8-8-2 4111 is seen at Norden California in 1935. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

Western Pacific 2-8-8-2 number 257 is seen at Portola California in 1938. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.

SP 4-10-2 number 5018 is seen at Los Angeles California on August 1st 1940. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

Western Pacific 2-8-8-2 number 256 leads seventy one cars eastbound at Oroville California in 1935. Otto's speed estimate for this train was 30 MPH. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.

With helper locomotives UP 5525 & 5521 pushing at the rear, Union Pacific 2-10-2 5526 is seen leading a fifty six car eastbound freight near Pine Lodge California in 1933. Otto Conrad Perry photo,... (more)

Southern Pacific 4-8-8-2 number 4190 heads east with SP 3rd 824, a 76 car freight, at Los Angeles California in 1940. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

SP 4-8-8-2 4187 leads a westbound freight past the Caboose Cafe, in Los Angeles California, on August 2nd 1940. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.

Otto's speed estimate was 80 MPH for this 13 car train near Valparaiso Indiana, on the PRR Chicago-Fort Wayne Line, in 1946. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.

The 49er, UP train number 48, (8 cars 35 MPH) is seen near Echo Utah on October 23rd 1937. Otto Perry photo, from my collection.

A Southern Pacific freight is seen near Cougar California, with snowcapped Mount Shasta visible in the background, on July 26th 1938. Otto Conrad Perry photo, from my collection.