In times past, heritage steam railroads in the USA closed up shop at the end of October. The thought then was none of the public would want to ride in the cold and dark. Back then, steam was being sold to the public as nostalgia for times past when that public had ridden in their youth steam trains in the normal course of their lives. Well, things have changed.

Now, well into the 21st century, most American folks haven't even ridden a train, much less a train behind steam. So marketing has reflected this and the opportunity of running trains into the fall/winter holidays has presented itself. This has resulted in some amazing opportunities for lovers of steam. In the cooler weather, copious amounts of condensed steam vapor emanate from stacks, dynamos, cylinder cocks and whistles, making the photographer's heart take flight. It is heaven on earth.

(Side note: Somehow it has gotten around some of the younger steam shooters that it is humidity that causes white clouds. Not so! If that were true, then a sticky day in July would be amazing. No, it is cooler temperature, the cooler the better, that creates the clouds.)

I think the most underrated steam show in the East is the Valley Railroad's Essex Steam Train and Riverboat "North Pole Express" during November/December. Picture this: not one, not two, but three steam-powered eight-car plus trains made mostly of classic heavy-weight steel cars. They run from the afternoon well into the cold winter night with up to ten steam trains a day! It is incredible. They sell out all of the scheduled trains when they go on sale in September. The number of tickets is staggering.