Jim Wulpi
July 2026 - BigBoy 4014
Original
About the Image(s)
A few weeks ago, I had opportunity to witness an increasingly rare site - a mighty steam locomotive as it rumbles into and through my hometown in Indiana. This the BigBoy 4014. It was manufactured in the early 1940's. It is the only one of 25 manufactured during that time that is still operational thanks to volunteer restorationists. It is massive: 113 feet long; 1.2 million pounds and is on a cross-country whistle-stop tour working its way to eventually end up in Philadelphia, PA for the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4th.
Many people will have a chance to see it. It's very impressive. (If you want to learn more about it, just Google BigBoy 4014. Theres lots of videos and information about it.)
Some local photo-friends and I scouted the downtown area of my town in order to find the best background in which to capture a great image. Backgrounds are important!!!
We found this old metal trestle bridge over a local river; the rails make a slight bend as it approaches our vantage point, so I was able to get multiple views of this event as the train is coming into the downtown area.
I've got numerous sequential images of this event, but I like this one slightly better than the others as it gives a perspective that is about a 3/4 frontal view with detail along the length of this massive engine. The Engineer co-pilot is hanging out the window is a bonus.
Post processing was fun in that I cropped for maximum visual effect and had to enhance the dull sky with a mask and bring out color and detail. The rest was just adjusting sliders for highlights and contrast.
It was a fun project.
Your thoughts?
Canon 6D MkII with Canon 70-200 (f4) IS USM at 106mm; 1/400 sec; f10; ISO 640.
8 comments posted
I like the angle of your shot on the curve of the track and coming out of the trestle. Big Boy is very sharp! I would only suggest you tone down the bright blue in the sky because to me that is where the eye goes. Did you get any with the steam coming out of the engine?
Posted: 07/01/2026 19:17:06
The engineers were specific about the amount of steam/smoke that the locomotive produces. It's not actually running as a coal-fired engine anymore, it's oil driven. The steam and smoke are used sparingly for certain "photo-worthy" locations. I did see some, smoke, but not as much as I had hoped for. At the time I took this image, the train was traveling very slowly (good for us). I have more images from the next morning, as it left our area, traveling much faster and having more smoke. See attached image - also with an intentionally located background.
Posted: 07/02/2026 19:03:49
It is tack sharp, well exposed and has a good depth of field.
I agree with Shirley about the brightness of the blue sky. I think you may have been a bit heavy with the "Dehaze" slider when you recovered the clouds.
I am getting a bit "picky" now, but my eye also wanders to the small vertical light (slightly foggy) sliver of the background between the train's tender and the steel upright on the bridge.
After looking at your original image, I might not crop quite as heavily on the right hand side, and give the engine some space to move into.
I am really impressed with the detail you have achieved. The camera settings and the lighting are "spot on."
Well done!
Posted: 07/01/2026 23:18:23
I agree with everything you reference. The blue in the sky is overdone, and I was too heavy with the Dehaze in an attempt to gain some kind some detail in the heavy overcast sky. That heavy overcast is also responsible for the little bright sliver between the tender and the bridge on the trees far in the distance. I neglected to address that. Thanks for pointing that out.
It was a fun project. Posted: 07/02/2026 19:12:47
Actually part of my childhood from about age 6 to 16y was next to a train track and bridge somewhat like that. So I think that there is an argument for more space to accommodate the sound and excitement of the scene!
Posted: 07/02/2026 00:13:38
In hindsight, I agree that the crop is too tight.
The bland sky .... my options were limited. I chose to make it more interesting. Personal preference.
Glad I could evoke childhood memories of similar scenes.
It was a fun project.
Posted: 07/02/2026 19:17:11
The blue in the sky is a bit oversaturated. You could reduce the saturation of the blue to make the sky look more natural. Posted: 07/08/2026 04:22:21
I do agree that the blue of the sky is oversaturated. Posted: 07/08/2026 19:27:45