The Ghost of Pere Marquette 1225

Under a moonlit sky in Durand, Michigan, Pere Marquette 1225 surges through the frame, its immense mass dissolved into ribbons of light by a long exposure. The motion of the locomotive contrasts sharply with the rigid geometry of the railroad signal, which holds a steady yellow over red, an approach indication guarding the diamond where the line crosses Canadian National tracks. Wisps of steam drift across the moon, softening its glow and lending the scene an almost spectral atmosphere.

Captured during an exceptionally rare 2 a.m. return run, the moment existed for only seconds and was witnessed by very few. The image preserves 1225 not as a static machine, but as pure energy - power and history rendered briefly visible as it slips through the stillness of night, watched silently by the signal that governs the rails ahead.