Smoke and Steam
The different types of smoke of the steam locomotives:
Please look at the heavy smoke made by the steam locomotive, which is accelerating as it departs, pulling hard, and also the thick smoke which comes from the smokestack of a steam locomotive about to climb a steep path.
And compare that with the gentle and restful smoke, coming from a stationary steam locomotive, or even somewhat wistful looking smoke.
Smokes with Different Character: The "smoke" coming from the smokestack of a steam locomotive is not the same as the smoke from your ordinary house chimney.
It is smoke from burning coal, all right, but it also has a lot of steam in it.
The steam locomotive whistle, however, when you hear that, is all pure steam.
You can watch the smoke as it comes from the smokestack and see how it puffs with the draught sounds of the steam, which comes in great clouds from the steam cylinders as the pistons go in and out.
Please look at the heavy black smoke which comes from an accelerating steam locomotive as it departs from a station.
Then look at the smoke of a steam locomotive about to climb a steep path, and the somewhat lonely looking smoke of an engine far from home, and then the peaceful smoke coming from a steam locomotive which is resting.
The title photograph is a snapshot of Jyoumon station, Hokkaido (Jan 1971)
The D51 front engine certainly needs the help of the auxilliary engine at the back to get over the high 'Kabuto' pass.
The locomotive in the front of the train signals the departure by blowing a long steam whistle "Boooooo!"
and immediately theone in back answers with a short "Toot!"
Then they begin to move the train slowly together.
This little engine is pulling three mixed passenger and freight cars, though you can't see them in the photograph.
An uphill slope is a hard pull for the miniature type C56.
Its speed is reduced to about 20km/h [12mph] as it slowly approaches the pass chug by chug.
But it always makes it.
The 8600 type is standing by, waiting patiently for its next job.
Soon it will be the traction unit for some special event.
I can't remember what the special event was.
The morning is intensely cold, at thirty degrees below zero, with a large windchill factor.
An engineer and his locomotive are a perfect pair, aimed at the high pass, and they advance slowly together.
I not only see the sight of the locomotive and the engineer, but I also see the smoke and steam, and hear the drafting smokestack sounds of the engine, and the freight car as it creaks past ...
all is as one, and the harmony of it plays a symphony in the still cold air of nature.
There are many good photography sites on the Soeda line.
But have you ever seen a better two-level grade crossing than this one?
A lot of limestone and coal is produced in the northern part of Kyushu Island.
So there is a complete network of railroads to provide economical transportation.
And sometimes the tracks have to cross each other.
A type D51 locomotive pulls a train of freight cars loaded with limestone, departing from Nunohara station.
A house with a straw-thatch roof can be seen in the rice field.
Numohara is a mountain village of "Chugoku sanchi".
You can see the top of the mountain covered with a little snow.
Senmo main line Kitahama - Hamakoshimizu, Hokkaido (Feb, 1972) C58
Kitahama station is located right on the sea.
The water has the white color of drift ice.
It is windy along the seaside, and the snow is constantly sprayed by the salty sea air, which makes it melt easier, and it doesn't stay on the ground very long.
But, still, it's very cold.
A steam locomotive is running with vigor, although the ship and the sea, and the rails ...
all looked as if they were frozen solid to me.
Koumi line Kaikoizumi - Kobuchizawa, Yamanashi (May, 1972) C56
Did you finish your work today before dusk approached?
The locomotive goes off to the Kobuchizawa station, sounding a short "Whoooo!"
on the steam whistle.
Whenever I hear the steam whistle, I always think, "Thank you."
The Amarube railroad bridge is 41m [135 ft] high, and 308m [1010 ft] long.
The locomotive at the back has to push with all its might on the ascent, but going down it just coasts along behind.
There is hardly any smoke at all.
A Teamwork Departure
A Small Body But A Big Heart
Take a Little Rest
A Perfect Pair
A Two-Level Crossing
A Mountain Village
The Dreary Seaside of Drift Ice
Dream World
Amarube Railroad Bridge 
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