SOU 630

Yesterday, November 16, 2013, I had the good luck to be stopped at the Biltmore Village rail crossing as the steam locomotive SOU630 made its scheduled stop in Asheville during its final autumn excursion from Knoxville, TN. What a unique opportunity to view up close this marvelous 19c technology at once impressive, dramatic, and strangely captivating. These machines seems to resonate with something human, indeed almost possess a human quality as they huff and puff, groan and creek. There is a kind of connection, almost affection which is quite different to the relationship we have with "modern" technology which I find incomprehensible. If you want to see a steam locomotive in action the following clip has excellent footage of the locomotive I saw. Especiall7 from 7:37 where you have about 3 minutes of a working locomotive at speed. Fascinating! Enjoy the following