Santa Fe 3751 graced Southern California with a round trip from Los Angeles to San Bernardino recently.  The Frog photographed her in San Dimas, and then went on a mission to San Bernardino.  Once there, a photo study of the 3751 began.

Steam engines are a fascinating machine to behold – an assemblage of iron, steel, copper, brass, rods, levers, bolts and pins.  It’s one thing to look at everything as being one – a living, breathing machine born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May of 1927.  It’s another to take that machine apart, and look at all of the pieces and fittings, manufacturers and gauges, forged pieces and castings, and wisps of steam and drips of grease.  It takes on a completely different aura when one does that in black and white images – which is what the Frog did.

The 3751 is what is called a Northern – she’s got 8 axles in what is called a 4-8-4 arrangement.  The front two axles are connected by what’s called a “truck”, and they support the front on the locomotive.  The work is done by the next four axles – the big wheels called the “drivers”.  Finally, the last four wheels are on two axles on the trailing truck, which supports the back of the locomotive.

If you’ve never seen, smelled, or heard a steam engine up close, here’s the next best thing to being there – at least visually.  We hope you enjoy your visit.  Here’s the direct link to the gallery: http://order.laughingfrogimages.com/p759196925

For more about Santa Fe 3751, check out the people that keep her living and breathing – the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society – at http://www.sbrhs.org.

And, also check out the sponsor of the annual Railroad Days at the San Bernardino station – the San Bernardino History & Railroad Museum at http://www.sbdepotmuseum.com.  They’ve got a great museum of a different time, and it’s well worth the time to see what was…

(The Frog humbly apologizes for this repeat post, but we had a technical problem or two, and this never made it to Facebook or Google+ when it was originally posted.  So, here it is…)

Well, the Frog is a few months old now.  So, we asked people what they liked about the site, what they didn’t like about the site, and what we could do better.

The likes were easy – the pictures.

The dislikes were few – mainly people wondering when some of their favorite subjects would be added.  Be patient – the Frog does have a day job…

When it came to what we could do better, we heard wishes for the galleries to be easier to identify and navigate.  While the Old Frog may have been great from a creative and artistic standpoint, it may not have been as intuitive and easy to move around in as some would have liked.

So, enter the New Frog.  The New Frog is much more industrial and utilitarian – but it’s much easier to see all of the Main Galleries, Sub Galleries, and images.

C’mon in!  Grab your beverage of choice, and wander around the new layout.

Take in a slide show or two, use the “Dim the Lights” option (it’s in the Menu at the top left of every picture) to enjoy an image or slide show.

Maybe even pick up a print for that bare spot on your wall, or a mug, glass or water bottle for that favorite beverage…

Most of all, enjoy!

Well, the Frog is a few months old now.  So, we asked people what they liked about the site, what they didn’t like about the site, and what we could do better.

The likes were easy – the pictures.

The dislikes were few – mainly people wondering when some of their favorite subjects would be added.  Be patient – the Frog does have a day job…

When it came to what we could do better, we heard wishes for the galleries to be easier to identify and navigate.  While the Old Frog may have been great from a creative and artistic standpoint, it may not have been as intuitive and easy to move around in as some would have liked.

So, enter the New Frog.  The New Frog is much more industrial and utilitarian – but it’s much easier to see all of the Main Galleries, Sub Galleries, and images.

C’mon in!  Grab your beverage of choice, and wander around the new layout.

Take in a slide show or two, use the “Dim the Lights” option (it’s in the Menu at the top left of every picture) to enjoy an image or slide show.

Maybe even pick up a print for that bare spot on your wall, or a mug, glass or water bottle for that favorite beverage…

Most of all, enjoy!

I (sheepishly) have to admit that I’m still somewhat new to all of this, and I forget to do things – like give you a link to the Trains section of Laughing Frog Images so you can check out the pictures of trains in England.

Soooo…, without further adieu, here’s the link: Laughing Frog Images – Trains