I ran across this enlargement and remembering the story behind it, I thought to post it here.
It was Summer '54 and we were on vacation stopped at a gas station in Lordsburg, NM when my Dad heard a sound which, if you've heard, you will never forget. It was the deep, deep "steamboat" whistle of an Espee Daylight. We jumped in the car and zoomed over to the depot where this magnificent machine was at the front of a passenger train. By 1954 steam was mostly gone from the SP but was used as relief and so it was that day. When the fireman saw that my Dad had a camera he mentioned it to the Engineer and they climbed down. The Engineer asked Dad if he would take a Pic and mail it to him. This is the pic Dad took. The Engineer loved running the Daylights and this was his last chance as #4452 was on it's way to the scrap-line. The Conductor was signaling a Highball but Dad asked the Engineer if he could wait a minute so Dad could get in position to get a photo of therein pulling out. Dad hoofed it up the track listening to the "peep-peep" of the signal from the Conductor's signal line. As soon as Dad turned to face then train the Engineer whistled-off and put on such a display as had probably never been seen in sleepy little Lordsburg. The Hogger put the reverse lever clear down in the corner and performed a classic Daylight start, wherein he drew the throttle wayyyy back for just an instant and then shoved it most of the way closed, having the interesting effect of introducing a shot of high-pressure steam to the cylinders and then allowing it to expand. This resulted in a very soft first puff from the stack. He then widened on it again and the second sound was a loud CRACK! The Fireman had the oil turned up and proceeded to sand the flues which caused a towering column of black smoke. There was only one grade crossing in the West end of town but the Hogger kept up a steady series of grade crossing signals whistling until the train was out of sight. I was 4yr old so these are my dad's memories.
