The dying days of America's steam engines: Incredible photographs from the 1950s capture railroad empire in all its glory
An incredible set of historic photographs has captured the dying days of steam engines in the United States.
Taken by photographer O. Winston Link, the collection of images, shows the Norfolk and Western, America's last major steam railroad, as it was switching its operations to diesel in the 1950s.
Mr Link's stunning shots also caught the capture the industry before the triumph of the automobile and the airplane brought an era where railroads dominated passenger travel to an end.
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An electrician, J.W. Dalhouse, cleaning a headlight. Shaffers Crossing Roundhouse, Roanoke, Va. 1955
The fascinating project has been turned into a new book titled 'O. Winston Link: Life Along the Line.'
The book includes more than 180 of the photographer's most famous works as well as rare never-before-published images.
The superb pictures also capture a small-town way of life that was about to experience massive shifts and, in many cases, disappear completely.
Mr Link's mostly black and white images, which he photographed using moribund technology, offer a moving account of the people and communities surrounding the last steam railroad ever seen in the U.S.
Hawksbill Creek swimming hole. Luray, Va. 1956
Rain #17, The Birmingham Special, arriving at Rural Retreat. Rural Retreat, Va. 1957
Servicing EMD diesel-electrics. Shaffers Crossing, Roanoke, Va. 1960
Highball for the doubleheader. Near Bonsack, Va. 1959
Skutch Stevens smoking a cigarette in a passenger car. Abingdon Branch. 1955
The Birmingham Special crossing Bridge 201. Near Radford, Va. 1957
A young boy covers his ears as he watches a locomotive speed by with his dad
A train puffs along past rushing water
Hester Fringer's living room on the tracks. Lithia, Va. 1955
O. Winston Link photographs young children swimming late at night below the train tracks
O. Winston Link became famous for photographing a moribund technology, lugging his flashbulbs and Rolleiflex around the hills of Appalachia in search of steam locomotives
A train rolls through a railroad crossing at night
A couple and their dog watch from their porch as a locomotive rolls by
Mr Link's flash illuminates an impressive plume of smoke from a locomotive as well as a large tree
VIDEO: A closer look at O. Winston Link's Photographs:
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