The Last of Steam: A Billowing Pictorial Pageant of the Waning Yearsof Steam Railroading in the United States

San Diego: Howell-North Books, Incorporated, 1960. 7th Printing . Hard Back. Very Good/Very Good. 8 3/4" X 11 1/4. 269 Pages Indexed. Bumped Corners and a little wear and tear to boards. The future of steam was a closed issue by 1950 when several of the railroads had already killed the fires in their remaining steam power. This book captures in black and white photographs, the waning years of steam realroading all over the United States. It shows the steam cars rolling in fully glory, eventually to the scrap yard torch. But not to oblivion, for the sight, smell and sound of steam will live forever in the hearts and imaginations of the aficionados. The vivid images in this volume preserve the memory of the glories of those smokiing engines. The author chose 300 of what he considered the best of his large photographs to present the story with a minimum of text. When asked how he achieved such excellence of photography here is his reply. As for cropping, honestly, very little was done to any of the photos. I have always taken a very full negative, filling it completely. When a friend would go with me he would always be amazed at how long I waited before I opened the shutter for an exposure of an approaching train, long, long after he had exposed his. Hate these shots taken a mile away while the train is yet a speck. Most of the prints are the complete negative, believe it or not. The book is divided into 22 different subjects covering the survival of the Union Pacific's Big Boys, the return of the Pennsylvania's rusting steam power to action during traffic peaks, and the Die-Hard Norfolk & Western's stubborn attempt to cling to steam and much more. Joe Collias has been pursuing the perfect pictures of steam railroading since he was 14 and has established himself as one of the most avid and accomplished recorders of steam-railroad lore.