In the eyes of most rail enthusiasts, the locomotive is unrivaled as an inspiring photographic subject.

From the steam age to the modern diesel era, these marvels of engineering and industrial design exude power, movement and ingenuity even when sitting still. The Art of the Locomotive features more than 150 plates, ranging from diminutive steam engines of the mid nineteen century, to the steam and diesel behemoths that followed. Each plate is accompanied by a detailed caption describing the machine’s history and technology. The locomotives are from all parts of the United States resulting in a fantastic collection of locomotive photography like no other.