This is an extraordinarily powerful image. A dreary November Chicago day and a bleak unknown future for our county all less than one year after Pearl Harbor. But looking deep into this black and white photograph 80 years later, we can see the power and resiliency of our county with its manufacturing coming to life augmented by our massive railroad system. Mr. Delano scored a winner with this shot.

I'll never forget those Mountains southbound out of Louisville along US 31, thundering through Valley Station, Kentucky, headed to wherever our 12 year-old imaginations had them destined!

Getting ready to go.

2530 is a heavy freight 4-8-2 Mountain type locomotive assembled by the IC in its own shops in Paducah, Kentucky, just before or in the early years of WWII. The large tender only has 2-axle trucks, but you can see that the top of the tender was modified to carry additional coal. Perhaps the small car between it and the next locomotive is an auxiliary tender to carry additional water.

I lived most of my life right next to the Illinois Central track at the southern end in Louisiana. Even in the swamp, where I was, the railroad was very well maintained. I believe the sale to CN was in the '80s. I was sad to see it go.

I would go back to that exact place and time for a few minutes, not only for the sight but the sounds. I'd even bring along my 1937 Ikoflex, the same make and model as one of the cameras that Delano used.

A truly beautiful photograph: great subject, great composition, great light, great developing! Thank you, Shorpy - one of the finest photos you have published!