Early North American steam locomotives with their small proportions, polished Russian Iron boiler jackets, clean lines and box headlights, were always popular with railfans in general.


I found this photo at My Link Page Yesteryear Depot.Com located to the right of Your computer screen.

This locomotive, was from the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe predecessor railroad Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. This locomotive is a 4-6-0 or "Ten Wheeler" type.
As the original 4-4-0 types became obsolete due to freight and passenger trains becoming longer and heavier, the 4-6-0 would be the next in line.

When the trains became longer and heavier for the 4-6-0's capabilities, many times they would be reassigned to shorter and lighter trains on branchline routes, or sold to shortline railroads. Many of these locomotives would be scrapped by the 1920's era or even later during the 1940's era World War 2 scrap drives.

As Western Movies became popular, some shortline railroads that were still using steam locomotives in to the 1950's and 60's, as well as a number of tourist railroads..would cosmetically "Backdate" their locomotives with "Fake" diamond smoke stacks, box headlights and unrealistic paint jobs to imitate the 1800's era steam locomotives from the era.