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Chasing Fire in Steel is an interesting and unique treatise on international travel to capture steam locomotives after they were gone from the American rail scene. Paul Stephanus takes us on an expansive journey across the globe with a fascinating array of photographs including war-era images in several countries. The story telling is great and many of the images are powerful, and while the main focus is steam power, a few diesels are sprinkled in to round out a given country’s rail scene. Chasing Fire in Steel is a worthwhile effort and well worth the read. It’s a unique take on our fascination with trains, and especially steam power.-Kevin EuDalyPresident and Publisher--White River Productions
Hard cover book: \"Chasing Fire In Steel, One Man\'s Global Adventure In Search Of American Locomotives,\" by Paul Stephanus, (IngramSpark) 2023,8.5\" X 11\" X 1\", 254 pages, B&W & Color photographs, maps,appears in excellent condition. For the benefits of efficiency and lower costs the world’s railroads replaced the active steam locomotives with diesel and electric locomotives. If you were a person who was fortunate enough to see steam locomotives in service, perhaps you will remember how these fascinating machines seemed to be alive. They were the closest we could come to having a breathing machine have a life of it’s own when it was working. However, if you want to see a working steam locomotive today, you would have to go to a museum or tourist railroad or perhaps see a main line railroad excursion. Author Paul Stephanus, grew up in New Jersey in the early 1960’s and missed out on seeing the last Big Time Steam locomotive operations in the USA except for a few locations.Paul defines “Big Time Steam” as seeing three or more steam locomotives working in one location. After high school, in 1961 to 1964 Paul joined the US Army as a photographer and was assigned to Europe. Based in Germany, Paul spent all his free time and Army assignment time, traveling all over Europe photographing the remaining thousands of steam locomotives. After working in New York City, Paul left United Press International in 1966 to travel to Viet Nam on his own. He photographed the war in Viet Nam and its effect on the people from 1967 to 1969. His photos were published in many major publications around the world and included a Trains Magazine article on the Viet Nam Railroad. He returned home by way of Hong Kong, Thailand, India (he did a Trains Magazine article on India\'s steam locomotives), Israel and through Europe again for a trip around the world. In 1972, Paul was still hungry to photograph more steam locomotives in the world before they would be replaced by diesel and electric locomotives. The obvious thing to do was to take another trip around the world! Going west on a one way trip, Paul flew to Japan, Hong Kong,Viet Nam again, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand again, Burma (Myanmar), Bangladesh, India again, then overland through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, to Lebanon. He then flew to Egypt, then down through Sudan, Kenya (into 1973), Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South Africa. Next he flew to Brazil, then overland through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and finally flew home after one year of traveling. Chasing Fire in Steel chronicles Paul’s journeys with photos made in 22 countries on three continents. Many of the steam locomotives looked and performed just like the locomotives that used to swarm all over his homeland prior to his youth. This was because a large number of these locomotives were built in North America. Also, many of the foreign built steam locomotives were pretty much similar creatures For your enjoyment and reflection this world traveler has captured and compiled the excitement and splendor of steam locomotives alive and breathing in action. Paul encountered many dangers and went into exotic locations where many railroad enthusiasts would never have ventured. He wrote about being a railfan while living and working in Viet Nam during the war. If you, the reader, missed out on the experiences of seeing Big TIme Steam in other countries, in the pages of Chasing Fire In Steel you can pretend you are traveling with Paul.
SpecialNote: This book is an excellent qualityPrint On Demand book, which means when this listing runs out of books to sell, if I do not have more on hand, I have to order more which takes about three weeks. This listingmight disappear for awhile but will be back. You can email me to be notifiedwhen it is. For more railroad books for sale, click on \"See other items.\" Buy more now and save on mail cost with combined shipping.
