Cheyenne Trains

John Dziobko, Jr. was born in Newark, N.J., in 1932, as a young boy John was facinated by the trains his father would take him to see. He took his first black and white photos in July 1948. That September he took his first color photos, and by July 1950 John was shooting his first Kodachrome slides.

For the next 59 years continuing to this day, John has traveled the globe in search of vanishing steam locomotives and their colorful replacements. He hopes you enjoy seeing some of his work here. You will see why at slideshows his friends refer to him as "The Godfather".

Union Pacific Steam 4-6-6-4 - UP Roundhouse - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - UP Challenger X3941 rolls off the table at Cheyenne.

Union Pacific Steam 4-6-6-4 - UP Cheyenne turntable - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - With cold Challengers sitting a few tracks over never to run again, survivor UP 3941 makes a move to the table for a spin still serving proudly but showing her age.

Union Pacific Steam 4-6-6-4 - UP Cheyenne service tracks - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - Steam still prevailed at Cheyenne in '57, it still is home to UP's steam fleet today.

Union Pacific GE GTEL - UP Cheyenne engine service tracks - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - "Big Blow" #51 gets fired up at Cheyenne. A small diesel engine used for hostling and for starting up the turbine was installed inside. The turbine would be spun to starting speed before combustion was started using the bunker C fuel oil onboard. Perhaps that is what is happening here. Hope you have your earplugs on.

Union Pacific GE GTEL - UP Cheyenne service tracks - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - Gas-Turbine #51 makes a move past John's camera on it's way from the ready tracks to a train. The Bunker C burned by the locomotive had a big carbon footprint, as is evidenced in this view. It turned out to be one of the big maintenence headaches. #51 has the distinction of being the class unit of the first of three generations of GTEL's UP rostered.

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Pullman-EMC - C&S turntable - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - The Hostler makes sure the rails line up at the less celebrated turntable on the other RR in town, C&S, for lowly Q RPO Doodlebug 9768.

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Pullman-EMC - C&S turntable - Cheyenne, Wyoming, September, 1957 - With the Wyoming State Capitol building looming off to the left, Doodlebug 9768 goes for a spin on the Cheyenne turntable.

LINK: To see more great railroading photos visit The Photography of John Dziobko at GodfatherRails.com

LINK: And thanks goes out to Ray Peacock for the text above. Visit his train site at HeartlandRails.com