The constant whine of the dynamo and the panting of the air pump fill the air on the deserted platform of a country railway station in Virginia. The date is 1956 and the locomotive simmering before us is a half-century old, Baldwin M-Class Twelve-Wheeler, sometimes called a "Mollie". When they were built, they were the ultimate in heavy freight locomotives. Now, they are relics, relegated to mixed service on remote branch lines. In just over a year, they'll be facing the scrapper's torch. Fortunately, for those of us living in 2010, one such locomotive was rescued and preserved. And for just one evening in February, the Strasburg Railroad's #475 is proud to represent one of her late sisters, #382, which appeared in some of the most famous photos ever taken of the last days of regular steam service. Thanks to Pete Lerro, the Strasburg Railroad and numerous other folks, 475 was transformed from her role as a tourist engine to a very believable likeness of the 382. The tender was repainted, magnetic numbers were applied to the cab, and lighted number boards were constructed for the headlight mount. A mock-up of the 1950s spark arrestor was fashioned and added to her stack. A new number plate was cast, the running boards were painted white and the cow-catcher pilot was modified slightly. Even the surviving whistle from the 382 was made available and mounted on the engine as a finishing touch. Through the efforts of a dedicated group of people and the support of 50 photographers, it was 1956 all over again, for just one day.
