Here is an interesting story about trains. My Mother was an artist. She painted oils, watercolors and acrylics on all kinds of subjects, primarily landscapes. On occasion, she would do special paintings by request for family and friends. My Grandfather (her father) wanted a picture of a steam locomotive.
So, she painted him a watercolor of a steam locomotive, speeding through the night. My Mom took her inspiration many times from pictures, clipped from magazines and such. After my Grandfather passed, I got the painting and hung it on my living room wall.
Years later, I was sitting in the living room, looking through a book "Union Pacific Official Color Photography, Book 1" By Robert LeMassena and Robert Yanosey. I got to page 17 where there was a night time photo of UP 4-8-4 #825, and thought something looked familiar. I looked up at the picture on the wall and sure enough, it was old #825. Same exact pose, except the original picture (in the book) was taken as a static pose for a Union Pacific calendar in 1943. I asked my Mom what she used for inspiration for the painting and she said "a picture from a UP calendar, why?"
Here is the painting:
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