Birth of a New Era -- Union Pacific E9 Locomotive on Cuesta Grade near Santa Margarita, California Women's T-Shirt

Union Pacific 951 was built in 1955, one of 69 such locomotives that the Union Pacific Railroad owned. Although this scene looks like it could have been from the '50s, ditch lights reveal that this is a modernized machine. This photograph is from a 1996 excursion along UP's Pacific Line on Cuesta Grade near Santa Margarita, California.

The end of the steam train era began with the introduction of the diesel locomotive in the 1920's. The diesel engines inside these locomotives don't actually drive the wheels, rather they generate electricity which powers electric motors at the axles. These modern locomotives were much cheaper and easier to maintain than the older steam engines, and multiple units could be connected as additional power was needed. By the end of the 1950's they had replaced steam locomotives.

I have been photographing the things I see for over thirty years. A resident of San Luis Obispo County, I'm lucky to have many excellent photo destinations within a few minutes' or hours' drive. Beyond the local area, I have traveled throughout California and the western United States, visited far away American destinations such as Chicago, New York, Florida, and Alaska, and international destinations in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. My photography varies from Architecture to Industrial Art to Nature to Wildlife and I'm sure you'll find something suitable for your home or office. Visit my blog