Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact #15 [321]
"Photographing Horse Race" captures a quiet moment of triumph and transition in a small-town rail story, as a steam locomotive completes her final run after saving miners trapped in a tunnel. Written by Max Pine and illustrated by Fran Matera, the tale blends heartfelt service with the bittersweet end of an era, culminating in a new lease on life for the engine and a spur line turned tourist attraction. The cover by Lloyd Ostendorf perfectly frames the story’s nostalgic tone, a 10-cent comic from 1962 that still feels like a warm memory.
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The rescuers break through to the trapped miners. Repairs are made to the diesel electric power units and the steam plant is shut down because it's no longer needed. Her mission of mercy completed, the steam locomotive returns home on what appears to be her very last run. In appreciation for saving the lives of the miners and his son in particular, the president of the railroad agrees to lease the steam engine and the spur line to Ray's railroad club to operate as a Tourist Pike, rather than sell the engine for scrap. Chuck has to get back to Steeltown. There's something he needs to do there.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).