In 1873, the Virginia and Truckee Railroad purchased a new engine which they called The Empire. After a long career, The Empire was retired from service in 1938 and eventually found its way to the California State Railroad Museum where it now sets surrounded by mirrors. It is black, gold, red and beautiful. It was a challenge to photograph at the Trains and Tripods event last weekend. And I was so fascinated by those beautiful red wheels, all in duplicate from the reflections, that I ignored all other aspects of the train.
