I think anyone who has been around steam engines knows that smoke is a sign of waste, and these days pollution probably gets even higher billing. The so-called economy haze is good.

Unless you are a photographer. I have not seen very many dramatic steam photos taken with an economy haze. Even back in the day. Back in the day you looked for places where the engine was starting up, working a grade. Or perhaps a new fireman who was still learning. Or whatever would cause the fire to get out of balance and smoke a bit. In recent years, because Chinese firemen were pretty good at running with clean stacks, we braved the cold of winter to get the clouds of condensing steam in lieu of black smoke. Billowing clouds of smoke and steam is part of the drama of steam. So today they smoke it up for photo runbys, or perhaps a friendly fireman will open up the firing valve a bit when he sees a photographer along the line. Okay, sometimes they smoke it up a bit too much.

But in the right place and right time some smoke is good.

JBWX