Chasing Fire in Steel - by Paul Stephanus (Hardcover)

About the Book

With more than 330 color and black-and-white photographs, Chasing Fire in Steel is photographer Paul Stephanus' chronicle of American-style steam locomotives operating across 28 countries and three continents in the early 1970's.

Book Synopsis

With major steam operations all but extinct in North America by the late 1960s, photographer Paul Stephanus embarked on a global journey to track down and photograph American and American-style steam locomotives still in operation.

Through more than 330 color and black-and-white photographs, Chasing Fire in Steel chronicles his journey across 28 countries and three continents.

Stephanus' photos show that although some of the world's greatest steam locomotives were built in America, they operated all around the world, in both war and peacetime, across vast plains and up steep mountainsides, carrying passengers, cargo-and on occasion, photographers.

Includes photos of rare steam locomotives in Japan, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, Kenya, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia from 1967-1973. Many sample pictures can be seen on eBay USA in ooptrains listing for Chasing Fire In Steel.

Be prepared to feel the rumble and smell the smoke as you take this amazing journey around the world with Paul Stephanus chasing fire in steel!

Review Quotes

"This book is like a time capsule taking you back more than fifty years. Paul Stephanus's adventures around the globe in pursuit of steam locomotives are a story in themselves. Already toughened by his experience as a Vietnam war photographer, he seemed unafraid to parachute into any culture in search of steam-but it's his photography that occupies center stage. The images he brought back are haunting; you ache to have been there with him. Not in recent decades has a photographic memoir of this scope, devoted to the steam locomotive, been published."

-Fred W. Frailey, Trains Magazine special correspondent and author of Twilight of the Great Trains.

"You do wonderful things with a camera around a railroad."

-David P. Morgan, Former Editor of Trains Magazine

"Chasing Fire in Steel is an interesting and unique treatise on international travel to capture steam locomotives after they were gone from the American rail scene. Paul Stephanus takes us on an expansive journey across the globe with a fascinating array of photographs including war-era images in several countries. The story telling is great and many of the images are powerful, and while the main focus is steam power, a few diesels are sprinkled in to round out a given country's rail scene. Chasing Fire in Steel is a worthwhile effort and well worth the read. It's a unique take on our fascination with trains, and especially steam power." -

Kevin EuDaly

President and Publisher

--White River Productions

"The travels of Paul Stephanus took him to Asia, Africa and South America where he captured a broad variety of active steam engines in passenger and freight service. He mainly focused on American built engines since he knew many Americans railfans had a preference for them. His odyssey was very successful. Not surprising to those who have traveled overseas, he shows that even foreign built locomotives are just as interesting to see, hear and feel as the American ones.

Paul's narrative is very interesting and includes an amazing depth of details about how he managed to take photos in war zones and places where few tourists go. Reading his stories and seeing his pictures is truly fascinating. He includes train crews, railroad workers and natives going about their lives on and around trains. Both the narrative and photos are creative and do a great job in describing his travels and the sights encountered."

Alex Mayes

NRHS Bulletin

Vol.#87, No.3