Departure at Track 2 - Original Pencil Drawing

A striking pencil drawing capturing a powerful steam locomotive head-on at Track 2, its ornate front detail and commanding presence filling the frame. The platform stretches to the left, telegraph poles recede into the distance on the right, and the rails draw the eye straight into the heart of the engine.

Rendered in rich graphite with careful attention to texture and light, this piece evokes the golden age of American railroading — the weight, the drama, and the quiet anticipation of departure.

Medium: Graphite on paper
Size: 9 x 12 inches
Presented in a frame, ready to hang
Original — one of a kind

Artist's Comments

At Harmon, New York, the rails once pulsed with the rhythm of the New York Central Railroad—where steam met steel and journeys began. Departure at Track 2 captures a moment suspended in time: a locomotive poised for motion, framed by the TRACK 2 sign and the quiet geometry of the station platform.

This graphite drawing pays tribute to the legacy of Harmon Yard, a vital transition point where electric engines gave way to steam. The locomotive’s presence is both commanding and contemplative, rendered with meticulous detail that honors the craftsmanship of the era.

For me, this piece is about thresholds—between city and countryside, past and present, stillness and movement. Departure at Track 2 invites viewers to stand at the edge of history and feel the quiet hum of anticipation.