A young lad, stands alongside the tracks in his small town, and dreams of becoming a steam locomotive engineer. Follow Richard Petersen through 42 years in engine service for The Milwaukee Road and the Soo Line, where he rises from #225 on the seniority list to #1 by retirement. Author Richard Petersen paints portraits of the most unforgettable people he met along the way.

A young lad, stands alongside the tracks in his small town, and dreams of becoming a steam locomotive engineer. Follow Smoky Dyer through 42 years in engine service for The Milwaukee Road and the Soo Line, where he rises from #225 on the seniority list to #1 by retirement. Author Richard Petersen paints portraits of the most unforgettable people he met along the way.