On my very first Christmas, I received nothing but toy trains - Oh the horror! My parents were worried I would get sick of them. I proved them wrong. Instead, steam trains have turned into a lifelong passion for me.
Growing up in Pennsylvania, known as the “Keystone State,” for its integral role in transportation of goods across the country. Railroading became an important part of Pennsylvania’s role in building America - as a result, the Philadelphia area was and still is a hot spot for preserved steam locomotive activity. My grandfather, Charles Liberto, was an ex-Railroader himself who loved sharing his passion for trains with me. We spent countless weekends tracking down steam locomotives across the state and further.
Since then, I have traveled across the United States and beyond filming steam locomotives doing what they were intended to do. Through my films, I hope to convey not only a sense of their usefulness but also a sense of their beauty. To me, a steam locomotive is mechanical music - poetry with a purpose.
Joseph Michael Fusco