During the 1930's, railroads were trying to invigorate passenger travel in the United States, showing the public that rail travel was fast and modern.  With the coming of passenger airplanes, this was quite a challenge.  "Streamlining" was one of the techniques used, which involved applying a modern free-flowing design to locomotives and passenger equipment.  This is a photo of what appears to be  a New York Central  K5 Pacific, with a Detroit-Toledo passenger train, headed past the Niedermeijer home in Newport, Michigan, north of Monroe.  The locomotive number appears to be #4317.  The train is probably the Cleveland Mercury.   [Stanley Niedermeier photo, Julie Schopieray collection, Information from Tom Lendzion]