Sorry to revive a quite old thread, but as the guy who took the picture, I can fill you in on all the details.
First off, thanks for the kind words on the shot! Glad you're enjoying it.
If I remember correctly, the shot was taken just after the train left the State Street station heading west to New Haven Union Station. This was on Shore Line East, so the train terminated at Union Station and turned back for Old Saybrook. At this point we were doing about 20 MPH. It is one 8 second frame, and was taken on a tripod. But the key was I also had my hand on the camera giving some downward force to dampen out the movement & vibration from the locomotive to keep the handrails, nose & deck sharp. Here's a couple similar shots:
Shore Line East in New Haven again, but this time heading east, so the shot is out of the cab control car.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=182418
And from the cab of Connecticut Southern Railroad train CSO-1 working in West Springfield, MA. The train on the other track (a westbound CSX freight) is going away from us at about 10 MPH, and we're shoving east at about 5 MPH.
http://www.nanosphoto.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-761
Thanks!
Tom