It Ain't Easy Chasin Trains

[Big_Boy_4005]

After a long wonderful ride behind 261 on Friday, Saturday morning came all too quickly. It was time for phase II of our great steam adventure, chasing the double header of 261 and Canadian Pacific 2816. This train was scheduled to leave an hour earlier than we had left on Friday.

I figured that there would be hundreds of people with the same idea of chasing this rare event, and opted to skip driving into the chaos of the departure from St Paul. Instead Big Girl (her name is Tammy) and I set off for Hastings, just over the Mississippi River from where the CP/ BNSF joint trackage ends, and the CP continues to follow the river south on the Minnesota side.

When we got there, there were already a bunch of people milling around cameras and radios in hand. I picked out a spot away from most of the people who were camped out near the lift bridge, and waited. More people showed up, and I was no longer alone, the train was late, and we had some nice conversations while we waited.

On the radio, we heard that it was finally on it's way. Suddenly there was a whole new crowd of people, and a number of them decided to take up residence in the space in front of me. Somewhat frustrated and disgusted, I walked farther up the track.

By now I could hear the train coming, it was just on the other side of the river. The radio crackled, and the train had to stop as the bridge was raised for river traffic. I laughed, but now I was almost alone, just one other guy was even close to me. Here is the first shot of what I had been waiting for almost 2 hours that morning to see.



Here's the second. Dang, clipped the corner of the cow catcher off, but otherwise not bad.



Now the chase was on, we moved with purpose, but didn't ru***o get on the road. I figured we would just skip ahead and miss much of the craziness on the road, but at the last second decided to take the back road which followed the track. I figured that we would be well behind and would have missed it. Lucky break, they had to stop for opposing traffic. People were set up all along the side of the road. We picked an empty stretch of track and jumped out. Tammy took these next two shots.





Departing from that spot, the long parade began, and with it some of the craziness. The way some people drive to chase trains is NUTS!!!

Knowing that the train would be stopping in Red Wing, we took our time and drove through town. A few miles south, we pulled over and waited. A half hour later, it barreled past, and I caught this one.



Once again we got lucky. The train had to stop and we were able to jump ahead. All along the road people were pulled over, waiting. We drove by a bunch of spots that might have been better for pictures, when I spotted this secluded little grade crossing, with nobody around. As we waited, it started to rain!

We could see the smoke in the distance. I handed Tammy the camera. We were standing about 15 feet from the tracks, and it was coming FAST.



No time to think, JUST SHOOT!!! What a rush!!![:0][:p][:D][8D][;)]



Here you can see the long parade of railfans. Tammy took these while I drove.



You can just see the back of the train. There was little hope for better.[xx(][:(][V]



We stopped for lunch in Winona, figuring to catch some more shots on the way back. We picked out a spot and waited a long time, but when it started to rain again we decided to call it a day. We had plans for the evening, and were already tired. It was all I could do to drive home, let alone fight the crowds for pictures.[|)]

In the end, I would have to say that, between the ride and the chase, it was the most exciting 48 hours of rail fanning in my life.

What makes it even better is being able to share it with you here on this forum!!![8D]

[spankybird]

Great pics Big boy. I was about 5 feet from the track when the 2816 went by me and you are right, no time to think, just shot.
tom

[FJ and G]

"it ain't easy chasin trains."

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no, it ain't, but sure looks fun; someone's gotta do the hard work!