The photographer is American - it mentions him taking family trips while growing up in Manhatten and specifically visits to the Strasburg Railroad.
Definitely something different. Seeing those scenes how they are MOST of the time - without a train. I didn't get the impression they were trying to say those are abandoned lines, since most of them clearly aren't, however I can see how a non-enthusiast might get that idea.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I watch Thomas & Friends on PBS at times. About 12 minutes into each episode, they show a 2 minute live segment featuring real engines & people. It is interesting to see the trains and hear the comments. Such as what we call an engineer here is a engine driver there.
BigDaddy The Brits must think we got rid of all of our trains.
The Brits must think we got rid of all of our trains.
Naw, I don't think so. My wife is a Brit born and raised and last time we were across the pond in her old neck of the woods, we visited a club in Sunderland UK. There were a lot of very enthusiastic railfans and modelers there and US model railroading was by far more popular at that club than UK trains. A good percentage of the guys there had traveled to the US to rail fan all over the country - some mulitple times. I think it's we Americans who are a bit naive about the rest of the world and how they think! Traveling to England and mainland Europe around 6 times has sure changed my perspective from what it was growing up.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I can't really tell but it looks like that diamond crossing has rails that don't split at the intersection.
Gary
Bob:
Interesting perspective. I noticed that most of the tracks in the pictures were pretty shiny on top, so apparently they were still well used.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I found these photos beautiful in their own way. Much as I love trains in all shapes and sizes, I also enjoy looking at tracks: sweeping or snaky curves, turnouts, crossings, bridge and stonework... I'm also one of the freaks who likes seeing old architecture, particularly the brickwork of railroad structures and the factories that depended on railroads back when they were busy servicing their customers, linking cities and villages.
Deano
Twice I have played host to a young(ish) British modeler/railfan and his lady friend for days of railfanning and photography here in Wisconsin. He is fascinated by our relatively unimpeded access to the tracks and right of way compared to the situation in the UK. Perhaps this photographer felt the same way.
Dave Nelson
I think the photographer had a good idea. It's just so natural to wait for a train to be on the track before taking a picture. But, usually, there isn't a train. But the track is still there.
There's a different feeling without the train. Might as well try to capture it.
As a very minor example, I remember waiting for trains at a location where there was a signal in the distance. Pretty quickly, I tried out the idea of taking the same picture (without the train) with the signal showing first green, then yellow, then red. Oh, yeah: Then red with the train, of course.
Ed
I thought the interlocking towers between DC and NYC would be a good subject for a photo book.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I hope this is accessible to everybody - I thought this looked an interesting project by this photographer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-40341771
Bob