Teen Railfan Place - Winter 2009

[bubbajustin]

Railfan Alex

Everyone is planning out their summer!

My family might be going on vacation in New Hampshire in late July, with a visit to Boston, so hopefully I'll get a few hours of railfanning in somewhere (it isn't too popular with my sisters, they get bored really quick).

Alex, It is offically T- minus 3 weeks 4 day's and 18 hours and counting untill we go on our Amtrak trip to Denver CO. I really can't wait. I leave for summer camp on the day after we get back too, so I guess I will need to hit the hay pretty soon after we return. I hope to squeeze in a few hours of rail fanning while we are there. I really want to go to the Moffat Tunnel.

[Noah Hofrichter]

In Wisconsin you can get a learner's permit at 15 1/2, which you're required to have for 6 months, and then you can test for your full license at 16. There are still restrictions on when you can drive and how many passengers you can have, but you can drive solo anyway.

Jordan, Unfortunately my intel from about a month ago (when the B64 job first went back to running a Savanna to DJ turn), says the local is a Tuesday-Saturday job. It does say a 0730 call time. To my knowledge 170/171 are 7 days a week still.

I'm a Canon man myself, and I've been very happy with my XTi, though I've seen good things out of Nikons too. The thing to always remember is if you have to make a decision between buying a few extra megapixels or spending that money on better lenses, always go for the better lenses. I learned that the hard way...

If I were in the market for a DSLR right now I'd be looking strongly at a Canon XSi (12 Megapixels) or the brand new Canon T1i (15MP plus video, though it's not the video part of the camera that I like). The T1i is new enough it won't come down in price for a while yet though, until the next generation of camera is released. The XTi is still a really good camera at 10mp too, and like the XSi you should be able save a few dollars since it's not "new" anymore; money you can spend else where or just save. Of course, if you've got the money you could look at a 40D or 50D, but those will cost a good deal more.

In the lens department, you'll probably want a section that covers a range from at least 18-200mm, and perhaps even 300mm if you want really long telephoto shots. I would avoid "superzooms" that cover a wide range as well (like a 18-200mm lens), because you'll lose some optical quality.

Good luck with the DSLR hunt. There's a lot to learn! If you haven't yet, check out www.dpreview.com. They have a lot of good reviews and information on a wide variety of digital cameras.

Noah

[WCfan]

Thanks Noah, alright I guess I'll just have to pray for an Ethanol Extra! I've been looking at the Canon T1i, and it looks pretty nice, and is in my range for pricing. I've also been looking at the 50D from Canon, which also looks nice, but is starting to get out of my price range, but I'd be able to manage that. It seems to me that the 40D and 50D are the same thing, but the 50D has 5 more mega-pixels. I guess I'm worried that I'll put the money into a nice DSLR and then I won't be happy with it.

[BNSF & DMIR 4Ever]

Time for the weekly report, albeit a bit late.

 

First up, took a trip across the pond Thursday night for a drive with the wife. She was kind enough to put up with me waiting for not one, but two Manifiests to crawl through Saunders into Pokey. If I had known the second was a manifest containing both Autoracks and Stacks, I would have taken video instead, but no harm in pictures, either.

 

 

 

 On the way back to Proctor, we swung by the BNSF yard, and found this KCS SD70ACE hanging around a coal load. It wasn't a Southern Belle, but a KCS either way is still rare. Thankfully, the sun cooperated with my second attempt, as the first pics were really dark.

 

 

Coming back over to the MN side over the Blatnik, I spotted a train on the Missabe docks just leaving, giving me ample time to get up to Spirit Mountain for a shot. While waiting, another gentleman came up to the bridge to do some photography as well, so if he's reading this, thank you for the company up there. Here's the video.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H54YDRNVzkw&feature=channel_page

[Railfan Alex]

Nice report! Too bad she wasn't a Belle unit.

Well I get my learner's license at 16. That means I can drive for 8-18 months with someone holding a driver's license for more than 2 years. Either than that, there's no driving restrictions. 18 months is the max time you can have a learner's.

I can get my probationary license after 8 months with a course, 12 without one. Then I can drive alone, no restrictions. Just a zero alcohol tolerance, and if i loose too many points, but I'm not too worried about that.

[Anonymous]

Noah Hofrichter

In Wisconsin you can get a learner's permit at 15 1/2, which you're required to have for 6 months, and then you can test for your full license at 16.

 

Wow... I'd be able to get a learner's permit in 6 months... Scary!

Alex: Remember to let me know when you know when you're coming to Boston. I'll be in Boston twice a week, on Wednesday and Thursday, and I can probably change one shift to Tuesday that week if it's better.

[ns3010]

TrainManTy

Noah Hofrichter

In Wisconsin you can get a learner's permit at 15 1/2, which you're required to have for 6 months, and then you can test for your full license at 16.

 

Wow... I'd be able to get a learner's permit in 6 months... Scary!

I'd be able to get mine in 6 months too. Exactly six months, in fact. If I still have school at this time next year, I'm definately driving.

We take a written test (in my HS, all Sophomores take Driver's Ed during the first quarter, followed by the test) for our permit when we turn 16 (one year from now for me) and a "road test" (actually driving) for your "provisional license" at 17, and then the full license comes after that. So I have two more years before I can drive on my own.

[WCfan]

ns3010

TrainManTy

Noah Hofrichter

In Wisconsin you can get a learner's permit at 15 1/2, which you're required to have for 6 months, and then you can test for your full license at 16.

 

Wow... I'd be able to get a learner's permit in 6 months... Scary!

I'd be able to get mine in 6 months too. Exactly six months, in fact. If I still have school at this time next year, I'm definately driving.

We take a written test (in my HS, all Sophomores take Driver's Ed during the first quarter, followed by the test) for our permit when we turn 16 (one year from now for me) and a "road test" (actually driving) for your "provisional license" at 17, and then the full license comes after that. So I have two more years before I can drive on my own.

I'm taking drivers ed in July... after that I'll get my temps, then once I turn 16 in March I'll have my own license.

[ns3010]

To get us back on topic...

I already have one trip between up here and the shore that is in the planning stages. I have to come home after 4th of July, so I'll get a ride up with my dad on Monday the 7th or something (he has to work during the week, but he comes down on weekends). Then Tuesday afternoon or on Wednesday, I'll hop on the train somewhere (either Mt. Olive, Lake Hopatcong, Mount Arlington, or Dover) and ride to Hoboken. I'll do some railfanning there because there's tons of trains (as you probably guessed, it's the major terminal for the HOBOKEN DIVISION, duh!). Then I'll grab a 2300 series train down to Bay Head, maybe snap some pix of the yard, and then someone'll pick me up there.
Never been to Hoboken or ridden on the NJCL before, so it should be fun (I've only ridden the NRHS "Santa Claus Special" [I have a slideshow on Youtube, link to channel is in my sig] between Port Morris and Hackettstown and MidTown Direct into NY Penn [twice round trip from Dover and once round trip from Denville]).

Also, I heard about Hoboken Rail Festival yesterday. I've heard of it before, but I don't know much about it. FWIK, it's a huge collection of various railroading equipment in Hoboken, which you get to see up close. I did a few searches, but couldn't come up with anything. Assuming they're doing it this year, it'll be sometime in Septemer. If they are having it, I'm definately going.

[Anonymous]

The NJCL gives you a fair view on the ride to Newark. You pace PATH for a while, although the PATH train frequency is pretty low on weekends.

And of course DOCK (giant, Amtrak owned lift bridge) in Newark is really awesome... Not much to see while riding over it, but there's a parking lot that you can get to if you go towards the sunny side of the station (to avoid backlit shots), take a right, and keep going till you get to a parking lot where you can see DOCK. The transit police came to visit while I was there, but specifically said what I was doing wasn't illigal at all (That's a nice change!) and that they got a tip-off from someone who saw the camera pointed at the bridge and thought "Terrorist!!!!"

PATH and NJT transit both cross the bridge, the largest multi-level lift bridge in the US. I don't know if it still opens, but... I used to know what that sign below the control house midway on the span said! [Amtrak DOCK...Blah blah blah...]

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1582847

[Lord Atmo]

 http://www2.irm.org/blogs/index.php?/archives/361-IRM-acquires-an-EMD-SD40-2.html

 

MY PAST!!! MY PAST IS COMING BACK!!!! MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!

 At last I can die happy!

[ns3010]

I'll only be on the NEC north of Newark beteween Kearny Jct. and Newark. After leaving HOB, the train goes through the Bergen Tunnels, past the MMC, and over the Waterfront Connection at Kearny Jct., before going onto the NEC. And I'll be going on either a Tuesday or Wednesday, so there'll be plenty of frequency.

I will NOT be getting off in Newark, for ANY reason! I'll be making this trip alone, so that's not an option. Yes, Newark Penn is in one of the "nicer" parts of Newark, but still. I don't want to die, so DOCK can wait.
The first time I EVER saw Transit Police in my 15 years was two weeks ago, because they were directing traffic in Netcong (Transit is rebuilding traffic and the town is reconfiguring and widening Main Street). The crossing was still functioning, but they still thought they needed to direct traffic...
On a similar note, I forgot to mention that on Saturday, while passing through Netcong, some MOW equipment was rolling through, but I was too slow to get pix. But I still have those pictures from Washington Yard on Saturday to upload...

And one more thing, in that pic, that looks like it's probably a 2300 series train, which I'll be taking from HOB to BH. The geep and solid Comet III consist give it away (NJCL trains usually have CIIIs an geeps [unless they're electric, then they'll probably have CIIIs or MLs and ALPs])...

[B.Erdmann]

I already have my license.

its nice except for the fact i dont have my own car yet. the restrictions you have for 9 months well lets just say i already broke that. so far i havent lost any points or got any tickets.

[WCfan]

Well, tomorrow I'm off to Iowa, we're leaving at 2am. See you guys Sunday.

[BNSF & DMIR 4Ever]

Time once again for the weekly report, and what a fine week it was.

 

First up, talk surfaced earlier in the week that Proctor had requested EJ&E 665 be sent down from Keenan. Nothing was seen as of Friday, however. During one of the checks, however, I did note that the ore traffic had picked up with the reopening of United Taconite. I also found this lone T Bird car hanging around the yard.

 

Next up, it was time to do the weekly trek across the pond, so to speak. While the BNSF yard wasn't exactly busy, I noted the presence of two Dash 9s, and one of the ES44C4s as well. An SD70ACE was also working on one of the coal trains heading to Midwest Energy, and I decided to shoot that later. However, I wouldn't make it back in time, which didn't bother me a bit.

Heading down to Pokey, I didn't find much of anything happening, so after a quick turn around, it was off to Stinson. The CP/SOO Geep combo was seen working, but no photos, due to bad positioning. As usual, Itasca Yard came through, and provided some interesting action to make the day worthwhile, and a nice bunch of guys working on the switching duties.

First up, UP SD70M 5043 trails two other SD70Ms(both of which I'd already photographed in the past).

While the three locomotives continued switching, I noticed a tint of orange behind them. Sure enough, the Itasca Transfer hadn't gone back to Pokegama quite yet, and EJ&E SD38-3 659 was parked. As stressful as it was at the time, looking back, it was really quite comical. As the cars needing to be switched dwindled, and opened up the chances of getting the J photographed, they moved back and hooked up with the cut of cars headed back to Pokey. Eventually, the switching was finished, the line was cleared, and I was able to get a couple of nice shots.

 

As I took the second pic, the train was getting ready to leave. I flew into the car, and soared down the line a bit to the nearest crossing. Not having a whole lot of time to set up, a rushed video ensued.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlA_wEdujsM&feature=channel_page

 

Rather content, I head out(the train went down the curve instead of straight ahead, leaving me without anymore opportunities), and as I headed back down Stinson, I decided to see if I can beat them back to Pokey. As fate would have it, I did quite easily without even speeding. At the time, I can't decide whether I wanted another video, or pics. I decide to push the limits of my zoom, and take some distance shots, and some video as the train got closer. Turned out nice, if I do say so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AbESzXxnkQ&feature=channel