Yes, that's a tilt-shift photograph. It's relatively easy in Photoshop. The trick is to use a gradient selection and a lens blur, rather than just crazily blurring stuff around the train. Here's my result from when I was playing around with it.
Well yesterday I did a little bit of rail fanning.
So to start out the story, we need to go a few days back. EJ&E 659 was roaming the area, mostly running out to the transfer to the Twin Cities. I had traced the locomotive on the 14th, and it showed that it was now in Neenah. I had saw pictures of it at Neenah, but I assumed the picture was showing it arriving.
So now, it's around 12 pm August 15th, and I decided to just trace 659 to see where it was. When I heard "EJE 6 5 9 Departed, W A U S A U Wisconsin at 10:50 am" I nearly crapped my pants. I couldn't believe it; I had to listen to it again. Well after a little talking to my "driver", we made a quick trip to Stevens Point. Sure enough EJ&E 659 was second out in the consist.
Here is a close up of the HT-C truck that is so well known to the -2 name.
I was worried that they would send the power all the way to Neenah, until I heard them to bring the power back to the Round House. At the Engine tracks they cut the BNSF unit off; now one of the locomotives had to be flipped. I couldn't hear what the Engine Hostler and Conductor where saying, but by their hand jesters I can just picture it. The Engineer Hostler said that he was going to cut the J unit and turn it on the turn table, but the conductor was trying to talk him into having the CN unit lead. Lucky for me the J unit led.
Well that night I estimated the time the train would come to the yard to be 8. Around 8:15 I heard the horn off in the distance. As they rolled into the yard the definite non-turbo SD38 sound was a dead give away. I struggled getting a shot as they sorted out the cars. But the engineer stopped for a while to allow me to grab a few shots. He put on quite the show throttling up, it reminded me of last year when the SD40-2s where so prominent. It might not have a turbo but it was sure nice to see and hear a classic EMD leading.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
First, EJ&E in the Twin Citties, now EJ&E in Wausau, this is torture! I hope you got a video of them leaving, Jordan! You have to see a J in run 8 to get the full feeling!
Oh well, I got my own J leading, 657 leading JSW1 east through Joliet. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1714167
From Sunday on the Path Train to the World Trade Center
Just so you know, the PATH does not allow photography. I had my camera all ready to fan out the railfan's seat on a ride from Newark, NJ, to the WTC, and the operator told me that they didn't allow it. I obeyed then, and a check later revealed that he was correct. Too bad, as there's some really neat stuff to be seen along the ride. I spotted several CSX SD40-2s...
Nice J shots Jordan and Robby. I suppose someday I should really make a trip to central Wisconsin to see about trying to find some of the J units, but for some reason I can never bring myself to want to go to CN territory...
Welcome SPWhelan! I remember riding that same stretch of trackage when I was there about a year ago.
So it just occured to me that I never posted the following here. I've finished my trip report from my four day railfanning adventure to Minnesota and it's now availible on my website:
http://badgerrails.webng.com/photos/trips/mnrail1.html
It's fairly long (four parts), but you can just click on the photos instead of reading the whole thing too. Highlights include shots of the TCWR St. Paul Turn, several MNNR jobs (including RS27 316), Progressive Rail's Northfield turn, a MILW bandit leading a mainline CP local, a couple of DME trains in the Waseca, MN area, and lots more. It really was a great trip, and I'm very happy with the pictures I came away with. Everything just seemed to work out pretty well for us no matter where we went. Thanks in advance if anybody takes the time to check it out.
Noah
Welcome to TRP SPWhelan.
Noah, there isn't much to see on the CN side. It use to be pretty good about a year ago as you could still see SD40-2s, but now there isn't anything at all (Except for the J units, and occasional IC SD70 or BCOL unit). The scenery isn't that great here either in Central Wisconsin. North of Wausau you have more curves, but now CN runs that train at night. The Valley Sub south of Wausau does have some curves and a couple hills, but not much elevation. I do know a few spots where you can get a little higher, but I haven’t tried those out yet. It's pretty much all flat until South of Mosinee, but then it's hard to even see the line. South of JO is alright, but again it's flat. The Whitehall Sub West of WI Rapids wouldn't be bad to go on, but then trying to hit a train at the right time would be hard. Right now EJ&E 674 is working around Rapids, and EJ&E 659 is working the Medford line. If you ever do go to Central WI drop me a line, I can give you some info, but really I don't think it's worth it.
On another note, I really liked your pictures Noah! I'm glad you had some luck on your trip! Seems like the Waseca and Tracy Subs vary on train times a lot.
That was a great trip report Noah! You are lucky to have a dad that'll take you out 'fanning. I'd be lucky to get driven down to a friend's house!
Alex
well im back my computer has been fixed & the good thing is i didnt lose a thing. i have some pictures to catch up on so ill have some stuff comming soon.
That's cool Brent. Glad ya didn't loose anything.
Now for a quick rant... I rode the "railfan's seat" on the MBTA Blue Line today, and took some video. It was awesome, riding a line with amazing railcars (smoother and quieter than anything moving I've ever been on, short of a large boat, only a year old, and better maintained and cleaner than any railroad equipment I've ever seen!) at 40 mph under catanary on the last duel-mode (catanary and third rail) subway system in the country! Then I took the photos off the camera card, put the other card in to copy those photos off, and formatted the old card...halfway through I realized I forgot to take the videos off it! Good thing I'll be there next Thusday, so I can repeat my trip if the weather is nice...
Western Wisconsin on the Old GBW is great for scenery, on the other hand. Follow the L577, once you start getting close to Independence and Arcadia, the shots become very very nice. I never did get any shots of that train south of Arcadia, because they didn't have any cars to interchange with the BN, but its definately worth a jaunt over there. Even more for Jordan, since you live rather close to Rapids anyway.
Alec
well heres the first set of pics i have to catch up on
this was about 3 weeks ago. i was on my way home from neenah for a work related thing, well this week wasnt going the greatest, i had gotten a flat tire on my car so i had to run with the spare this very day, happened to be the tire couldnt be replaced so i needed a new one. also the week my computer went. i took the back rds home all the way from neenah, i got the end of a SB at medina jct, i also didnt have the scanner on me either.
i got a SB train in dale. some suprises were instore.
i still have another picture to post from when me & my freind almost made it to rochelle until we had to turn around at janesville beacuse my freind's parents flipped out when they found out we were gonna leave the state...... crazy i know. & i have pictures from this week.
well heres more of my stuff im catching up on.
first is this video that i took when i was out with jordan a few weeks ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMJd2nsKUzc
next is wat i seen in janesville.
there was a SD40-2 in the roundhouse as well. next time i go im gonna see if maybe i can get a tour or something of this place.
now to just this past tuesday.
heres a few pics i snagged on accident the other day.
the SB's were back to back so didnt have to wait long