Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 23: January 17, 2005

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thefox

Just out of curiousity, how do you both get so close to the trains to take pictures without ever being stopped by someone for not following the rules in the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001... or have you[?] Being a railfan is starting to be a scary hobby. [%-)][sigh]

Henderson, Ill., where I took my photo, probably has a population of about 400 people. Where Mike took his photo has a population of zero (he was north of Duplainville, Wis. in the countryside). If we were in a city, we might get harrassed (but I have yet to have that happen to me).

Erik

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 081440



When are you guys going to go out and take pics of the same train again????!!!!!!!!!!

What, do you want to give Mike a chance to win? Just kidding, Mike!

Actually, we were supposed to last week. I should have been with Mike for both of his NS shots, but I didn't go because of:
A) a lot of clouds
B) the cold (I know, it should stop me but it did)
C) had too much work to do

I promise we'll get out together soon. I'm running out of photos to use for voting!!!

Erik

[railman]

Eric's photo is the winner this week, because it reminds me so much of our BNSF lines here in Minnesota...snow and all. Good shot!

[kolechovski]

Sorry, Erik. Mike easily gets my vote this week. The snow in yours looked nice, but you didn't get much of a train picture-just a shot of the lead engine. Mike's got a good shot of the train, led by a smaller and less-commonly seen engine, with a nice touch of snow and exhaust stack fumes. If that red light in the distance is a signal, that's one more bit of stuff going on. Great job, Mike!

edit-"Just out of curiousity, how do you both get so close to the trains to take pictures without ever being stopped by someone for not following the rules in the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001... or have you Being a railfan is starting to be a scary hobby"
-I take it you went through some similar unfortunate experiences as I have. I thought out my way, I'd be mostly safe from that, but a few areas have proven to be troublesome. Lousy terrorists ruining our railfanning...need to be shot...

[Anonymous]

I've always been a sucker for an artistic photo and Erik's hit the mark on that. Loved the snow being whipped up behind the engine. Both of you guys do a great job and I really enjoy ALL of the photos.

[Anonymous]

Just road Via from Toronto to Halifax in a blizzard, with the sun shining overhead. Terrific snow shot Erik. Thank you.

[dougfeinstein]

I have to admit that I'm a sucker for head on, telephoto shots. This one is particularly dramatic, what with the blowing snow and the shimmering exhaust clouds above the big GE.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Noah Hofrichter

I liked Erik's, a unit charging right at you kicking up snow, and I like the BNSF better than NS, Sorry Mike!

Noah

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to say that this column is one of the most, enjoyable aspects of my mondays.
Thank you all for the wonderfull pictures
[:)]

[npapaletsos]

Mike I am sorry but it is a very poor photo. I was not expecting that from you. So it is Eric again.

Take care everybody

Nikos
Thessaloniki, Northern Greece

[mucable]

Erik's photo sold me immediately. It looks like something important is going on.

[jimitimi]

Erik caught winter railroading in Wisconsin comin' right at us!!

[trainmanj]

I like the BNSF any day. NS with the basic black just doesn't have the attraction.

[wcfan4ever]

I went with Mikes this week. I liked Erik's cause it had more snow but I like seeing NS. I like the little patch of snow on the front and you can see that it just passed another train...blue boxcar towards the back of the train.

[Anonymous]

I gotta go with Eric's this week, I like the lit-up signal aspect on the right.