Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 33: June 20, 2005

[Anonymous]

Nice shots!!! Keep 'em coming!!

[Robertdale]

I voted for Mike this week. Mostly because seeing those two road names lashed together is unusual. Plus, like has already been noted, that same scene and that same grade have worn out their welcome in my book. Sorry Eric.

[Anonymous]

Gotta vote for the CP.

Love the Red.

[Anonymous]

Both pictures good but I thought Mike's locos were out of focus, had he not told us, neither loco lettering was readable. WC colors are recognizable but the UP colors didn't look right. Loved the backdrop and the reflection in the water
Erik's capture of the lights glinting on the rails was very good but catching the green signal light in the distance was a stroke of genius.

[Anonymous]

I went with Mike's this week. More visible train. But I agree it would have been better if it had less Miller Field/Interstate bridge and even more train.

My photo below was taken 5/15/2005 in Edmonds, WA, on the shore of Puget Sound, as a BNSF train passes the Washington State Ferry dock.

[Rene Luethi]

I vote for Mike’s picture. This is a fine portray of railroading; where it is and what it does. Eric’s photo is in comparison “just an other train” sure it is well done.
Rene

[StephenDx]

Liked Erik's for the pure railroad aspect. However, like other posters, liked both because they both have their good points and bad. [%-)]

My [2c] about the pics are:
Mike: similar observation to some previous comments, a tighter cropping/framing would have bought out the motive power more. The foreground amount of sky lost my vote this time. The combination of UP and WC power in a less distracting shot would have been impressive. Have to admit the context of non-railroad subject matter gives the pic a sense of place and also time.

Erik: Not really a lot wrong but the big patch of shadow kind of spoils the shot some. However, you get that with early morning/late afternoon shots, so its a minor grip.

[oops] Off topic and about [2c], NZ is loosing our 5c shortly [sigh]. 1c and 2c disappeared some time ago.

[Anonymous]

I went with Mike's mostly because the WC SD45 was something out of the ordinary. I also thought it should have been zoomed in a bit more; the roof of Miller Park really doesn't do much for the shot.

[gunzel2]

Gotta admit....that SD45 just does it for me!

DW
Engineer - Pacific National R&B
Melbourne, Australia

[dknelson]

I will be among those at Galesburg Railroad Days this coming weekend.
Current plans call for me to be on the Thirlwell St Bridge over the yard at 6:30 pm Friday night.

Glad an equipment display will be there. It won't be like the glory years when BN and Santa Fe and Amtrak and GE and EMD and the Illinois RR Museum and the railroad unions would all have displays - and giveaways; sometimes steam, often Metra rides, always great railfanning in Galesburg and an excellent model and train show at Carl Sandburg College would combine for a glorious weekend of trains. But it will still be good.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I voted for Erik's photo because it is a shot you don't see every day. It also tells a story about a particular working train. The lights on the locomotive are great also.

[Anonymous]

You can find alot of straight on locomotive and train shots all over the web. Photos at diffrent angles showing more of the surroundings is what I like to see also. Mike keep those good shots comming.

[Anonymous]

Both shots are terrific but I went with Mike's because I'd been hoping for something more urban lately. The contrast between the horizontal train and the vertical domination of the "bulbous" baseball park was ironic and fun.

[sporegonfan]

To be perfectly honest, Erik, it's getting a bit monotonous seeing the same angle on the same hill, and usually the same type of train. And really, how often do you see a WC SD45 and a UP SD70 on the same train?

[Anonymous]

A great shot of yet another single powered hot shot,in which the dispatcher is most likely barking over the radio to hurry up,while the loco is screaming in the back ground.Good work Erik catching the mainlines up to their same old.