Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 34: July 11, 2005

[Bergie]

This week's installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike is now live within the Railroading section on the Trains.com home page. Please read this week's column and then vote for your favorite photo below. Click here to read Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 34.

[Anonymous]

Had to go with Mike's this week. With the two side-by-side I probably would have picked Erik's, but after enlarging them, Mike's seemed to be in a much sharper focus, whereas Erik's was just a bit fuzzy. In Mike's it seemed so sharp that all of the colors jumped off the screen (the greens and reds especially). However, it looks like the fuzziness of Erik's is caused more by atmospheric conditions rather than poor focus, so you can't really hold that against him since that's not really something that is under his control (don't I wish I could control the humidity!). But all in all, still a superb effort by all involved!

P.S. I like the "Trackside with Erik and Mike squared" title, I got a good chuckle out of it!

[Anonymous]

I have really enjoyed viewing the trains others have seen. Wife and I have been talking about going out and taken some train pic's to. Back ground views are important to set the time of a picture and beauty. Eriks to me just had that touch. Thanks for sharing! :)

[shawnbecher]

I have to go with Mike's photo, although I am a little jealous. I've been trying to bag the JH in Waukesha for about a month now (granted I only get out there once a week or less because my 3 1/2 year old doesn't like such a long ride to the park - we live in Oconomowoc)!

Shawn

[Anonymous]

I had to go with Mikes photo. Sharp focus, great color, and great composition. You can't beat the telephoto effect of a 300mm lens on a digital Rebel. I find that when I get the opportunity to go trackside, I tend to shoot with my 75-300 lens.

[Anonymous]

I think we passed you guys west of Cameron, IL on the ATSF (ok, BNSF Chilli Sub for you younger people) on 25 June 05 by the defect detector.
In the last shot Eric had, it appears to be an eastbound intermodal headed over a bit of a hump. If so, we caught that same train on the top of the hump which is a location known as Nemo. From what I can find, Nemo used to be a buisy interchange point between ATSF & MStL Apparently ATSF used to interchange perishables for Peoria and MStL even marketed piggyback from the Twin Cities to California via Nemo. There was also evidence of a lot of coal headed through this interchange (possibly company coal for ATSF?).
Approching the overpass, ATSF climbs onto a rather high fill in both directions. Inspite of this, ATSF had a station pearched on the embankment right next to the M&StL overpass.
I'm thinking CNW would have had this line pulled out no later than the early 70's. The R.O.W. of the MStL main, a siding and the interchange grade up to the ATSF are still clearly visible. It almost appeared that ATSF had a siding all the way to Ormonde.
I was wondering if anyone could provide more info on Nemo, mainly regarding MStL's operations or physical plant here. The Morning Sun book does make mention of it, but thats about it.
Thanks
Andy Smith
Orfordville, WI

[emmar]

I went with Eriks photo this week. there was somthing that I didn't like about Mike's photo although I can't pin it down.

[brilondon]

I went with Mike's photo because I just don't like the BNSF colours and I always have a soft spot for the conventional cabs as opposed to the wide nose cabs.

[Anonymous]

I voted for Mike's, the over all sharpness of the photo was very good right down to the reflection on the ditch lights on the rails, numbers could be seen on the power as well as the cars behind. It is one of the best head on shots that I have seen for a while.

[Anonymous]

Ooo! This one was tough to pick.

I like Erik's shot, and I noticed all the things he mentioned before I read what he said: the new, old, new, old arrangement and the field of corn in particular.

But I think Mike's shot is so crisp, I don't care if the trucks are in shadow -- they're black anyway. The red and white are so bright and the color of the trees behind the locos is just beautiful.

Sorry I even had to choose, but that's the game here. Good job both of you. And Mike Brickl, too!

[Anonymous]

Hard to choose. But I went with Mike's shot because it showed more.

[Anonymous]

I had to go with Mike's photo. It was sharp, lots of color, but most importantly it wasn't a wide-cab UP or BNSF SD something something something dash something. Gimme a conventional cab WSOR unit anyday.

[Anonymous]

MIKE'S SHOT IS MUCH CRISPER AND HAS BETTER CONTRAST & DETAIL; THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST, THE CLEAR FACE OF THE FIREMAN, THE MANIFEST CHARACTER OF THE CONSIST, SUNLIGHT TRACES OFF THE RAILS, RED & WHITE PLAYING OFF THE GREEN, NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM ERIK, BUT I THINK IT'S A BETTER SHOT!

[Mark300]

A toughie......

Although Mike's shot is an excellent non-BSNF train, Erick's got that railroading sense as the Loco's are about to clear the opposing consist and the crew will check out the other trains FRED.....and annouce to the dispatcher/other crew via radio that they are 'Clear' and 'Your markers look good...'

Alot of other good railroading stuff is often going on the moment these photos are made. That influences my vote too.

Great Thread & Great Photos Guys.....

Mark

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed Mike's photo the best. Excellent, crisp and clear. Well done.