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

[Gluefinger]

I went for Mike's- I like shots where you can see the crew in the window. Incidentally, I'm guessing the BNSF guy held the pink paper up so you couldn't see his face.

[kicksvette]

Erik's shot reminds me of many times near Rochelle or other times at Blodgett Rd south of Joliet. The stack trains are easy to find and meets happen often, usually at speed. With the weather around here, you were lucky to find corn even growing. Too much is turning brown from lack of significant rain for the last couple months. But it's a shot that shows typical Midwest mainline action in the summer.

Mike's single track jointed rail looks more like a secondary line or a branch that wandered off the the usual double and triple tracks I drive past daily.But I find the shot to be more interesting. The overall composition with the trees and the brush frame the locomotives in a natural manner. The colors also help the units stand out. And seeing the crew in the cab brings back a past theme that people are actually a part of the railroad.

Mike gets the vote in this episode.

[gannbb1]

Mike gets it because his photo has that "grab ya" quality. Eric, if you could enter that "word picture" in the competition you would have won!! Nice work.
Gannb

[videomaker]

I vote for Mike's picture bcause of the sharpnness and composition..I also think Mike's picture of the vehicle train was good and should have been the one to vote on rather than the one that's posted..Thank Ya'll ,Danny Sisk (videomaker)

[videomaker]

I should have said Mike Trailer train,Thats coming out of the fog it looks like, would have been a better picture to compare with..videomaker

[Anonymous]

And I though it was going to be a quite summer sit back an enjoy Erik & Mike photos an vote for One of them. Now theirs another Mike[?] Their is no 3 way tie vote[;)]
I voted for Mike #1[?][;)]
Bring on "Stunt Mike" put him behind the[8]. Thats a better deal than all these hurricane kicking my but. [B)][xx(]

[videomaker]

Bear with me guys,ERIK's trailer train taken at 7:30ish...videomaker

[phbrown]

Mike's colors are sure sweet, but Erik got that gorgeous light, the meet, the visible speed...had to go with Erik on this one. Yes, Erik's is fuzzier, but for whatever reason that didn't bother me.

[Anonymous]

Milwaukee Zoo pic was the most interesting in a while. No need just say "Just kidding," after a seemingly interminable sequence of flatland freight photos. They get old. Fast. Maybe if Mike & Erik could arrange a trip to the Mountain West they could see some REAL railroading. Get Kalmbach to fork up the bucks!

[mikeyuhas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PacificEclectic

Milwaukee Zoo pic was the most interesting in a while. No need just say "Just kidding," after a seemingly interminable sequence of flatland freight photos. They get old. Fast. Maybe if Mike & Erik could arrange a trip to the Mountain West they could see some REAL railroading. Get Kalmbach to fork up the bucks!

Get Kalmbach to fork up the bucks? It would be easier to get PacificEclectic to fork up the bucks! (Just make that check payable to Mike & Erik, PE [:)] )

[fievel]

These are both great shots, but I had to choose one. Mike's is the winner by a nose.
Both photos really show Summer at it's best.

[Anonymous]

Mikes photo, both of you have very nice competition photos though!

[zardoz]

Actually, I liked Erik's BNSF 5184 shot--the one with the TOFC falling off the end of the photo; a bit hazy, but I love the portrayal of grade.

In Mike's image I like the locomotive's colors contrasting with the foliage, but am put off by the 'advertising' in the lower-right of the image.

Erik's was very nice but seemed to lack "punch".

[TrainFreak409]

I went with Erik's photo, I love pictures of train meets.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[Anonymous]

Just my [2c] here: If you really wanted a great picture head out to a steam railway in the mountains. You could win for shure with some shots of the Sumpter Valley line.
James[C):-)]