Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 44: December 5, 2005

[Anonymous]

I like shot B, because the train seems to get out of that tunnel under the building. It is like a passenger train leaving a city station.

[gemotor]

This was a tough call. Both photos had a lot of good about them. It's hard to beat a shot of a pair of ex-ATSF SD39s here in 2005.

Photo A is nicely composed with the two workers on the left side, and the tank car going out of the frame on the right. Too bad about the vehicle in the middle. For composition, Photo A gets my vote. And winter isn't always about snow after all. Some days it's just dark and wet.

Photo B has some nice touches, especially the flakes of snow shining in the beams from the headlights and ditch lights. But, it's still a roster shot. A nice roster shot though, and I do like CPR power. The light on the building to the left of the locomotive is a major distraction. If it were possible, a shift to the right to put that light behind the locomotive would have made it a lot better.

Once again, nice work from both of you. I enjoy this feature.

[Anonymous]

This was a difficult decision because I liked both shots a great deal. But I finally voted for shot B because it gives off a kind of wintry glint and even if it is not snowing or sleeting, it seems to be shot on a totally overcast day with some kind of winter precip falling, so I had to vote for it. Besides I have a "slight" fondness for red diesels! Still those two SD39's had my attention for a long time![;)]

[CopCarSS]

Exhibit B wins easily for me guys. The Angle is just cool, and the "Snow in the Headlights" look is always a fun way to present the weather. Of course, when it comes to Winter Weatehr, I've always been partial to this shot taken last year up on the Moffat Line:



Care to join me for some Rocky Mountain Railroading sometime?

[Anonymous]

Jamie (11) says "It's the yard shot for me because the CP was just a roster shot and had nothing nice in the background".

I (dad) agree. Plus, I like the effect the light has on the tracks over on the left side. Takes right back into the yard.

Jamie and Terry
Fresh from an overnight camp at Sunny Shawmut!!

[Anonymous]

Although I am a Canadian and should vote for CP the old SF "twins" get my vote.

[88gta350]

Liked the snow and the positioning of the engine in B. Had to go with it.

[Anonymous]

Photo B in a squeaker! Two great shots, but photo B just jumps out at you.

[wcnut]

Man, I had to put a jacket on just to look at those shots! Very nice. Hard choice, I like the yard shot especially with sequential locomotives, what luck!!! The two bundled employees were a nice touch as well. However, the CP coming on the hard curve out of what I assume is Milw. Union Sta. grabbed me a little more. The snow in the lights and that strange, model train like angle are really affective! Nice!

Greg
"wcnut"

[fish1467]

I too went for the yard shot. Nice railroad scene.

[PennsyHoosier]

Went with B. The snow in the headlights shows the depth of the cold, while the light in the building beckons with its warmth. It pulled me right in to the experience. The brightness of the concrete "line" behind the loco, however, is somewhat distracting.

A was a very close second.

[steve14]

Had to go with my old stomping grounds on B. East bound out from under the Milwaukee Post Office/Station about to cross Plankinton Ave and hit Menominee Bridge in the 14+ degree curve. Temperature may also be about 14.

For work on a railroad no matter the weather, there was a notice in the News Sire a few days ago about closing the route to Chicago next weekend for work at KK bridge, just a couple miles south of this shot. Might be a chance for some interesting "non train" railroad shots while that goes on.

[route_rock]

Have to go with A baby!! 6214 and 6215 are both SD40-2 and 6215 wouldnt stop if you welded her wheels to the rail! That motor is the worst one in Galesburg yard Wont stop and if you rack her up from 7 to max she dies ( i have done it right infront of Amtrak's depot how embarassing!) 6214 will stop on a dime but wont pull as well as the 15 . Good shot off the County road bridge! (whoever took it) The 15 is on 17 lead and the 14 is on the one lead heading past the trap switch.

[H Garvens]

The pattern of the rails in "A" make it look like a work area and really cuught my attention.

[BigJoe6401]

Exhibit A only because yellowbonnets are a rare breed. Any opportunity to get pictures of Santa Fe units before they become extinct is worth the effort.

The CP Rail is fine. Just you can get those anytime in the world until they are taken over by CN or UP.

Should the US Government put silver and red and blue and yellow warbonnets on the endagered species list?

BigJoe.