Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 48: March 27, 2006

[Anonymous]

I too think the headlights are a distraction,[:(] which is a shame being a CP fan. [:)] So picture #1 gets my vote, plus I do like the angle the picture was taken at.

[Anonymous]

I liked the second one, it caused a little weird story thing to go through my head. Sitting in the brush, listening over your panting you're trying to figure out what has been tracking you in the gloom. The snorting, hissing, and creeping, then through the trees you see your foe . . .

[Chris Owens]

Both are great shots, but had to pick 1, photo 2 would have been great if the 70MAC were in the led. LOL. EMD fan

[shawnbecher]

Erik, nice shot of the SOO 6047 leading the dreaded CP GE!

[Anonymous]

I liked photo 2. It had a very intimidating look. The photo bleeds power and thats what made me choose it. Photo 1 was just kinda boring.

[UPTRAIN]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bowlingtraindude

While we're discussing the photo content....

On unit 3050 (photo #1): What is the 'pipe thing' (I'm using technical terms here) above the ditch light? I've seen these before but never knew what their purpose was, figured it was time to ask.

You can sling an MU Cable through there when not in use. UP and MP and some others were big on that.

[UPTRAIN]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris Owens

Both are great shots, but had to pick 1, photo 2 would have been great if the 70MAC were in the led. LOL. EMD fan

I voted for #1. Yeah, I wi***hat EMD would have led in #2. By the way, it's an SD9043MAC, that gives it 300 more horsepower worth of credit, lol.

[gemotor]

Well, here we go again. It's all fun stuff, so please don't take that as boredom exactly, but these shots have been pretty ordinary for the past several months. As to this week's choices, Photo 1 was nice, sharp, technically good, but it was sterile and indifferent. Too many wires, especially the left-to-right wire that read into the cab top. Looked like an ad for EMD power. A venue like Winterail would ho-hum it out of the hall. Then, there's Photo 2, that I voted for. First, there's the superelevation angle giving that lead GE a nice "railroady" feeling as it heels to the curve. A few other elements added to the overall effect - light on the rail and hot exhaust both mentioned by another poster. The background woods suggests that the line is in hilly country and the curve follows a natural route through the hills, so there is a feeling of "good fit" for the train in that setting. "Good fit?" Yeah, no engineer would survey a curve like that in flat country.

[Anonymous]

I voted for Photo #1 for one primary reason: it is looking up at the train instead of either straight at the loco, or above it. Of course I like the blue sky, but the angle of Photo 1 is what I liked.[;)][;)][alien]

[walthuston]

I chose photo 1 due to the color. #2 was just too dull, color wise for me.

[gannbb1]

Photo 1 !! Ditch lights overwhelm photo 2. Gannbb

[Anonymous]

Tough decision. I chose #2. I like the composition a bit more. #1 showed the "stretched perspective" of the wider lens.

[broarthur]

It's good to have you both back. I've miss the contest while it was not going. Take care of your health, that comes first though. Now as for the pictures, once again it is a hard choice. The angles of both are nice, even the different lens focals made each picture. One picture told me that winter was hanging in there, and the other gave me a hope that spring was just around the corner. But I had to choose one of them and that one was picture number 2. I just liked the composition a little bit more. Thanks again for these contest, it's a great way for me to unwind on mondays when I get home from work.

[Rocket Man]

I like #2. #1 looks like just another pretty day... nothing interesting to keep your eye on the photo.

#2 However, has a lot going on:

First, the slight angle of the train on the track, almost disorienting but gives a sense of motion.

Second, the rich red color against the serene grayness of the woods... a great juxtaposition of subject and background.

Third, the reflection of the branches in the window almost like looking into the eyes of the locomotive.

Fourth, the lights and the heat plume give the locomotive life and power!

Go back and look at the #1 photo... yawn....

[Anonymous]

Just liked the composition of Photo 2 better, Photo 1 is a little too bland.

Good to have "The Contest" back, continued recovery from that "midwest" cold!

Will