Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 49: April 10, 2006

[acelachaser]

A coal train on an S curve is always great..that it was my fav NS with the Horsehead scheme was the icing on the cake..thanks Mike!!!

[emmar]

Mike's photo won this week hands down. I have never liked photos like Erik's photo because they seem to have no interest. I also love how the front of the NS locomotive in Mikes picture was cleaned and stood out in the picture. It really pulled your attention into the picture and didn't let your eye wander. Better luck next week Erik.

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainloco647

Erik...

Sorry (four times), for spelling your name "Eric"... It won't happen again!

Carl

Don't sweat it, Karl.... I mean, Carl. [:o)] You're certainly not the first to make that mistake. It isn't easy being a Swedish Erik in the USA! [:)]

Erik

[Anonymous]

Even being a fan of UP, I felt I had to go with Mike's photo. the whole thing just seemed more "railroady'. Although I did like the headlight off in the distance that reminded me of my childhood summers visiting the grandparents who were 2 blocks from the main SP north-south line, south of Fresno, Ca. I can recall many times while watching the sugar beet cars being loaded, looking northward and catching the headlamp just as it appeared in the distance on a freight going full throttle southbound towards bakersfield and beyond.

[gwjordan1950]

Hey Guys,
Both were great shots!!. I have a hard time voting for anything that is Amour Yellow and Gray!!! This company soured me on anyhting that they have or do!!!!! I live in the midwest, NW Oh. and have the double track main of the Old B&O 7 miles away,and the Chicago to Bellview NKP line 5 mi. to the south. You can see about anythig you want to look at around here!!
Both arte Great,but I voted for mike also I'm a die hard ATSF ( Warbonnet) Lover!!!
Keep up the Great work.
GWJ.

[walthuston]

Erik, Mike got my vote. Those UP locos are crawling along because out of five locos only one or two are actually capable of running. The rest are just dead weight much like the UP legal department.

[Rocket Man]

I think both photos were great photographs, for what they had for a canvas. This is why those rare "perfect" shots we are fortunate enough to get are so cool. Both Mike and Erik had bad backgrounds to shoot against. Last week the gray woods worked perfectly with Erik's SP photo, but this week the boring brown and so so blue skies detracted from both photos. Nearly anything could have been better, fall colors on the leaves, rich green fields, overcast, fog, sunrise/set, thunderstorm clouds. To me these are great practice shots to work on various aspects, such as depth of field, exposure, then go back on a day when the background can support the main subject not detract from it. Mike's curve shot was interesting, but I think Erik's had crisper depth of field, the Armour yellow and blue on the UP "popped" better to me as well. I definitely liked the perspective of train length of Erik's as well, too bad that bridge was there!
Erik, you get the nod this time.

[Anonymous]

Alas, Erit caught the Union Pacitic freight train headon on a straightaway and the whole picture is just too static. Mike photographed the N & W (not my favorite railroad, they stole half of the old NYC!) at an angle and on a reverse curve. Really great!! You can see the diesel units and part of the train and, of course the right-of-way.

[Anonymous]

Midwest rolling hills versus midwest flat? Hmm... the S-curve has to take it this week with the train wending its way west into the sun with a paltry two U-Boats. Keep on keeping on, another great "contest" this week.

Will

[Robertdale]

I too am glad to not be seeing RED this week. Both are very good photos, but living next to BNSF mainline here in Southern Iowa, I have seen way too many coal trains. That is why Erik has my vote this week. Keep up the great work guys, and thanks. Robertdale

[Anonymous]

IF THE PHOTO OF THE NS TRAIN WAS TAKEN WHERE I THINK IT WAS I USE TO RUN TRAINS ON THAT ROUTE! THE LOADED COAL TRAIN IS EITHER A BNSF GOING TO THE BN AT UNION STATION IN CHICAGO OR IT IS GOING TO THE NS VIA THE WATER ROUTE FORMER CONRAIL AND THEN HEADDING SOUTH AT PORTER IN. VIA THE PORTER BRANCH NOW OPERATED BY THE CSX EVENTUALLY EXCHANGING WITH A FORMER NS CREW AT THE IHB AND THEN HEADING SOUTH TO A DEAD END WHERE THERE IS A COAL PLANT. I FORGET THE NAME OF THE TOWN THAT THE TRAIN WILL STOP AT. IF I LOOK AT ONE OF MY OLD TIME TABLES I CAN RELATE TO THAT LATTER IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED!

[PRRK4s1361]

I have to admit the angle in Mike's was a little better but being in Central PA - Harrisburg area - I see this all the time; plus I feel the contrast was a little too dark for my taste. I ordinarily don't go with head-on shots but I do like it better. That NS coal drag even looked like it could have been shot out western PA around ' The Curve' or further west around Cresson to Johnstown area. Still both are great.

[Anonymous]

Went with Mike's. First of all: its NS!! Second, I like being able to see more of the train at that angle surrounded by the trees.

However, Erik you did a great job also. It was real tough making a decision this time.

[krussl]

Had to go with Mike and the NS/BNSF connection.

Interesting to ponder the future of this relationship? ? ?

KR
Houston

[mandelswamp]

While Mike's photo was nice, I thought it slightly too dark. I found Erik's photo more interesting, with the road bridge, building, and overtaking train in the rear of the picture. So my vote this week went to Erik.