Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 51: May 8, 2006

Posted by FrankStratton

on Mon, May 8 2006 8:08 PM

I don't know, I don't know, I just don't know.
You guys make me want to pull my hair out.
I found Erik's interesting in the fact that you don't usually see the nose door open on a moving train. Mike's on the other hand is your normal everyday shot but the panarama view is real cool and that pique my interest.
Nice going guys. Now lets get some shots of something other than CN. :-)

Posted by Sterling1

on Mon, May 8 2006 8:33 PM

Erik took the cake on this one ...
Why?
Simple. Plenty of power on a drop dead 7-car local.

"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, May 8 2006 8:40 PM

I love Eric's shot. Things ain't always perfect but the photo is!

Chuck

Posted by lhtalbot

on Mon, May 8 2006 9:11 PM

Mike's is just a little more interesting than Erik's, I guess because there is more to see. I too had trouble gettint to the vol 50 recap. I agree, a link would be nice.
Larry in Wauwatosa

I didn't have a problem with the little open door.

Posted by Mattstpl

on Mon, May 8 2006 9:37 PM

Their both good shots, but I liked the whole scene in Mike's with tracks in the background and lots of spring green. I liked the photo of the rock train best of all...

Posted by trainboyH16-44

on Mon, May 8 2006 9:55 PM

I just love the composition of Mike's photo, the way that the train is 'there' with just the right amount of telephoto, how it stretches to the distance, and how there's plenty of sky, whereas Bergie's shot is just another telephoto wedgie..

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

Posted by fuzzybroken

on Mon, May 8 2006 10:16 PM

Geez... lots of people don't like that open door!!! I, on the other hand, think it's a neat detail that you don't always see. The first time I saw 9592 in fresh paint (as opposed to the badly-weathered, peeling paint that somewhat covers most of the other GP40-2LWs), I thought it looked awesome... did you get any other shots of this one Erik?

I liked Mike's photo too... and the location, Ackerville, correct? It is a neat photo, but doesn't quite have the "pop" of Erik's photo. (Vol. 50's was kinda like that too... Are you wearing out your camera already Mike? [:o)] Probably just a white balance thing.)

-Fuzzy Fuzzy World 3

Posted by broarthur

on Mon, May 8 2006 11:14 PM

I went with Mike"s shot this week. Spring has sprung and the end of the train gets lost in the folliage. Erik's shot is a good one also, airing out the cab after a long winter. But like I said, Mike's shot got my vote this week.

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, May 8 2006 11:46 PM

I voted for Mike's as I didn't like the open door on Erik's photo it turned me off.

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, May 8 2006 11:46 PM

I voted for Mike becase i like whole train not trains with couple of cars only

Posted by jerdenberg

on Tue, May 9 2006 12:29 AM

I vote for Erik's shot because the open door and the short local tell more of a story than another impressive line of engines and cars

Posted by Stephen Clark

on Tue, May 9 2006 2:24 AM

I liked Erik's photo especially with the open door. I noticed a lot of people don't like the open door.

Posted by ValorStorm

on Tue, May 9 2006 3:47 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by kicksvette

A wedgie of a long train or a wedgie of a short train?

By definition, Mike's shot is NOT a "wedgie." And for that reason, and the scenery, and the more interesting power, I voted for Mike's.

Posted by RailRon

on Tue, May 9 2006 6:41 AM

Both pics are fine, but my vote goes to Mike.

No, it wasn't at all disturbed by the open door. But something in that picture instantly seemed 'wrong' to me. And then I got it: The telephoto lens shortened to the two locos so much, that they look like a single unit with two cabs. While two-cab-locos are normal here in Switzerland, in the US and Canada they are definitely not. And that's what disturbed me in the otherwise fine shot. Yep, it looks like they had propped up a new cab on the end of the long hood of an older engine...

Ron

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, May 9 2006 7:03 AM

I went with Erik's photo.... The color stands out more than in Mike's shot. It also seemed to capture my eye and imagination more.
Contrary to a lot of the responses I have read..... I prefer the look of the open door on the front of the local. IMO it offers something that breaks up the front of the loco, and even more so fits right into the scheme of a short local on a nice day letting some fresh air in. Or perhaps it'sa case where the switching tasks that have been completed and are still in store for the crew that prompted a crew member to just leave it open for easy access. Either way the "unclean look" offered by an open door kind of exemplifies that fact that it is a hard-working local out doing it's job. Nice job both of you keep the shots coming it gives some of us blue collar slaves something to look forward to......