This month, I want to try a photography project that focuses on the trains in TRAINS Magazine's backyard. How many different pictures can be taken in a circle extending 10.27 miles from downtown Waukesha, Wis.?I've really enjoyed this chance to revisit some great photo locations and rediscover how fascinating the local railroads are in TRAINS' backyard.Yet I feel I may have misled you with this series of sunny-day photos, made possible by a blissfully pleasant August. The truth is, not every day in Wisconsin is so nice.So here's a picture of a typical day in Waukesha! OK, that's a (slight) exaggeration, but you get the picture. When those cold Canadian air masses come barreling down into the state, bringing below-zero temperatures and gobs of snow, ice, and freezing rain, venturing outdoors is a struggle.But railroading is a 365-day operation, rain or shine, and I have a lot of respect for the train crews, maintenance forces, yardmasters, and other railroaders who put in their day's work when the weather looks like this.You're watching Wisconsin & Southern's Horicon-Janesville freight T004 tread lightly through downtown Waukesha on Canadian National trackage approaching the Grand Avenue junction at 7:29 a.m. on March 9, 2011. This winter storm dumped anywhere from 4 to 6 inches of heavy, wet snow over southeast Wisconsin. By 9 a.m., when I was thawing out at work after this early morning photograph, we'd already gotten two and a half inches.Those three SD40-2s look like they've battled a few drifts on their journey this day.What I like: Snow like this is fun to shoot in because the flakes are big and show up nicely in photographs. (Never mind that each of those flakes is a cold, sharp needle. I still remember being pelted by them in the brief amount of time I ventured out of the car to take this picture.)What I don't like: This is my backyard?? Yikes! Three to four months of weather like this can really wear you down.
Galleries:Flickr: Matt finds the trains in TRAINS' backyard albumFacebook: Trains Magazine Facebook Page
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