Trackside with Trains.com, "Deep in the woods," live to view and vote

[drgw17]

So many excellent entries! Loved the sun rays in Matt's photo, although the blond ponytail kind of undercuts the feeling of "mystery." I think Ken's shot is gorgeous, almost TOO pretty for the theme. Nearly went with Tom's P&W shot because he really "planted" the train in the woods (and I know his neighborhood well); hope he didn't hang around until the locomotive hit that sketchy-looking rail joint at lower left..... And Mike's silhouetted framing was great. Finally went with Andy, who (to me) put it all together with the mist, the B&W, and the mystery and sense of anticipation of a train with no identifiable markings. Looks, though, as though the voting is between steam and the F-unit, other factors carrying less weight. Same old, same old (groan).... But not your fault, guys--great work!

[Sunnyland]

 This one was really tough, they were all awesome.  But I narrowed it down to Tom Nanos, because that train looks like it's just coming right through the woods.

 Great job, everyone.

[zardoz]

Indeed a fine group of photos. I had reduced the possibilities to Erik, Andy, and Alex.  I liked each of them for different reasons. But the one which evoked the most emotion from me was Andy's. What a dramatic shot in such lousy weather!

[lotech_mech]

Andy Cummings your a good writer I like the turn of phrase regarding forests: "It's a reminder of the powerful mythology of the forest, and the reason it remains a symbol of both serenity and trouble. "  At the moment I am reading a book by Louis L'Amour called "The Walking Drum".  Its a story about a man who is about Matt Martin's age and his adventures in Medieval Europe in the 1200's.  There is plenty of trouble in the woods.  I liked your photo in B/W I'm sure that rain washed some bugs off.  My heart is still in the lumber industry.

I voted for David Lustigs photo because it was a going away shot deep in the kind of woods we just don't see here on the gulf coast of Florida.  After that UP train passed I'm sure it was serene but troubling if your canteen is empty and you're on foot.

Wow the photos were hard to choose from this week.

[jase nzr]

My vote goes to Mike Yuhas as he's captured  my favorite US railroad , and I've come back form a great holiday in Wisconsin (march). I like the fact it's the viewer in the woods, reminds me of the rail network around my city.

But David Lustig was a close 2nd as we traveled over the Donner pass on Amtrak's no. 5  and again it's union pacific

 

[CRSD50]

Nice selection this week!  At first glance it was a little tough for me to decide, so I had to base my vote on just how deep in the woods they appeared.

 I went with Alex this time.  His picture had that "deep in the sticks" feeling to it, and his explanation helped in that regard.  Drew was a close second, with the train being completely engulfed in the woods.  Mike's "Woods" play on words was clever!

[Choo Choo Aussie]

Another great set of photos!  However, had to start eliminating to chose just one.  Matt's needed to be more close up.  Would have liked to see a bit more of the train with Mikes.  With Matt's photo more people can be seen than train or woods.  Sorry Andy but I am not keen on black and white photos.  My favourites were Alex's, Drew's and Ken's.  I had to ponder for some time before picking just one and went with Drew's. 

[westernfalls]

Alex Mayes photo of the former Reading FP7A 903 is great, but his caption leaves out a significant part of the story.  The unit has for many years been owned by the Philadelphia Chapter of the NRHS and beautifully restored by them, most recently with the addition of the cats eye number board on the nose door.  The photo appeared several months ago in the NRHS News magazine, again without acknowledgment of their Chapter's role in preserving this locomotive.

[edblysard]

Had to go with Ken again...the theme was Deep in the Woods...and trust me, the Piney Woods around Rusk and Palestine are serious deep woods, people can and do get lost out there, and pulp/lumber was the reason for that railroad being built in the first place.

And everything in the photo just clicks...

[tree68]

A fine collection indeed!

I consider myself something of an expert on "Deep in the Woods" since every trip I do on the Adirondack Scenic is a trip through the Adirondack Forest.

Bergie and Mike had too much civilization in their entries.

Ken and Matt Martin both rated high.  In fact, Matt's would have won if I hadn't kept on looking.

Drew's shot is good, but there was too much sunshine.

Dave's shot looked almost like it was shot on a model layout.

Matt V's shot gets an honorable mention, with extra credit for a human element.

That leaves Andy and Tom, and it was close.  Andy gets credit for outstanding composition, but Tom's shot of a "tree tunnel" nailed the theme for me.

[LU-Trains]

Holy Cow-catcher, Batman! What a great bunch of pictures this week! This is going to be a difficult decision.

Admittedly, I did toss out a few at the first perusal. Matt Martin’s picture has a great bridge, lots of woods, true . . . but I’m sorry - that’s a pretty boring train consist! It’s a little far away for my liking also. But that’s just my opinion. That, and $5 will buy you something deplorable to drink at Starbucks.

I also eliminated Matt Van Hattem’s picture, along with Drew’s Amtrak picture. Matt’s picture did contain the BEST PONY TAIL of any of the entries. I tossed Drew’s out just because I’m really not a fan of that Amtrak motive power. No personality. I guess I’ll eliminate Tom’s very faraway shot down the forest track . . . if only for the same reason I picked on Matt Martin’s opening shot. It’s just too far away.

OK. Bad news is that leaves SIX pictures still in contention. Gads! I’m trying to decide what I DON’T like about each picture . . . and I’m coming up pretty blank. I can relate to Erik’s high country shot and Mike Yuhas’ photo is so like the crossings on the country roads I used to drive as a kid . . .

Andy’s dark and forbidding shot is so full of angst and drama, it’s hard to divert my eyes from it. I usually don’t care for steam engine shots, but Ken’s is so full of color and vibrancy. I love all the shades of green and that splash of orange-red on the train itself! David Lustig really captured some power in his picture that I like and of course, I AM A SUCKER for F-7s - so Alex Mayes’ shot exploding out of the tunnel is very attractive.

OK. I am literally closing my eyes and pointing at the opening collage on my computer screen . . .

And the winner is . . .

O crap! It’s the pony tail!

No that won’t do . . . I think I’ll go with Mike Yuhas’ shot. Just because it reminds me of home . . and being 17 . . . riding down a country road with my girl friend . . . and that’s as far as I’m going to share that memory . . . .

:-)

[samfp1943]

'Nother group of good pictures!  I went with Ken's Shot (mo' steam!)   and Tom.s was next. 

 Liked Bergie's shot as well,     nice to see him getting back close to his roots.

[Modelcar]

I chose Tom Nanos' shot of coming thru the woods, including coming thru a canopy of trees / branches forming a tunnel like setting.  The track structure appears to be of a downgraded line, and that the ROW is certainly "running thru the woods"......

Believe Kens' shot is a very close second.

[CShaveRR]

It looks like the voting so far has Tom Nanos leading. I helped with that--his is the only one that really shows a train having gone through deep woods, i.e., a complete canopy over the tracks. Admittedly, this isn't an easy thing to do in certain evergreen forests, nor is it easy to couple with most modern main lines.

Having said that, I think Drew makes an interesting point about deliberately not including any sky in his photograph. His came in as a close second in my choices.

[Matt Quandt]

The latest installment of our biweekly photo competition, Trackside with Trains.com, is now live. Ten photographers submitted images for the theme "Deep in the woods."

View the selection and vote for your favorite.