Trackside with Trains Vol. 249 "Getting steamy" is LIVE

[CHUFF]

This week's was a toughie!  They ALL were very nice, high quality, arty entries, and it was diufficult to choose.     CHUFF!

[Shooshie]

I've been on holiday from everything, so forgive me for being late to the party. This set of photos presented some real difficult choices. The first picture I saw was Brandon Townley's shot over the prairie, a silhouette of the NKP Berkshire and a short train. Something about that picture embodies good memories of all trains, whether powered by steam or diesel, as they peacefully roll across the horizon in the distance. Then I saw Robert Howard's shot which was the polar opposite, in your face, chaotic, noisy, with the smell of smoke and steam overpowering you. Howard's picture stands out so far I thought it was the sure winner, but then I saw Alex Mayes' gorgeous shot. The American is so iconic as to be almost a cliché among steam enthusiasts. The grainy, B&W period photos rarely capture the thrill felt by those who rode behind them across the continent in 1869. This one took me by surprise. Something about it was authentic without being clichéd. Then I learned that the locomotive was built in 2012! That shows a level of commitment rarely seen in railroad fandom: the construction of an exact replica! 

 

I could go on like this about all of them, but permit me to stop without slighting anyone. As I said, this was a difficult choice, but Robert Howard's picture was simply amazing, whether by design or chance, and I had to vote for it. They were all winners, in my opinion. 

— Shooshie

 

[pcapell]

What is the story on the large group of 8900 series Union Pacific SD90MACs sitting for weeks at Bailey Yard on the UP?  You can't miss them on their webcam. Why are millions of dollars worth of diesels just laying idol?

[groundeffects]

My favorite was Robert Howards.  Others have said it looks like a painting.  Myself, I thought at first it was a pencil/charoal drawing.  Very envious of that shot and would love to shoot something like that myself out here in Northern California.  Maybe next time the U.P runs some steam over Donner Pass.....

Jeff B.

 

[Firelock76]

Alex Mayes all the way!  That photo of the Northern Central 4-4-0 gussied up and in the snow just screams Christmas.

The others are great too, by the way, but I've got a soft spot for those 19th Century steamers.  Probably the most beautiful locomotives ever built.

[edblysard]

Robert Howard's...at first glance in the small format I thought it was a painting!

[zardoz]

I’ll probably get chastised (or worse) for saying this, but I cannot understand what is so exciting about steam engines. I’ve worked on them a few times (long ago), and I found the experience to be most disagreeable.  However, having said that, I can still appreciate a good steam engine photo.

 

Robert Howard’s photo is so interesting in that it looks a lot like a painting!

Brandon’s shot looked like it was right out of the 1800s.

Eric’s shot shows much of what I do not like about steamers: they are hot and dirty.

Michael’s shot was just too cluttered. 

Barry’s was nice – it was my runner-up choice. 

Jordan’s had three pieces of steam equipment in the image, but it lacked emotion.

Alex’s shot is postcard-ready.

Tom’s shot of two of these monstrosities next to each other, at night, was for me a very powerful image. 

[D-Halv]

Good morning! This week's Trackside with Trains photo contest is now live!

Vote for your favorite photo here:

http://trn.trains.com/photos-videos/trackside/2014/12/getting-steamy

 

Drew Halverson