Winter is here

[edblysard]

James,
How much did you pay for your scanner, Dave, you too? Was wondering because you can buy a Motorola JT1000 raido for about the cost I see scanners selling for in Trains. The have a scan feature, and also have DTMF, digital tone frequency modulation. I think thats a fancy way of saying you can "dial in" the frequency settings. If you know what channel the railroad your watching for uses, you can just set the raido for that frequency. Thats the raido we use at work, and I get around 10 to 12 hours on a charge. Thats in yard work, with three other jobs in the yard at the same time, lots of chatter. Have to replace the battery about every year to year and a half...you might check it out...

[Anonymous]

To the person in Southern California, I HOPE YOU GET A BAD SUNBURN WATCHING THOSE TRAINS!!!!

[eolafan]

Dave, I experienced the same thing with my scanner (Radio Shack) and eventually gave up and bought a car cigarette lighter adapter so I can run the scanner off of the car battery. I also purchased a tall rooftop antenna which works much better than the little rubber antenna that came with the unit.

[Anonymous]

You have it so good ! The temp. got down to 70 degrees today and I had to take my sweatshirt off
in beautiful southern california. The ice in my margarita was also melting as I watched the train go by.

[dknelson]

One of the big challenges to winter time railfanning is getting the darn scanner to keep a charge!
Dave Nelson

[edblysard]

Smart, but at least you get out of the car...if you just walk around, you can find some pretty great angles, instead of a box of wedge shots, you end up with some pretty interesting photos

[Anonymous]

perhaps to clarify: I don't just STAND out there when the wind chill is 10 below, I spend most of my time in the car, and I have three or four layers of clothing on, my head covered, etc. But the minute I see a headlight I am out there selecting the best vantage point.
but the air is SO clear in the winter.

[edblysard]

Hasnt stayed cold enough long enough in houston for the few bits of snow that do happen here to stick since 89. But last year we had a two week period when it satyed overcast and below freezing. We got a few inbounds from up north, all covered with a layer of snow, and it was cold enough that it didnt melt. You should have seen my switchman. He wouldnt touch the stuff, wouldnt ride a car in, walked to every joint we made. So i popped him with a snowball to get him to losen up. He acted like I poured toxic waste on him. It wasnt till we were on our minutes that I found out he had never seen or touched snow, ever, in his entire life...

[Anonymous]

In my defence, my two boy's are age 5 and 6.I have to stay inside, my wife would kill me if she ever found out I kept the boy's outside in freezing weather watching trains.
TIM A

[KentinSD]

Wrong. Winter is my favorite time of year. I take more photos from December to April than the rest of the year combined. I especially like to photo steam engines operating in the snow. At the station, there is lots of opportunity to photo all the little icicles hanging off them etc. The steam billows up nicely against a blue sky when it's 20 below outside. I've been out taking photos when it was minus 42 with no problems. It's hard to find a diesel engine running then though.


Kent in SD

[dknelson]

What I conclude from the responses is that the lady railfans Lisa and Jenny will be out railfanning regardless while the guys hover and shiver in their cars. Have a nice Thanksgiving everyone!
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

My sons and I just got back from watching trains along the Wisconsin Central (C.N.). In the comfort of a Metra train station. Nice and warm in there. Not the best view, but it will due till the weather gets warmer.

[Anonymous]

early in March 2002, the temperature here in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) got down to about 10 above with a slight wind chill and I went out with my (fully manual) camera and got some spectacularly clear slides. No snow on the ground here at that time, but it was fun to see the trains rolling by with snow on them from points south! I'll do this again any time! !

[Anonymous]

Must be nice. While you guys are sittin nice and snug in your cars, I am out there riding the point or shove freezin me *** off.

[eolafan]

EXCELLENT POINT, THANKS.

[Soo2610]

You forgot to mention the thermos of hot chocolate and the fact that it is now possible to find a place to park.

[eolafan]

THANK GOD FOR FUNCTIONING HEATERS AND DEFROSTERS IN OUR CARS! NO PICNIC CHAIRS TRACKSIDE FOR A WHILE BUT WE WILL STILL BE TRACKSIDE IN OUR AUTOS, TRUCKS AND SUV'S FOR THE DURATION!

[Mookie]

and miss the beautiful "powdered sugar" effect?

We won't have much snow this year in SE Nebraska, so I am enjoying the snow/sun pictures.

[dknelson]

There is a coating of snow at Rochelle according to the webcame. Time to switch over to looking at slides and videos for me :)
Dave Nelson