N&MRR Report (guys please look at this and comment)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Been following along, the website is really taking shape nicely, the B&W shots look really authentic, I'd keep doing them. Color photography wasnt really common till post WW2, actually 1950's. If your in that pre-war era, B&W is the way to go. The station looks great, the only question is when do you start laying track? It looks like you will be laying over grass, are you going to do a raised gravel roadbed like Marty does? or have you thought about a raised planter to set the track in?

Hey Vic,

Thanks for the kind words on the photography. I am going for the early to mid 20th century feel, but I may have to frame it in 21st century terms.

I am slowly doing things with retaining wall. I plant to raise the entire level of that side yard where those pictures were taken. I am only laying track on grass (weeds) out of impatience and a desire to see what it will look like. I will eventually have something similar to the raised gravel roadbed you mentioned but it can be a reality (financially and temporally) until next year. I am really working slowly, a few retaining wall brinks per week, better soil for the garden part of it and the engineering of structures and rolling stock. I've made it a point to buy the locos and rolling stock as a concrete reason to insure that the line is finished.

The wife would kill me for spending so much money and then giving up, this way the tables are turned. It will have to go through!

It guess it will be sort of like a raised planter. I admire your willingness to continue your line despite the issues you face. I will do my best to allow some elements of your railroading to enter my layout.

I was considering ordering a boxcar, or one of those $19.00 stockcars, from Trainworld and having it delivered to your address for you to decorate it up as a Borracho Springs unit then paying you the freight charge to have it sent to me.

Capt Carrales

[vsmith]

Been following along, the website is really taking shape nicely, the B&W shots look really authentic, I'd keep doing them. Color photography wasnt really common till post WW2, actually 1950's. If your in that pre-war era, B&W is the way to go. The station looks great, the only question is when do you start laying track? It looks like you will be laying over grass, are you going to do a raised gravel roadbed like Marty does? or have you thought about a raised planter to set the track in?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by train-me

Captain
looking good great pics. kind of a newer looking diecast truck in pics you think?

Alas yes, but it is the only one I have found near enought to scale for use with these trains. Ford Lightening, 1999 or so I think, 1:21 scale.

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

Captain
looking good great pics. kind of a newer looking diecast truck in pics you think?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Joe,

You know how you camera runs out of batteries all the time, well mine did too before i went to Bali and I put <a href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=1&k=lithium%20batteries" onmouseover="window.status='lithium batteries'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">lithium batteries</a> in it and I took hundreds of photos on one set of batteries. They cost a bomb but are worth it.


Ian

Thanks Ian,

I'm still waiting for those Dylithium Crystals they use in Star Trek, well I guess I'll just have to settle for regular ol' lithium. [:D]

Again, Thanks...

Capt Carrales

[railman]

looks good!

[Anonymous]

Here are the pics of the Norma, Texas Station. Please offer suggestions.

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/normadepot.html

[Anonymous]

Joe,

You know how you camera runs out of batteries all the time, well mine did too before i went to Bali and I put lithium batteries in it and I took hundreds of photos on one set of batteries. They cost a bomb but are worth it.


Ian

[Anonymous]

I should have more pics tomorrow of my new Norma, Texas Station. Probably not outside, but still I will depend on your comments to fuel my personal locomotive.

Thanks, guys!

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

Looking good Capt.!

[Marty Cozad]

Cap,
Looks like a good start.
My favorite is photo #7. The power lines in the back blend in with the scene. I know you have roadbed yet to do, so that will be key to fun running. I to like BW shots with these older steam locos in them, adds to the era and realizim..

[Anonymous]

30 October 2004
A few new photos at mt Two Trees Webpage!

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/twotrees.html

[Anonymous]

Hey Al,

Long time no read! Hope all is well up there. Look forward to your posts again.

[Anonymous]

captain how are you looks good did not foget abought you talk to you soon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpopswalt

Thanks Cappy,

Here's one more for you. Did you do anything special to improve the depth-of- field. The foreground and the car in the distance both look pretty much in focus.

Walt

Walt,

I was very fortunate that it came out so well. There was some "haze," but that is to be expected. It looks a bit better in the color shot, but I like the BW images. It's very hit-or-miss, I have a good idea of the shot, but it seems to be up to the "digital camera" gods.

[grandpopswalt]

Thanks Cappy,

Here's one more for you. Did you do anything special to improve the depth-of- field. The foreground and the car in the distance both look pretty much in focus.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

I think you are doing great. I have bought a station from Piko, a Durango water tower from Piko and a few town buildings. I am in the process of re painting them for the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Senic Railroad. The station will be lettered for Pigeon Forge and later in the year, an extension will be laid to Gatlinburg.

It will be over mountainous terrain as the real towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are in the southeastern part of Tennessee. A report of a live steam railroad based on the ET&WNC that is owned by a man in Seveirville (right next to Pigeon Forge it was part of the original name for the railroad) and the Garden Railroad at the Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge as well as a G-Scale store there and another in Seveirville as well as in Dollywood and a garden railroad in Dollywood has sealed my fate in garden railroading.

I also plan to host a yearly open house and a twice a year annual steam up when the railroad is compleated.

Keep up the good work.
Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

I have a HP 315 I use to make the shots but you really MAKE the SHOTS!
Great Work Capt..

Mine is a HP 318. I have soo much trouble with the batteries, they are forever out of charge.

Capt.
Do you have to have "rechargable batteries"? Why not switch to 4 AA batteries like I did they last the same time fame and I keep 4 just incase in the case.

Yes I know HP said to "Battery requirements: 4 AA batteries (rechargeables recommended)" but after so many problems with them I just now use same ole same ole batteries!

Tring to keep it cool here, Rosharon, Texas!

[Anonymous]

Hi Joe,
Be proud my friend, very proud on what you have achieved.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandpopswalt

Cappy,

The photograpy and subjects are great and the narrative is just as good, congratulations on all counts.

Quick question. When you say "forced perspective" what do you mean?

Walt

Hey Walt,

A forced perspective is a movie term that I learned from my film making days (amature college stuff, by no means Hollywood). It refers to a method where a model (or build up scene) is placed in the forground while acting occurs in the background. One is forced to preceive that the material in the forground is "real." Thus, if you look at the picture of the Two Trees depot with the automobile in the background...the automobile is actually full sized while the depot is about 1/20.

I first learned of it from a friend who was watching that old movie, I think it was called the "Attack of the 40ft Woman" or something like that.

Later,

Capt Carrales

[grandpopswalt]

Cappy,

The photograpy and subjects are great and the narrative is just as good, congratulations on all counts.

Quick question. When you say "forced perspective" what do you mean?

Walt

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

I have a HP 315 I use to make the shots but you really MAKE the SHOTS!
Great Work Capt..

Mine is a HP 318. I have soo much trouble with the batteries, they are forever out of charge.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Joe

That Two Trees one has got me stuffed how did you get the background and indeed all of it so rea;istic, is it all perspective?

Igor

Yes, it is all forced perspective.

[Anonymous]

I have a HP 315 I use to make the shots but you really MAKE the SHOTS!
Great Work Capt..

[Anonymous]

Joe

That Two Trees one has got me stuffed how did you get the background and indeed all of it so rea;istic, is it all perspective?

Igor

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Capt, the pics are great! The Black and white really inhances the feel of the photos!

Thanks for the kind words. I'm really, in ever respect of the word, and amature photographer. I try to use angles that I have seen in Trains and older magazines.

I have been experimenting with different shades and hues to create a wide array of effects that I plan to use later. If I want to make a really old looking image I can add some yellow to the black and white effect. I can add blue to make a sort of mercury/deguerrotype(spelling?). I have almost prefected the technicolor and early color prints of the 1940's-60's. Even poor angled shots can be tweaked into looking authenic. For example, when I was looking through photographs at the South Texas Archives and you would believe that blured shots and failed attempts of early and amature photography of the past.

I think that just adds to the experience.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by toenailridgesl

Joe,
Nice website & some good info & descriptions.
I couldn't find the Two Trees Depot page? Can you post a direct link to it?
Am happy to assist with anything you need re info on your buildings etc.

Saddly, I haven't put a webpage together for the construction of the Two Trees depot. It, however, was my first all wood project. I would like to give that material you use a try, but I have not found it easily. I have a friend who makes political posters for the elections, after November 2 I should ahve my fill of leftovers.

Thanks for your advice with the Norma, Texas Depot. I still need to complete the windows, doors and wooden siding. The roof, of which you have provided the most help to me, is my project for next weekend. On that station I plan to create much documentation.

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by troybetts

Looks great Captain.Great taking pictures of them is'nt it.
Troy

My only regret is that my photo equipment isn't so hot. Just an early HP digital camera that we got for Christmas a few years back. I have to use my photo editor to bring up the brightness and contrast.

I love taking pictures of these trains. I hope this isn't blasphmey, but when I look at things that I have put together, I feel like I get a small taste of what God must feel like looking down on the world.

[Anonymous]

Capt, the pics are great! The Black and white really inhances the feel of the photos!