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[Bergie]

In our online feature, Trackside with Erik and Mike, Trains.com staff members Erik Bergstrom and Mike Yuhas go trackside and share their photo results with you. In each installment, we’ll include let our users vote on who got the best shot. Read this week’s installment.

Please read this week's column, then vote and share you

[espeefoamer]

It's hard to say why,but Mikes photo is more pleasing to look at. I particularly like the snowy background against the ribbonrail train.

[Anonymous]

Tough this week, I ended up going with Mikes though. Both were quite similar, just kinda standard wedge shots, and I almost gave it to Erik for the fact that you can see the end of the train at the edge of the pic. However, I think Mike's was better composed and just an all around better shot.

Kudos to both!

[Anonymous]

Eric's shot, to me, captures the pure brute strength of today's railroading. That's what it's all about...

[Anonymous]

I voted for Mike. I love the combo UP & Conrail! Nice job!!!

[CTGreybeard]

Had to go with Eric. It's simple and very clear, those engines are working. Mike's lost the hind end of the train in the shadows. Those welded rail trains are interesting if you can see what the load is and how it makes the curves, etc. Otherwise they look empty.

I especially liked the below-grade aspect of Eric's photo.

[broarthur]

I liked Mike's picture better, I like the composition of it, Erik's was good but the compression of the zoom to me takes away from the center engine.

[jrhambone]

Tough choice. Both are interesting shots. Went with Mike's because I'm a sucker for MOW trains and power.

[ngartshore350]

Went for Eric, it just captured the pure grunt of the locomotives working hard.

[Anonymous]

A comment about the MOW crew shimming up the track. This is a common practice when the roadbed is frozen in the winter. You can't tamp the tie up because it is frozen in the ballast so you have to shim it with plywood shims. If the shims are thick you even have to use longer spikes for a good job. After the roadbed has thawed in the spring the shims are removed and the ties are tamped up.

[jimitimi]

I like Mike's photo of an unusual consist. Although Erik has a nice shot of power!

[JLarry]

I voted for mike. I like photographing winter scenes and you can't go wrong with train tracks... especially if there's a train on them.[:D]

[DICKK]

Voted for Eric. Track trains do not look like mainliners.

[Anonymous]

Erik's photo shows the power of railroading.

You have my vote.
NScnotp--John 3:16

[Anonymous]

I like the crispness of Erik's photo this week. I like Mikes composition but the softness of the focus takes away from the overall effect of the photo.