Trackside with Trains.com, Vol. 104: "Multiples"

[Bergie]

Hello,

The latest edition of Trackside with Trains.com is now live and six of our 10 photographers have contributed to this week's theme: Multiples.

Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 104 ...

... then click here to vote.

When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week's photos below. We'll be back with a recap of this installment on January 5, 2009.

Thanks for participating!

Erik Bergstrom

[CShaveRR]

Just about everybody made a good case for his photograph fitting into the "multiples" theme.  I'm glad that "multiples" isn't the latest euphemism for the now-disgraced "lashup" expression.  (Knowing how I feel about seeing trains as opposed to locomotives, you might understand why Erik's was the first to be eliminated this time.)

Drew, I suspect that one of the experiences in your tired old rail's recent life was a visit by a rail grinder!

Kent, yours placed a close second in my voting (and I can vouch for my wife liking it, too).  That particular area would be a nice place to visit--once.  I'm not sure I'd venture as close to the edge as you did!

Mike, yours really is a shot of multiples!  I was looking closely at that train just to see if there was a non-Trinity car anywhere in the consist, just so I could go "Ah-HA!", but you did it!

The photo that really stirred my imagination, though, was Matt's.  Trains everywhere, going in every direction, and as far as the eye can see (at least in this direction).  I'd probably be bored with all of the coal trains (and nothing else) if I spent any large amount of time here, but as a snapshot (I'm not using this word in any derogatory sense), you've captured both the theme and my imagination--and my vote.

[Modelcar]

The vote for Matt's multiples was rather quick and easy for me this week.  This is not to say the others weren't worthy....Not at all, as I thought each was very creative in presenting their photo that qualified for this weeks "multiples".

[Anonymous]

No question about it, Matt's photo won for me this week! The thumbnail doesn't do it justice, but when it's enlarged, the detail on that lead AC4400CW really pops! Great job!

[LVJJJ]

The sheer number of trains in Matt's photo got my vote.  Great shot!

[jrhambone]

It is interesting to see how each of the participating photographers interprets this session's theme.  My first thought was "multiple train sets," but that would be limiting.  I felt Andy's photo reeked of multiples, both in the power and in the trailing cars.  As a Holiday Sidenote, I've enjoyed this Trains.com series and continue to look forward to each new volume.  Many thanks to the photographers who make this happen.

[DennisHeld]

I skipped over Matt's because the thumbnail looked boring. I voted for Mike's. Great perspective and great sense of distance and train length. Then I checked to see the vote count and saw Matt with 60%. Since I only saw the thumbnail, I decided to check out the big picture. It ain't bad. In fact, it's probably the best of the group.

[TOMinTN]

Andy...I REALLY liked yours and if ties were allowed, I'd have gone that route...BUT...Matt got my vote.

I don't think I've ever seen a shot quite like his UP quartet, and because of sheer uniqueness within the theme of the week, it got my vote.

A note to Drew...your photo was also unusual, but I think you really stretched the definition to get it under the "multiples" umbrella.  If "off the wall" is ever a category, try that one again...it would fit better there.

TJB  Nashville, TN

[edblysard]

Toss up between Kent and Andy....Kent's was simply awesome...at first glance it looked like a model railroad diaroma, then details emerged that made it "real"...lots and lots of details beyond the bridges and such...But Andy's shot was just too full of the multiples the theme called for...the cars alone are eye catching, then the poles, and then...well, his byline explained it better...so Andy got my vote...but if Kent has any more shots from his vacation he wants to share, I would love to see them also.

 

[DadH]

My thought on "multiples" centered on trains and felt Matt certainly provided a match and Kent as well, but liked Matts complex shot better -- timing is everything and being in the right place at the right time never hurt either...

Continue on and Happy Holidays. DadH

[gapotter09]

To all you gentlemen:

You gave me a lot to decide upon.  Especially, since I visited the Powder River Basin, specifically the Thunder Mine Y in 2004 and obtained several photos of 'multiples' myself, along with two buddies.

Matt Van Hattem gave me a good start, followed by Erik Bergstrom's UP at Rozet.  Then of course I had to view Mike Yuhas's Grain Train and all those 'weathered' cars.  Must have been quite a job to get them all to look like they had been through the same rain storms and dust bowls. 

However, Kent Johnson's trip to British Columbia was the one that finally captured my vote.  Kent was very lucky to get the picture he did at the right moment in time. 

Thanks again to all for a good view of our interests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[crewshuttle]

 loved Matt's photo.

so many trains and so many angles to see all in one frame. have to save that one for a desktop.

Andy gets 2nd place in my voting. the solid color and unit train are very catchy.

Kent;s shot was nice, but at first I missed the multiples theme. then when i read the text, i understood better what he was after.

The rest didn't grab my attention that well. Still good photos.

[zardoz]

edblysard

Toss up between Kent and Andy....Kent's was simply awesome...at first glance it looked like a model railroad diaroma, then details emerged that made it "real"...lots and lots of details beyond the bridges and such...But Andy's shot was just too full of the multiples the theme called for...the cars alone are eye catching, then the poles, and then...well, his byline explained it better...so Andy got my vote...but if Kent has any more shots from his vacation he wants to share, I would love to see them also.

Rather than trying to say the same as Ed but in different words, I just took the easy way because what Ed wrote was exactly what I was thinking as I looked at the photos (I always make up my mind BEFORE I look at the comments posted here).

[dknelson]

An exceptionally nice selection of photos for this competition.  As I have commented before, viewed on my home computer some of the shots tend to look a bit dull and dark but on a new laptop or monitor they all really come to life.   Those of us who like to show slides know this phenomenon - the slide that looks great in a totally dark basement at home might not look so great in a large room with some ambient light. 

Sometimes the competitors might be well advised to try out their entry on the worst monitor they can find -- it might have an effect on what they enter.

Anyway I was initially certain I'd go with Andy -- 4 trains in one shot, I mean, really -- but in the end I went with Kent.  You can really smell the fresh air in that shot. 

Actually it reminds me a bit of scenes on his O scale three rail layout, which I had the opportunity to see on a tour a few years ago.  Former MR staffer Jim Kelly had urged me to check it out and it is indeed a beauty. 

Dave Nelson 

[Sagelake]

 OK,

You guys sure make deciding hard! You should all have won, but, but, but We had to go with Matt's Nacco Junction catch! Nice shot Matt!!

Happy Holidays to all,

Chuck

[Andy Cummings]

Folks — 

Off the bat, I will admit that I'm shallow and always vote for my own image, even if I don't think it's the best one. So as usual, there's no mystery as to how I voted.

However, I often think to myself, "Man, if I weren't in this competition, I'd vote for _." Last time it was Danneman, as I mentioned in the recap. This time, it has to be Matt. Four trains in one picture is very difficult to pull off, and there are few, if any, other places in the country where you could do it. But the Powder River Basin is one of those places, and I think Matt captured the theme superbly this week.

As for my shot, I'm just happy to be doing better than I did in Trackside 103. Then again, I know I'm not the only one out there who's a sucker for Missabe ore trains. I should add that CN has new ore cars on order, so if you like the "mini-quads," now's the time to make that trip. I've always said, there's nothing like Duluth in January!

Andy Cummings Associate Editor TRAINS Magazine Waukesha, Wis.

[loadmaster747]

It looks like I was thinking along the same lines as Matt... "multiples" meaning "multiple trains".  In that context, Matt's photo and Kent's photo should finish 1 - 2 by showing 4 and 2 trains, respectively.  Kent's shot is beuatiful, and gives a sense of the difficulties of building a railroad through such rugged terrain, and it's really not his fault that one has to search for the second train in the upper right corner of the photo.  I voted for Matt's photo because of the "multiple multiples" depicted:  multiple-tracked mainline in the foreground, multiple double-tracked leads, multiple power, and multiple trains of multiple identical cars.  I found myself intrigued by the thought processes of the other photographers, particularly Drew's multiply-textured macro shot of the top of a single rail.  Perhaps that idea can be used for an entire competition: close-ups or details of railroading.    

[CShaveRR]

When Pat was looking over the pictures yesterday, she got pulled away from the screen (I think the oven was ready) before getting to Matt's shot.  I made sure she saw it today (in all of its blown-up glory), and she said that that was the best shot, best use of the subject idea, and all that.  Then, as an early Christmas present, our computer somehow gave us another vote.  So, Pat votes for Matt.

[Matt Van Hattem]

 Thanks to everyone for the kind words. Much appreciated!

I have to say, I admired Drew's forethought (and courage) to submit the freshly ground rail this go-round. What a great shot! It made me consider the contest theme in a different way.

Kent's British Columbia photo is another favorite -- that's a place I'd love to visit.

The new format is a lot of fun. And your votes and comments make me think more about my photography. So, thank you!

May you enjoy your holidays. Best wishes to all in 2009!

Matt Van Hattem

Senior Editor

[LU-Trains]

 Admittedly, Van Hattem’s picture with the multiple trains seemed the ultimate definition and having seen it first in the lineup, all the other pictures were more difficult to measure.  Had it been further down in the choices perhaps my thinking would not have been so skewed.

However, it was neat that so many people could see the term “multiple” with very different eyes.  Of course, in the same vein as Matt, Kent Johnson also had a good picture.  I loved the bridge symmetry - it’s one of those things that model railroaders try and pull together - I just wish there had been one more train up on that ridge.  Now, THAT would have scored some big points!

Speaking of symmetry, Andy Cummings’ shot was cool.  I felt like that line of cars could go on into infinity without distraction.  However, I think “symmetry” would be a better category for this shot than “multiples” - although I understand all the duality that was alluded to.  Of course, Mike Yuhas was obviously thinking in the same vein with his panoramic shot.  More than anything else, I could just imagine the rhythmic and musical  “racket” of the cars crawling by.  (Afterall, both George Gershwin and John Philip Sousa made reference to the inspiration of rolling rail noise in creating musical works.)

I always have a appreciation of Erik’s pictures, but - I don’t know - two engines sitting side by side was just too “usual”.  BUT the google satellite view was cool!    I’ve spent hours following train tracks on the Google Map.  Every once in a while you discover a real surprising train panorama.

And then lastly, Drew’s picture. 

 Huh?!?

Ok, someone has to be eclectically egocentric.  I won’t even ask what you were imbibing that caused you to be laying down next to a railroad track.  Some things Mothers don’t need to know about.

I voted for Matt.

Merry Christmas everybody.  Celebrate Jesus!  And be blessed in the New Year ahead. 

DRH

 

[JeffBrown97]

I agree, there are more interpretations of the word "multiple" than I expected, and the word fits railroading perfectly.  I appreciated the descriptions to bring me up to speed with the artist's ideas.  I couldn't stop looking at Kent's photo; it's breathtaking.  Matt's shot of so many trains is great too; Andy's photo is a good find, and when I saw Erik's yard shot I thought I was trudging to the dispatch window to report for work. 

I look forward to more Trackside photos after everyone enjoys the holiday break.  I love this feature.  :-)

 -Jeff

[Choo Choo Aussie]

In my opinion the only two who qualified for "Multiples" this week were Matt and Erik.  Erik's was spoiled by the fact that they were not moving.  A good photo though.  I had no hesitation giving my vote to Matt.  It is a very rare thing to get two trains on the move together in one photo.  Especially where I come from and to see that many trains, in one photo and all on the move in every which way was really something to capture.  Great photo Matt!

[Sunnyland]

I had to go with Kent's photo of Fraser River Canyon.  I rode that years ago going out to Vancouver on CP and back by CN.  That was an awesome stretch of scenery and seeing it brought back all those memories.

But this one was hard, they were all good.  Great idea.

[videomaker]

Sunnyland

I had to go with Kent's photo of Fraser River Canyon.  I rode that years ago going out to Vancouver on CP and back by CN.  That was an awesome stretch of scenery and seeing it brought back all those memories.

But this one was hard, they were all good.  Great idea.

 I too have to go with Kent's photo,the composition is fantasic and this is calendar material !