Trackside with Trains vol. 168 features images from ten photographers, including one Trains magazine reader. This round's theme: Unit Trains.
View the selection and vote for your favorite.
-Matt Quandt Online Content Editor Kalmbach Publishing Co.
.....Tom Danneman's sillhouette rendition of the unit coal train on the horizon earns my vote.
And it was not overwhelming, as there are several very nice photos.
But believe his photo conformes very well to the theme and being a rather unique and crisp shot I had to choose it.
Quentin
It is unbelievable that the simplistic sounding theme "Unit Trains" would be so difficult to come up with imaginative photos on. Modelcar voted for Tom Danneman's arresting silhouetted shot, which I believe IS the most stunning of the group, and theme relevant. At this early voting point in time, the voting statistics seems to bear that out.
Here is a couple of those 'unimaginative' unit train shots shot at Kearney, Nebraska last year.
Unit trains are monotonous, drone-like. In the above photos, the monotony was only semi-broken by grade crossing work at the time the above photos were taken. Even then, after watch train after train after train of unit coal trains on Union Pacific's triple-track line at Kearney, they all start blending together. And, that blending together seems to last in one's mind after getting home. So, photographing unit trains is a real challenge, more so that I ever imagined before this contest theme arose.
I say hats off to Tom Danneman, though, for finding a way to break out of that apparently universal monotony!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
I think I'm with K.P., but for the opposite reason: unit trains should be monotonous (or at least homogeneous)! And pictures of these trains should suggest that. But a lot of the pictures here are locomotive shots, and those units just happen to be on the point of a unit train.
Tom Danneman found a way to make the unit train look homogeneous, even though there were probably at least a cuple of different types of hoppers therein. The dark clouds made the back-lighting spectacular (blue is cool!).
I also liked Aaron's shot, because this is probably one of the unit trains I see most often.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Voted for Tom's stunning shot, but a very close second was Mr. Jors' Shot. With a little more work, it may have swayed my vote. The Train needs to be closer, but the foreground was what makes the shot. Reader's submission was my third choice. I liked the explanation of it.
Most of the photos showed the theme well, and were nice to look at. However, for sheer artistic impact, showing creativity,good timing and anticipation, I chose Tom's photo without reservation.
Pretty dull subject so had to find an artsy rather than railfan shot. Deep down under was the answer! Black and white. Not a 3/4 or head on engine shot. Reminder that the US doesn't have a choke hold on rairoading. Or unit trains.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
I went with Renaud's shot - a whole bunch of identical cars that screamed "unit train."
Tom's entry does get credit for most creative, and Mike didn't do to badly.
As has already been said, many of the shots were locomotive shots that just happened to have a unit train behind them. And in a couple of cases, since only a couple of cars were actually visible, we have to take the submitter's word for the fact that it was a unit train.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I voted for Tom's photo. I like the silhouette shot. The dark blue back ground was nice. For second place, I would have voted for Alex Mayes. The BNSF engines with the long string of coal cars.. Yes, a unit train. The Columbia River Gorge makes a nice back ground.
King, NC.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.