As promised, here's the second and final installment of my railroad photos from my recent Christmas trip. These are the shots that I took while traveling through Nebraska. I got off of I-80 at Grand Island and worked my way west through the state on US 30. It's a little bit slower, but infinitely more interesting. My uncle always said that the Interstate System was designed to go from sea to shining sea without seeing anything. Nowhere is that more true than on I-80 in Nebraska (well...maybe I-70 through Kansas). US 30 is fantastically interesting and is even more so to railfans. If you ever find yourself traversing the state, do yourself a favor and get off of the quick, efficient but dreadfully dull I-80.
My first shot is of an eastbound manifest at Shelton, NE. It's just a basic wedgie (well...a tele-wedgie), but I really like this shot:
Flickr Link
As I worked my way west, I stumbled onto the Missouri Pacific Heritage unit and traveled west with it trying to get a good picture. The sun angle never really worked well for a westbound, but this shot isn't too bad:
My next stop was in Cozad, NE, the 100th Meridian City. I've always loved Cozad. The light had gotten kind of wishy-washy so I didn't do much action stuff there. It worked well for some artistic stuff of the grain elevator there, though:
Next stop was in Gothenburg where one of the many, many industrial locos was sitting ever so nicely in the softish light:
Incidentally, there are all manner of interesting locos at these large plants along the line. I even saw an ex WSOR unit at one. Unfortunately, the light was only good on this one, so it's the only one I set up to take a picture of. If you're into older EMD locos, though, you owe it to yourself to take a trip through Nebraska.
Finally, I stopped in Brady, NE for a shot of an eastbound coal drag. The light was kind of iffy again, so I processed this one in B&W, too:
And that'll about do it for this installment. I didn't neglect Iowa or Colorado on purpose. I just shot different stuff in Iowa (this was a particular favorite of mine from the trip) and was kind of focused on getting home when I was in Colorado.
As always, comments and critiques are welcome.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Superlative, as always, Chris! You have done a good job of capturing that main line! That shot at Brady is especially good--I don't think color would have improved it.
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)
Awesome photos, Chris!
The action on UP's triple-track line through Nebraska is unmatched in the west!
Three engine headlights: Two coming (upper center) and one going (upper center right) at Kearney, NE, where sometimes 150 trains a day pass. The foreground center Main Track 2 has a track vehicle on it.
If you head back to Nebraska anytime soon, you'll have a ready audience here at the forum just clamoring to see more of your fine photos ...
Again, thanks for sharing.
K.P.
PS: How did you manage to miss Nebraska's notorious snow and super cold weather?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
CopCarSS I didn't neglect Iowa or Colorado on purpose. I just shot different stuff in Iowa (this was a particular favorite of mine from the trip) and was kind of focused on getting home when I was in Colorado.
I didn't neglect Iowa or Colorado on purpose. I just shot different stuff in Iowa (this was a particular favorite of mine from the trip) and was kind of focused on getting home when I was in Colorado.
You'd get one sure-fire vote in Fuzzy's TWP with that Iowa shot...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Chris,
I did one with the same Idea as your windmill shot. Mine is a shot of a windmill and a drilling rig in the background. I call it "Wells". Have you ever thought of entering the Railroad Photography contest at the annual festival in Douglas?
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
http://sweetwater-photography.com/
Your Nebraska photos were Spot On!
Thanks again for sharing them with this Forum!
Look forward to your next installment.
Carl and K.P's comments were to the point.
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