Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 77

[Bergie]

Hello! 

I just posted the latest installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike in our new section within the Railroad Reference area of TrainsMag.com.  Read Trackside with Erik and Mike Volume 77.

Voting for Trackside with Erik and Mike now occures at the top of the Trackside with Erik and Mike section. Click here to vote.

Please add your comments regarding this week's photos here.

Thanks!  Erik

[Anonymous]

Had to go with Mike's shot. 

IMHO: The subject matter in of itself did not 'sell' me on the image; rather it was the excellent composure and exposure that sealed the deal for me.  Wonderful detail on the steam locomotive (too bad about the diesel thrown in there).

I liked Erik's shot, but it was lacking something (symmetry or detail or composition or something). Lots of orange, though!  And it is a cool shot by itself, but compared to Mike's image, it was lacking.

[Goober]

Love all the orange, but STEAM wins everytime, even a bad (and this is a GOOD steam picture) steam picture is always better than a diesel picture.

 

Jared 

[CShaveRR]

I'm going with the steam shot, too, this time.  After voting for all of the power last time, this may be surprising, but perhaps it's the green background and the good-looking track that helped me decide here.

[samfp1943]

I'm going with the steam shot, too, this time.  After voting for all of the power last time, this may be surprising, but perhaps it's the green background and the good-looking track that helped me decide here.

WHAT CARL SAID!

          JARED IS RIGHT ON IT,ALSO!

[TOMinTN]

Wow...talk about two fantastic shots.

Initially, I was tempted by the steam shot...no doubt about it's beauty...but the diesel shot had an element of oddity that was almost overwhelming.  What are the odds of a photo op with that many road engines in such a configuration (albeit a bit imperfect).

If there had been an option to vote for a TIE (and I think there should be), that's probably where it'd have gone.  Since that wasn't a choice I voted for Eric's diesel lineup...not necessarily as pretty, but certainly VERY uncommon.

TJB - Nashville, TN

[Anonymous]

I voted for the BNSF Power Shot!

Love that line of orange noses in the sun. 

[DennisHeld]

Both were good shots! Best in a while. The steam shot is great, except it lacks in color. I know, but think what that shot would look like with fall foligae! The BNSF orange upon orange. Great shot. Lotsa color. Good cropping with no distractions.

[edblysard]

Owww...

You guys are making my head hurt...I actually had to think about this one.

 

Well, though too hard and burned something up, so I have to go with the impulse factor...this time around the steam wins....although there is something quite compelling about the 70s lined up like a bunch of horses trying to get out of the barn....

[mandelswamp]

Wow, this was a tough one to decide.  I think it would have been even tougher if Mike had used his other steam shot.  The alignment of the locomotives in Erik's shot wasn't perfect but I still voted for Erik's photo.  I think two factors made me vote that way.  One is that I tend to favor diesel over steam engines and two is that I prefer the subject(s) to be closer in the picture.  If Mike had used his early photo of the steam locomotive led train which was closer up, then I would have been stuck trying to decide simply on the basis of steam vs diesel and it would have been really tough since both Mike and Erik take such wonderful photos!

[LVJJJ]

I'll take the pumpkin party over steam any day, or nite.  Brite yellow sunshine on the punkins just makes you feel good

[Anonymous]

Wowsers!! Both photos are excellent, and if someone had told me that I'd vote for diesel over steam, I'd have said they were crazy!! I was very pleased to see the vote so close when I cast my ballot. As you can probably guess by now, I voted for Mike's diesel shot.

Now for my reasoning.... I liked all of the color in Erik's photo. Mike's looked darker, and failed to grab my attention the way the orange did! To tell you the truth I had my mind made up while I was looking at the thumbnails, but that's not to say that I dislike Mike's picture... It's just a matter of something bright appealing to me as I sit here on a rainy day in Nebraska.... And as someone mentioned in an earlier post, the subject matter is a bit closer.

[Rocket Man]

I sure wish the lighting was more favorable in Mike's shot, but he did well in getting the exposure he got with what light was available. Sometimes when I look at it, the angle makes it appear to seem like a steep downhill grade and unatural. As someone else commented, the nicely manicured track is appealing and I feel is a noteworthy supporting character in photos that can make or break a photo. Not that I want perfectly ballasted track all the time. I think there is the same appeal with old decrepit track in the right setting, but I digress...

I voted for Bergie's BNSF power photo, however. I don't see a lot of BNSF in "Trackside" (even though Mike's photo from last week had BNSF in it). I liked the randomness of the power lined up. If it were too symmetrical, it would have looked too "posed" like a manufacturer's photo. The only good thing about those units turning from orange to peach, is maybe they will be slated for the new logo and paint scheme sooner than later.

Speaking of BNSF... Orange you glad you didn't hit that cow? If that were night time it could have been a real close shave right outside of Gillette! (and that's no bull!) Well, I better hoof it out of here before I milk out any more puns. This is getting "udderly" ridiculous...

I'm here all week folks, don't forget to tip your waitresses...

[trainmanal4243]

I have got to go with the Peach's.   Whatever the problem was with the BNSF orange paint in the period that the SD70 Macs and the GEs were built that it faded to a Peach Color is exemptified in the photo especially the second unit which has orange paint around the windows.  Phot is great.

 

Al G 

[lhtalbot]

Of course everybody loves steam. I do too. But I didn't vote for the steam. That's not to say it isn't a good shot. It's an excellent one. Trouble is, 10,000 other people also took this same shot (somewhere along the route) & that sorta makes it generic. I would think a lot less people (save the group Bergie was with) have a similar shot. It's just a personal thing so please don't read anything more into it, both shots are great.

Larry in Wauwatosa

[loadmaster747]

Gotta go with the steam shot.  I'm glad you got more than one... the Empress was in Franklin Park, IL on Sept. 1 for the dedication of an underpass that replaces 7 street-level crossings on a main thoroughfare, and Sept. 1/2/3 pulled the train in your picture on railfan excursions from the Franklin Park Metra station to the wye at Sturtevant, WI and back.  Sept. 1 I watched it pull out of the Bensenville yard heading north on the CP's former Milwaukee Road freight mainline - empty-handed.  Sept. 2 I grabbed the video camera bag and headed for the same spot, only to find all 3 batteries dead!  So, on Sept. 3 I brought the trusty 35mm SLR and a new roll of film, and found the Empress on a siding in Bensenville being polished for the next day's return to Minneapolis.  24 exposures and a trip to the one-hour developer later, I had... one photo!  The shutter jammed somehow, and it looked like I took 23 shots of the lens cap.  Sometime this week, the Empress is to double-head with the 261 along the Mississippi by LaCrosse, WI.  I hope you can get there to take a few more steam photos, while I save my pennies for a new DIGITAL SLR!

[dragonsparrowblue77]

To quote TimAllen:

"Oh, Oh, Oh,"

Look at all the POWER!

Gotta go with Eriks' Orange.

 

[asnjoe24]

I figure that, with the steam advantage of Mike's CP shot, the choice for most other Trackside readers is pretty obvious. But for me, it was rather tough.

I would say that Mike's shot has a photo contest quality to it, added with the rare pleasure of modern steam. The lighting has an early morning feel, it's possible to see some consist detail with the bend in the double track mains, and the backdrop of trees looks inviting for a rural scene.

On the other hand, I think Erik's BNSF Power shot evokes a stronger feel. It is certainly "in your face" with the closeness of the engines, and you can see the faded and weathered paint schemes of the SD70MACs that definitely says something to the effect of, "power in all conditions." I also like how the ES44AC sticks out a bit farther than the rest. It's almost like a chronology of BNSF power.

This, along with my closer familiarity with BNSF, made me choose Erik's photo this week.

- Bryan

[Anonymous]

Well it was hard to decide but I had to go with steam. I have been a long time fan of steam because my uncile drove a steam switcher for the Dallas Union Terminal Co. #7 she was, and now sets in the Railroad muesum in Dallas.

[CNW 6000]

Bergie's the man.  He got the vote. 

[Chris Owens]

I voted for Eriks Photo. The steam shot was lacking something, or was maybe in the shade or lack of light....

 

CMO

[chayot]

Hello Guys!

I really enjoyed both photos a lot. But the oddly non-symetrical symetry of Erik's BNSF power arranged so elegantly just caught my eye. And the composition kept my eye busy for quite a while absorbing just WHAT it was that grabbed me in first place. Great job Erik. Thanks.

Thom Biggart

[Anonymous]

Both pictures were great!  I went with the BNSF shot. 

I enjoyed the steam excursion.  Loved the green, nice summery picture. 

The BNSF's kind of look like they are lined up in the starting gates to race (albeit a little crooked). 

[TimChgo9]

Bergie gets my vote....

I love that photo of all the diesels. I like steam, and Mike's shot was great, but there is something about the BNSF orange all lined up like that.....

[loadmaster747]

I voted for Eriks Photo. The steam shot was lacking something, or was maybe in the shade or lack of light....

 

CMO

I think what might be lacking is the plume of coal smoke from the stack on the steam shot, because the Empress was converted to burn oil.  Environmentally friendly, but not as dramatic as the steamers from the 30's and 40's trailing a thick black cloud. Tender #1 holds 4609 gallons of oil and 12000 gallons of water, while the second tender carries another 23000 gallons of water.

[Modelcar]

.....Must vote for Mike's 261's steamer excursion....That is simply a beautiful sharp photo of great railroad subjects.  Love the massive green foliage colors along with it.

Erik has a great shot and line up of engines.....But I simply must vote for Mike's rendition this time.

[DadH]

Seig Heil!!! Steam Uber Alles. DadH

[CopCarSS]

I haven't been commenting lately mostly because I haven't been voting. Maybe it's just my personal perspective, but photographically, I don't think the entries have been up to the standards that the Trackside series had achieved a few months back.

I think what's most disturbing to me this week is the implied attempts to play to the motive power preferences of the voters. Had it just been a steam ~vs~ diesel submission, I wouldn't have paid it any mind. The commentary calling out the differences almost seems like a rallying cry to the various motive power supporters.

I realize part of this is the fact that the submissions do garner votes based on non-photographic criteria. Still, I would rather see this remain a photographic column and not a steam/diesel popularity contest.

As for these shots, I didn't like the lighting and framing of the CP Steam shot. I would have like more room for the train to move into. The background light is distracting to me, and the white balance and exposure are definately oriented to the blown out sky. Framing the shot more to the right and down further would have helped both.

I liked Bergie's shot more, but I would have liked a little wider view. I don't like the way the cab on #89** is cut off on the right side of the frame. Additionally, I would have liked to see a little more breathing room for #6107 on the left side of the frame. Using a wider lens or backing up would have also shown a little more detail in the sky. The building cumulus clouds are interesting, and could have added to the shot.

All of the above, of course, is just my worth. I'm just missing when we had installments of Trackside like in week 54.

[islandbridgejct]

I always think the composition is what makes a picture. The reason wedge shapes work so well usually is that they divide the frame up in a way that makes a balanced composition - good balance between verticals and horizontals, with the wedge acting like an arrow to draw the eye through the picture. Erik's photo this week achieved the same effect in a different way. The tracks, hill, and tops and bottoms of the locos provided the horizontals; the loco cabs provided the verticals; and the alignment of the locos, helped by the perspective, draws the eye into the picture but stops it before it is directed out the left hand side. Then the numbers and BNSF logos send you back to the right and bottom to start again. It's a fine shot. Not that Mike's is bad either, but the colour and light didn't really work out, so that there's not quite enough contrast.

The comments about peach colouring are interesting: over here (Ireland) we have orange diesels, and the way they weather is quite funny. First they get dirty, so the orange turns dark. Then the red starts to fade, so they turn a much more yellowy orange. Finally the yellow fades much more thoroughly than the red, so you are left with old withdrawn units turning to a light pink. Meantime, EMD supplies some new units and uses different paint pigment, so they fade differently. Then you read modellers arguing about what the real colour is - but there is no real colour, only the colour they are now. (I think we copied the livery from Illinois Central in the 60s, back when we bought the first little 950hp GMs, 2 still in service - anyone interested in taking a look could try either of the following sites: http://thewanderersirishrailphotospot.fotopic.net/ or http://railways.and.trains.of.ireland.fotopic.net/)

[Mookie]

split the vote - 1/2 for Mike's photo.....1/2 for Bergie's Angus