Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 77

[ngfred]

Had to go with the steam.  Can see see diesel all the time, even around the little NC town I live in.  Although the diesels on the YVRR are not new, but well taken care of B-B,s.  Love steam.

[dknelson]

The sun was not always cooperative for that Wednesday steam shot.  Evidently I was across the road from Mike at Tamarack.  YouTube has a really nice video from the same location showing the standing start.  Light was fading fast. 

Strictly as a photograph I think Erik's is the winner of these two. 

Dave Nelson

 

[hankflagler]

I am not voting for either photo, first the steam shot does not show off the engine as it should and what is with that big box thing behind the tender and then there is the diesel and another box behind it, no way. Second, the diesel head shots should have been taken at a different angle instead of the head on as that one was. Just can not give my vote to either one of those, sorry but I think with all the time they have been out railfaning, they could do much better.  Perhaps they should travel south, say to Florida and esp. north Florida.

[pawbase]

WoW The Oranges are doing better than I thought (Even though I went with the steam - I am impressed with those Oranges!)

[wcnut]

While I have not taken the time to read all the comments yet, Erik's caught my eye right away.  The composition is great and it is a very graphic image.  I had to chuckle seeing all the various shades of orange... even the one 70MAC that looks like it got a new windshield, or at least new paint around the glass!

Greg
"wcnut"

[fuzzybroken]

Neat shots, though I preferred Erik's (and, naturally, voted thusly)...

Between Mike's two 2816 shots, I actually preferred the Tamarack siding one, and I also really liked Erik's "open range" shot -- but that's not so much "Trackside", now, is it?  Well, it's always neat to see the "other" shots that sometimes outshine the competition photos!

[espeefoamer]

I voted for Mike's steam shot,even though I liked his other steam photo better.In the contest photo,the train seems to get lost against the trees.I still found myself voting for steam over diesel.Erik's BNSF photo was interesting with the lineup of SD70Ms.I don't know if getting all EMDs at that location is common or not but al I see out here is GEs.I contemplated voting for this picture,but steam won.

[gemotor]

I voted the steam shot.  Go Mike.  But in my opinion, the other steam shot would have been a better choice.  Several reasons: the tree behind the smoke gave a nice contrast, the lighting on the side of the locomotive and consist was wonderful and way better than the shot given for voting, the sky was interesting, and (this is a big 'and'), the darn diesel was hidden behind the second water tank, out of sight (mostly).   Some liked the BNSF nose(s) shot.  I found it boring and not really creative.  The lighting was keyed too high (it can be bright up there in Wyoming) - more saturation would have made it a stronger photo.  Surely there's something one can do with a diesel photo opportunity that would make a picture. . .

[emmar]

Why do you two always make it so hard to vote. I couldn't really decide, but idid anyway. I went with the BNSF shot because the steam shot was to dark. I loved them both though. I especially like the stacked motive power in the BNSF shot.  Keep it up.

[Stephen Clark]

I have not commented for a while but have continued to vote each time. I voted for Mikes steam shot. I like the way there is more smoke (fumes) being emitted from the trailing diesel. Both are great photos. Keep up the good work.
Steve

[al-in-chgo]

Actually, I thought the Tamarac shot with the Empress stretched full-length straight out was the best.  I felt sympathy and admiration for the Empress as her consist went from black (engine) to red (CP diesel helper) to RR green (ca. 1920s coaches) to orangey (somethin' special for the big shots--I even detected a dome, didn't I?).  Maybe the layout was pretty traditional but I liked the idea of a straight train without need to exploit curves or angles. 

But I liked the idea of the Empress as an international train enough that I voted for the photo M. Yuhas submitted anyway.  The gleam on the top of the cars and the high position the photographer took stretch the (virtual) 800 to its furthest.  It wasn't pretty but it did have heart.

I thought the orange BNSF diesel shots was "just okay."  At first it looked almost like a parody of the old Penna. Rwy's "Champions" calendar, ca. 1945, with a steam engine, diesel-electric and GG-1 similarly posing in profile. But three of the engines were so identically catwhiskered as not to add much information to the shot (all GE's??).  The fourth engine in the rear was not part of the main mass of composition and had no role to fulfill IMHO.

You can't count on my going for charm all the time, but this time I think Mr. Yuhas had the best shot (or shots ).   - a.s.

[ValorStorm]

Had to go with Erik's, tho it was a very tough choice.

[Anonymous]

I went with the BNSF locos, although it was a tough choice.

"Down by the station, early in the morning, see the SD70s all in a row......"