Trackside Lounge

[TimChgo9]

  Jealous of those ICE pictures, Noah.  LOL.... Just kidding.  Great shots.  I love the colors, and the composition.  You and Chris take some great photos. 

Rummaging through my pile (yes,pile, not stack, or nicely organized CD tower, it's a pile in a cabinet) of CD ROM's the other day, I found these photos from about 4 years ago.  Not my best, but, the first one of the IHB switch move strikes me, only because of the drabness, and it evoked kind of an "industrial" mood from me after I looked at it.  I took the shot on a March day, almost 4 years ago, to the day, in LaGrange... it was cold, gray sky, and near lifeless landscape....

And, this one from a couple of weeks later, taken in Elmhurst just past downtown..

[nanaimo73]

Love this shot. Well done.

[CopCarSS]

Great stuff as always, Tim. Thanks for sharing!

[TimChgo9]

Dale, and Chris:  Thanks for the compliments... I love sharing photos here, and looking at the other photos that are posted. 

 

[Lord Atmo]

Very nice shots, Tim. love that switcher!

Well my Easter morning couldn't kicked off any better! Despite not getting much sleep because i HAD to catch the eastbound through Altoona. Here's why:

We start with the common stuff. UP 4035 and UP 4013 were idling in front of the yard office when i arrived. As was the roadrailer. but before i could set my camera and tripod up to take a night shot of the 2 C40-9Ws, the train pulled out. However these were not what i had come to Altoona in search of....

This was! Freed from Belvidiere at long last, 1995 paid a long-overdue visit to Altoona. Of course i was there to catch it! Even paced it along the east end of the yard for a bit. It was such a rewarding experience!

Man look at that logo shine. This unit is so full of CNW pride, I didnt even notice how cold my hands were when i was taking the picture!

All 4 units. What a great morning!

This one's for you, Dan...and anone else who likes that thing

And that one

 

[tree68]

While I doubt they'd win any contests, the "Scotchlite" shots have a certain cache about them - I especially like the first one, with the moon overhead.  Nice job!

[CNW 6000]

I really appreciate the pics Max.  I'm going to go ahead and respectfully disagree with Larry...that last pic is pretty neat.  It'd get my vote.  It kind of reminds me of the old movie Tron.

[Lord Atmo]

thanks guys.

 

oh and that's not the moon. it's the rising sun. i shot this pic at about 6:30 ish 

[CNW 6000]

That's no moon...it's a space station! 

[Lord Atmo]

I was thinking the exact same thing! i mean this IS UP after all

[CShaveRR]

Thanks for posting those shots, Max!  Glad you got to see the 1995 and friend.  I found out yesterday that they'd escaped from us.

If that's the sun, you had more light than we did this morning!  The moon was still up around 6:00, in the west.  However, it has cleared up nicely, and gotten warmer than was originally expected.

The first day of spring was marked by the bursting forth of more new UP GEVOs--NS brought in ten of them, on two separate trains.

We'll be spending my weekend (a good part of it, anyway) between DeKalb and Rochelle, watching--or trying to sleep to--UP mainline action.  Joe, Stacey, and Matt Kohnen will arrive sometime tomorrow to visit Rochelle for the first time.  Tuesday is supposed to be warm, but windy and wet.  Anyone who has spring break (or spring fever!) and is close enough, come on over to Rochelle!

[blhanel]

thanks guys.

 

oh and that's not the moon. it's the rising sun. i shot this pic at about 6:30 ish 

After looking at that shot real close, Max, I would say that it's neither the sun nor the moon- not sure what it is.  Knowing the lay of the land up there at Altoona, it would seem to me that capturing a full moon pointed in that compass direction at 6:30 in the morning would be impossible.  And if it were the sun, you wouldn't have captured stars in the shot as well. 

EDIT: Wait a minute, maybe those aren't stars, but snowflakes caught by your flash? 

[blhanel]

BTW, we spent the night last night in Clive, IA (suburb of Des Moines), and did some shopping yesterday in the area.  One place we visited is probably well-known to some of the forum members who live over there- The Brass Armadillo.  It's actually a consignment shop of sorts for antique and collectable dealers.  One item I found and bought which I thought was really interesting is a small book titled The Consolidated Code of Operating Rules, Edition of 1967.  Whoever originally owned it had also taped the Burlington Northern Signal Aspects and Indications, July 1, 1971 into the back of the book (the book didn't cover BN).  I saw lots of other fascinating items on display, including Trains Magazine editions from 1967-1968.

[TimChgo9]

Max: Great photos, the first one is cool....  Just great luck getting that snowflake in just the right spot.  It looks like a moon above the locomotives....

[Lord Atmo]

heh thanks. you suppose railpictures would think the same and let it into their site?

yeah that was one amazing night. but sadly, 1995 has returned to Chicago to run the ABEBE for, what i would imagine, another 6 months.

well my NWL FINALLY arrived today. i've been paging through it crying my eyes out (it focuses on Eau Claire and Altoona.) everything was so awesome around here back in that day.

speaking of Altoona, i caught this yesterday:

I love snoots. favorite SD40-2s on UP's fleet. If i'm gonna get these instead of the 29/30 series ones, then I believe I just got the better half of the deal!

[CShaveRR]

BTW, we spent the night last night in Clive, IA (suburb of Des Moines), and did some shopping yesterday in the area.  One place we visited is probably well-known to some of the forum members who live over there- The Brass Armadillo.  It's actually a consignment shop of sorts for antique and collectable dealers.  One item I found and bought which I thought was really interesting is a small book titled The Consolidated Code of Operating Rules, Edition of 1967.  Whoever originally owned it had also taped the Burlington Northern Signal Aspects and Indications, July 1, 1971 into the back of the book (the book didn't cover BN).  I saw lots of other fascinating items on display, including Trains Magazine editions from 1967-1968.

Did you leave us any railroad books for our next visit?

The 1967 CCOR book was the first rulebook I worked under.  How they could get the necessary rules into a book that small is beyond me.  Our current book has larger pages and is at least five times as thick.

[CNW 6000]

Max the 4/08 NWL sure has some neat info on Altoona from "back in the day" and cool pics.  I found out that the Oshkosh Public Library gets a subscription to NWL, how cool.  Tho...I suppose I should really join the HS tho...

I found this in Appleton the other day.  First time I've seen WC 3026.

I heard that was one large decal that was applied.  Must've been one biiiiig printer!

[TimChgo9]

I was out and about yesterday getting some photos.  Had a pretty nice day, so  I thought I would go click the shutter button and see what I came up with.

First:  Along the UP in Elmhurst.

 

 

And then, the previous day in Brookfield on the BNSF, as well as the day before.

Not too bad considering the fact that I had the kids with me too. (Since my first concern is their safety, pictured taking is secondary)  But, I plan on getting out more.... Hoping for a new camera for my birthday, but we shall see.  I am looking to improve some more this spring/summer with the ol' camera.  Any suggestions are welcome.. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TimChgo9]

I was out and about yesterday getting some photos.  Had a pretty nice day, so  I thought I would go click the shutter button and see what I came up with.

First:  Along the UP in Elmhurst.

 

 

And then, the previous day in Brookfield on the BNSF, as well as the day before.

Not too bad considering the fact that I had the kids with me too. (Since my first concern is their safety, pictured taking is secondary)  But, I plan on getting out more.... Hoping for a new camera for my birthday, but we shall see.  I am looking to improve some more this spring/summer with the ol' camera.  Any suggestions are welcome.. .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CShaveRR]

Good shots from the sunny side of the tracks in Elmhurst, Tim!

So, do your kids enjoy your enthusiasm when you're out train-watching, or is this where they get their practice at eye-rolling (I had one of each--voice of experience speaking here!  I believe you met the one with the positive vibes.).

[TimChgo9]

Thanks Carl!!

My daughter likes the trains, in fact she told me yesterday she likes the "rumbly sound" trains make, she just turned 6 this month.  My son, he just turned 7, likes watching them but isn't too big on the noise.  The farther from the tracks, as far as he is concerned, the better, but he enjoys watching them, and is full of questions like "Dad, where's that one going."  To which I might reply "west" or "east".... LOL.  Anyway, it's fun to take them, but setting up difficult shots, or shots closer to the tracks is out of the question when they are with me, because I have to keep an eye out of the back of my head for them, and make sure they are right by me.  Needless to say, I have passed up many a shot, but, there will always be more.

[TimChgo9]

Here's a couple more from the other day... 

At first I didn't know what to think of this first photo, but the more I looked, the more I liked the detail that I captured. Opinions, anyone/  

 

 Same with this one, not as good as the first, but it turned out okay.

 

 

[Lord Atmo]

very nice shots. i've been getting that cool power up here in Altoona too lately. and i must say it's very enjoyable!

[CShaveRR]

Speaking of cool power, I just found out today that UP was taking the 6936 out on an inspection trip next month (April).  Brian, you'll have to travel at least as far as Nevada (Iowa) or Nelson to catch it.  Max, you may be in luck this time!

Had a great time last week with Joe, Stacey, and Matt, including a meal at 2Toots in Downers Grove.  Said dinner will be reprised tonight (rainy as it is around here) with "The girls"--Pat, Ellen, Katelyn, and Emily.  Hope BNSF and Metra provide adequate distraction.  See, we can fawn over little girls here, too!

[blhanel]

The swing through Nevada, IA is actually this Friday. 

Yeah, I've gotten better advance notice on that excursion over in fuzzybroken's 3um- unfortunately, it's not advance enough to take a day off for, and as I've told the members over there, I don't think my superiors/associates at work here would appreciate me taking a five-hour lunch break.  I think the swing through Nelson will be on a week day as well.

We're planning on a possible drive to Florida in early June to assist my son/D-I-L with retrieving their cats from her folks, plus Joanie's other knee gets the bionic treatment on June 16, so all my vacation is earmarked for those events.

Better luck next time, I hope.

[CShaveRR]

Bionic knee, huh?  They can rebuild her--they can make her better!  Let's hope!

It's hard to believe that UP is doing this rather ambitious trip over two weeks and three long weekends.  In the middle of the trip they are supposed to be traveling over the site of the slide in Oregon.  Looks like they'll be everywhere from LA to the Twin Cities (including Milwaukee--Kalmbach take note!).

Had a great barbecue lunch with trains this noon.  In about 45 minutes Pat and I were treated to nine trains, including two scoots, three coal/hopper trains, two stack trains, and two manifests.  Only three of the nine were westbound, and the eastbound trains sometimes showed up in pairs.  And Tuesday's traditionally one of the slow days!

Last night's supper in Downers Grove went well--Metra kept the tracks polished, and a couple of Amtrak trains went through as well, as did one freight.  Our granddaughters didn't seem to have any trouble connecting the real trains outside with the O-scale trains that were delivering the food inside.  And, thankfully, they both know them as "trains"--not "choo-choo" or some of the other things you so often hear from the mouths of babes these days.

[Lord Atmo]

oh i'm well aware of the DDA40X's arrival up here. it's a Thursday and i fear school or work on the following Friday may interfere. rest assured i'm prepared to leap out of class and give chase if it comes (campus is next to the tracks. but i take my class in a noisy machine shop and wont hear the horn)

not to mention it has to cover the whole area between Proviso and St Paul in just 1 day. so i fear it will show up around here in the dead of night like everything else does.

[CNW 6000]

Maybe they'll send it through Neenah or FDL...and then I woke up!

Get good pics guys, I'm sure I won't get to see this one this go 'round either.

[TimChgo9]

For all of you who like to fan along the UP, or shoot photos.  THere is a new spot in Wheaton.  It's just east of County Farm Road, on the east side of the Fairgrounds.  There is a new foot bridge over the UP, or at least, it's new to me... it's called the "Lori Most Memorial Bridge" and it's a pedestrian bridge that connects a grade school with the neighborhood on the north side of the tracks.  I was up there last week, and some great sight lines, both east and west.  Only one Metra went through, but it's a spot I am going back to this Saturday for some photos. I can't remember the name of the school, but there is a driveway up to the bridge, with parking on the south side, right next to the ramp.  It was dedicated in 2007  so I am assuming it was built just last year. 

[TimChgo9]

For all of you who like to fan along the UP, or shoot photos.  THere is a new spot in Wheaton.  It's just east of County Farm Road, on the east side of the Fairgrounds.  There is a new foot bridge over the UP, or at least, it's new to me... it's called the "Lori Most Memorial Bridge" and it's a pedestrian bridge that connects a grade school with the neighborhood on the north side of the tracks.  I was up there last week, and some great sight lines, both east and west.  Only one Metra went through, but it's a spot I am going back to this Saturday for some photos. I can't remember the name of the school, but there is a driveway up to the bridge, with parking on the south side, right next to the ramp.  It was dedicated in 2007  so I am assuming it was built just last year.  

nics