Trackside Lounge

[CopCarSS]

Quentin - Thanks for the comment. The railroading only gets rougher west of these shots!

Murph - Only one camera, but it's my Digital SLR. When I import the shots, sometimes I do a B&W conversion just for kicks. I don't think the B&W shots look quite as good as if I was shooting B&W film, but if I do it right, it usually doesn't look too bad.

[Murphy Siding]

     Chris:  Do you carry 2 cameras at a time, one with color film, one with B&W?

[Modelcar]

....Enjoyed your varied photos Chris.  Big open, rough county to get a RR through.

[CopCarSS]

Went out for a quick jaunt along the Moffat Line this morning. Caught the following:

C&C always welcome!

[Modelcar]

.....Carl:  One way or another, we'll make sure you get to the "depot" here in Muncie.  Depending what time you might be in this area you can take just a short walk {north}, from the depot, and see 3 railway bridges at the crossing of White River.  One the Trail has been built across on, ex C&0....and a double span thru girder bridge, abandoned back in the early '70's....It was used by the Pennsylvania.  They must of had trackage rights in to Muncie from Anderson to get to it via {back then}, NYC.....And one more, the NS {active}, RR bridge just south of these that is the New Castle line.  These are just a quarter mile, or less...north of the depot.  It is too bad you won't have time and your bikes to check out this trail....It is a nice one.  Almost 30 miles of it and it will eventually be continous to Richmond. 

Not sure if you know Muncie Carl....but I'll state the location of the depot just so you have it.  It is just a bit north east of the Muncie downtown.  Located at: Intersection of Broadway and Wysor St.  {Broadway has been changed to Martin L. King recently and I really don't know what the signs indicate at this point}.

If you approach Muncie from I-69...you would come east on Exit to 332rd. {McGalliard}.....and preceed for about 10 miles and you will pass the Muncie Mall on your left, and immediately cross the NS RR and then turn right on Broadway...{Martin L. King}, and come south a mile or a bit more and you cross the RR again....The depot is on your right at that point....Cross the RR and in several hundred feet turn right; into the depot {Trailhead}, parking lot...Paved.

[Willy2]

We Midwesterners are enjoying along string of amazingly warm days--we might make it down to the average high tonight.  I have to work tomorrow, but I know somebody who's taking full advantage of it.  Enjoy your visit to Camp Mookie, Willy, and give our best to Mookie and the Driver.

Pat and I may be able to spend a bit of Monday afternoon at Rochelle, after visiting our favorite apple farm well north of there.

A couple of weeks hence we'll be going into northern and central Indiana, on a Forum-based trip:  we'll see the depot-turned-trailhead at Muncie (Quentin, too, we hope!), and the railroad museum in Monon.  Then we'll scarf up a turkey leg at Valparaiso (with Valpo Ed?) before heading to work the following morning.  Colors should be nearing their peak by then.

Thanks Carl! The weather should be excellent. I just hope BNSF treats us as well as they usually do at Camp Mookie.

BTW, I didn't manage to see the CNW engines yesterday. Just didn't have time to go searching for them.

[CShaveRR]

We Midwesterners are enjoying along string of amazingly warm days--we might make it down to the average high tonight.  I have to work tomorrow, but I know somebody who's taking full advantage of it.  Enjoy your visit to Camp Mookie, Willy, and give our best to Mookie and the Driver.

Pat and I may be able to spend a bit of Monday afternoon at Rochelle, after visiting our favorite apple farm well north of there.

A couple of weeks hence we'll be going into northern and central Indiana, on a Forum-based trip:  we'll see the depot-turned-trailhead at Muncie (Quentin, too, we hope!), and the railroad museum in Monon.  Then we'll scarf up a turkey leg at Valparaiso (with Valpo Ed?) before heading to work the following morning.  Colors should be nearing their peak by then.

[SALfan]

Thought of another place where one can find traces of a fallen flag.  In Staunton, VA (in the Shenandoah Valley) some of the RR overpasses are still labeled "C&O For Progress", or whatever their slogan was.

Also, in Washington DC across the street from McPherson Square there is an office building with "Southern Railway" cast into the brass (I assume) door frame at one of the entrances.  Guess this was Southern's headquarters, back in the day. 

[CopCarSS]

One of the "remnants" I definately want to shoot this November is the Bridge Abutments on the former IC in Polo, IL. In all the years that my family has been going to White Pines State Park (since about 1987 or so???) I've never shot a BN/BNSF train coming through those abutments. That'll definately change this year.

Speaking of that IC line, was that part of the fabled "Gruber" line?

[TimChgo9]

For years on Taft Ave in Berkely, the crossing for the Chicago and Great Western was left in the street. I often wondered what it was like, to see freight trains back in the day.  I have very vague recollections of trains passing behind my grade school when I was in kindergarten, and also vague recollections of the tracks being torn up,which would be about 1971 or 1972 (I was just 5 or 6 back then)  If you travel west on the Illinois Prairie path, right before the CN (ex ICG) tracks, you can still see some old concrete supports which must have held the signals for the crossing. In a couple of ther places, concrete blocks, with bolts protruding out of them, must have been where the semaphore, or other signals were located. These days they are hard to find, but if you look, you can still see evidence of the old right of way..... One day, several years ago (more like high school) I found a piece of metal stamped "CGW" not sure what it was or where it came from. I have since lost it, lord only knows where it went, and a friend of my brother's found a white sign with some numbers painted vertically on it.... could it have come from an old signal? It was rusted to death, and the white paint was mostly missing. 

[CNW 6000]

Reminds me of a lone tie I found in the woods outside of the small town I visited my grandparents in.  It was in an old ROW in the woods with a pair of rusted spikes in it all by itself.  No rails left, other ties rotted and gone.  To see what it saw...

[G Mack]

Hello everyone,

   I love to find remnants of the past railroads, such as an emblem on a bridge, an old freight house with a fallen-flag slogan written on it, or an old piece of equipment long abandoned and forgotten. They make me stop and go back in time to an America that we won't ever see again.

   One that I remember is a boxcar that I came across in Texas. I had been on a trip way down in the southern part of Texas to see the King Ranch near it's namesake city of Kingsville. On the way back home I got to ramblin' off down back roads, a favorite past-time of mine. I came across an abandoned factory of some type out on the south Texas plains and stopped to explore. It had apparently had rail service at one time but the tracks were long since gone. Following the old rails around to the back of the site I was amazed to find a Great Northern boxcar still sitting on a spur next to what was once a dock. It had the non-roller bearing trucks on it, the kind you had to pour oil into for lubrication. Surprisingly, there wasn't any grafitti scrawled on it yet. It had all of its reporting marks and, the best part, the emblem of the Great Northern mountain goat on each side. Everything was rusty, but still clearly visible. I can't think of a reason why it got left behind and stranded way out there on the plains of south Texas.

   Like Chris said, it makes me somewhat melacholy to see these emblems of the past slowly corroding away into oblivion. I look at things like that old Great Northern car and wonder what stories it would tell if only it could speak. It is most probable that, back in it's glory days, it was pulled by steam over Marias Pass, shuffled countless times through Chicago yards, experienced the snows of the north country and the heat of the sourhwest, saw well-polished mainlines, and lonely, weed-choked industrial spurs. Now, it will count down it's remaining days in the silence and solitude of the Texas plains.

Gregory

   
 

[tree68]

When the RR bridge over NYS28 in Thendara (Old Forge), NY was replaced a couple of years ago, it was neatly lettered (herald and all) "New York Central".

[Murphy Siding]

     Speaking of names and railroad bridges......The town of Rock Rapids, Iowa has a park, known as Island Park.  It's down by the Rock River, and features a small island.  I didn't see why this island had a park named after it, but what the heck.  The best thing about the park, is that it is *under* a long, abandonded railroad bridge.  Somehow, I never put 2 and 2 together, until someone explained Island Park to me.  He said part of the sign fell down, and no one ever fixed it.  When he was a kid, the sign read: "Rock Island Park"-named for the railroad whose bridge went overhead. ( Me=)

[CopCarSS]

I wonder why the RRs stopped painting their names on the overpasses.

I would guess that many of the labeled bridges were labeled when they were new. I don't think there are lots of new railroad bridges over roads being built, so there aren't any opportunities for new signs.

Additionally, I would guess that re-labeling old bridges would be an expensive exercise without much pay out. Since the country has switched to air/road travel, the RR's public image doesn't mean as much to them (e.g. they aren't competing for riders, so the advertising isn't as important).

There's also the fact that it could be a little repeptitive to replace signs. With the notable exception of the Union Pacific, there aren't any railroads that have kept the same name for any real lengths of time.

[spokyone]

I wonder why the RRs stopped painting their names on the overpasses.

[CShaveRR]

And long may they live!

I believe that near the airport in Grand Rapids is the only railroad overpass that was ever lettered for the Chessie System.  Haven't seen it myself.

Another overpass--this one recently surviving a massive road reconstruction on Interstates 80 and 294--proudly carries the "C&EI" over eight lanes of highway traffic.

I remember crossbucks with "PMRR" stencilled on the posts, more than thirty years after the Pere Marquette disappeared.

And The crossing of CSX and the railroad formerly known as Tuscola & Saginaw Bay hear Howell, Michigan, is named Annpere--for the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette.

Let's hope that the half-dozen or so western suburbs of Chicago that have a "Burlington Avenue" never change their names to "BNSF Way" or something similar.  And there a couple of communities along the Illinois Prairie Path that once had streets with the same name.  Elmhurst now has Prairie Path Road, but Berkeley still has "Electric Avenue", in honor of the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin.  Guess which I prefer! 

 

[CopCarSS]

I can't remember any specific examples off of the top of my head, but I always love finding references to railroads long gone. One time while wandering around by the CNW in Sterling, IL, I found a huge Burlington Placard that I'm guessing probably came off one of the steamers that was sent to Northwestern Steel and Wire as scrap.

On the one hand, it was a neat find, but on the other hand, it was kind of melancholic. It made me remember tales of NSW's unofficial slogan: "A locomotive in every box of nails!"

NSW was kind of a frustrating place for me, too. They ran steam in regular service into my lifetime, but not by much. It's tough to know that just 50 miles or so west of me there was real, live, everyday steam but I was too young to appreciate it(or even recognize it...I'm a 1980 model, and I think the fires were dropped for the last time at NSW in '81).

[Modelcar]

....Not too many years ago when they removed our "union Station" here in Muncie it still carried a sign {cut in masonry}, above one of the entrances:  "C  C  C & SL RR".  I believe that piece of stone was salvaged during building demolition.  I'd bet it's still somewhere around Muncie.  I have a picture of it somewhere in my collections here....

Another one I have noticed for years....Near Washington, Pa., on I-70 one can see on an overhead RR bridge:  B&O complete with Capitol dome logo.

I'm sure back in my western Pa. home area one can find lots of B&O and Pennsylvania logo's.  I know the station {along former Pennsy}, in Johnstown carries beautiful brass or gold leaf lettering..."Pennsylvania RR" high up on the street side of the building.  It is still an Amtrak stop.

[SALfan]

not to barge in....but....hiya .....while at work today driving west on I-94 in Detroit i passed under an old RR bridge and whatcha know.....it still had a PC moniker on it.....granted rusted faded and barely readable...but you could still see the noodles....got me thinkin....what other lil tid bits have you all run across like that.....and do your wives look at you funny when you see that and yell....LOOK LOOK PENN CENTRAL!!!

Several years ago while cruising along the interstate (I-70?) well west of Baltimore saw a RR bridge abutting the right-of-way marked "Western Maryland".  Rails and other traces of the RR were gone at that point.

On CSX between Waycross and Thomasville, GA, there are a couple of bridges still marked "ACL RR".

There are several places on the old SAL where you can see concrete overpasses (over the highway) with "Seaboard 1929" cast into the concrete.  The two locations that come to mind are between Petersburg, VA and Norlina, NC (abandoned) and in Tallahassee, FL.  The SAL must have built a bunch of overpasses in 1929 for that many to still be standing.

[Poppa_Zit]

The photo of the compressor reminded me of a question I always wanted to ask.

In the pre-electric days, how did they operate the huge fans at the top of the vertical shafts that exhausted smoke and gasses from long tunnels? I'd assume steam power. Did they have 24-hour, 7-day crews up there on duty? How did they move fuel and water up the mountain to operate the steam engines? Or did they use a system of belts and pulleys from srteam engines at track level? Did the fans operate only when a train came through?

The shafts on the tunnels at Gallitzin, Pa., and Gray Summit, Mo, have been sealed since the steam era. Do any still exist in operation?

[TimChgo9]

As I did with Noah, I checked out your stuff on your EyeFetch site. You have some lovely images! It all goes to show that equipment is nice, and that any camera/lens is just a tool for the most important piece of camera gear: the person behind the camera!

Chris.  Thank you so much for taking the time to view my photos, and thank you for the compliments!  I really appreciate them.  You are right though, a camera is merely a tool.  The last two shots you posted of the steam train...I am just agog over the color depth.... it is so amazing, the greens on the trees just pops right out... Great photos!

Noah, I also checked your photos out as well  Excellent work... you have a great eye.  I enjoyed going through your portfolio.  Great work.

[CopCarSS]

Quentin- It is an air compressor up on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. I think they used compressed air at the mines for a multitude of purposes, but mostly to power "widowmaker" air drills and for pumping water.

Willy- Good to see you here! Is all going well with your classes. If you do manage to catch the CNW consist, see if you can keep it headed west instead of sending it back east!

[Willy2]

You think you're frustrated, Noah...

Sometime this morning, behind my back, somebody put UP 1995 (the CNW Heritage unit) between the two remaining CNW-lettered Dash 9s, and sent them west on MPRCB.    They should make it to Willy's neighborhood sometime tomorrow, and back to us on Saturday.  Frustrating for me, but I hope somebody who wants to can take advantage of this heads-up.

Thanks for the heads-up Carl! I suppose they'll sneak through while I'm still at school. Maybe though, just maybe I'll get lucky. Even if I don't get out tomorrow, the weather will be pretty good through Saturday. Even a bit hot with highs in the upper 80s. Not very much like fall yet.

Chris - Excellent pictures! Wish I could take pictures like those, but I don't really have the patience to learn how. Not enough time either with school going full blast right now.

[CShaveRR]

You think you're frustrated, Noah...

Sometime this morning, behind my back, somebody put UP 1995 (the CNW Heritage unit) between the two remaining CNW-lettered Dash 9s, and sent them west on MPRCB.    They should make it to Willy's neighborhood sometime tomorrow, and back to us on Saturday.  Frustrating for me, but I hope somebody who wants to can take advantage of this heads-up.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Thanks, Noah. I don't think you have to aspire too hard, though. I browsed through your railroad galleries and was really impressed. You have a great eye, and are light years ahead of where I was when I was your age. Keep it up!

Thanks, Chris. Coming from you, I consider it quite a compliment!

Not much in the way of railroading going on from me. I live at the end of a branch line that served three times a week by a local from the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad, and usually at night, so I don't get to see much on a day to day basis. Wish it was a daylight run instead...

Noah

[Modelcar]

....Nice crisp, clear photos Chris.  I wonder just what the function was of that machine in pic. # 2.....Is it an air compressor or an old internal combustion engine....?  And I wonder what it did out there in the wilderness.....?   Possibly a pump to supply water to a water tank.....?

[CopCarSS]

So I'm starting to plan out a weekend excursion (though I can't wander too far...have to watch the Rockies!). We've got a pretty good cold front coming through, and it sounds like we'll have some precipitation as well.

Cool, wet autumnal weather always makes for nice saturated fall color photos, and I think I may wander up towards the GLRR. The color may be a bit past prime up there now, but hopefully I can find something on the tail end of the color season.

There's a trail acessible from the Silver Plume cemetery that allows access to some scenic places to catch the train that differs from the normal spots where photogs go. It's a little steep, so I don't think I'll bring any of the big gear, but it should be nice. Here's a couple shots taken last year pre-fall color (Labor Day, IIRC):

So how about the rest of you? Any weekend plans in the works as we cross mid-week?

[CopCarSS]

The whole gallery with the new lens is really awesome, the sorts of things I aspire to be able to take someday.

Thanks, Noah. I don't think you have to aspire too hard, though. I browsed through your railroad galleries and was really impressed. You have a great eye, and are light years ahead of where I was when I was your age. Keep it up!

Those are some gorgeous shots.  I love the color depth and the DOF as well. The close ups of the botte, and the Singer sewing machine are awesome.  I gotta get me a camera like that..... one day.... 

Thanks, Tim. Believe it or not, the camera I used was still just my lowly Pentax K100D. You can find them under $400 now that the K100D Super is out (same camera, but the Super has some refinements that are nice but not necessary). You could also look around for an older *ist DS or *ist DL. Those should be around $200-$300 on everybody's favorite auction site. The lens I used was a little pricey, but you could pick up an FA 50mm f1.4 that gives almost the same look in a slightly shorter focal length for under $200.

As I did with Noah, I checked out your stuff on your EyeFetch site. You have some lovely images! It all goes to show that equipment is nice, and that any camera/lens is just a tool for the most important piece of camera gear: the person behind the camera!

Anyways, thanks again guys for the nice comments!

[TimChgo9]

OK, second try at this...

So on the topic of cameras/photography, I picked up a new lens (which isn't that big of a surprise given that I have an affliction called Lens Buying Addiction or LBA for short). What is different is that this particular lens has been called the best autofocus lens ever by at least one lens guru.

The lens I'm talking about is Pentax's gorgeous little FA 77mm f1.8 Limited. You can read a little bit about it, and the other "Limiteds" over here.

I had always thought that article was a bit of hyperbole, but I've needed a nice little short telephoto for awhile. Besides, there's a bit of a cult following of this lens. Many users claim that they will be buried with theirs. I know of at least one guy that got a tattoo of the lens formula on his arm. There has to be something to it, right?

I got a chance to exercise mine a bit this weekend when I went down to Cañon City, CO for a meet-up with some other Pentax shooters at the 2007 Harvest Festival at the Abbey Winery. In just one day, I became a member of the cult following. I may just have mine buried with me!

The lens is oh so sharp wide open, and gets stupidly sharp when stopped down. There's a lot of lenses that do that, though. What makes this one different is the subtle details. The way that color is rendered. The faithful reproduction of skin tones. The bokeh (out-of-focus blur). The last one is a major point. In short, this is a lens that I'm not yet confident in my abilities to use to its full potential. There's definately a learning curve that goes into it. It should be a fun trip learning to use it effectively, though!

Anyways, enough of my jabbering. Here's a couple shots taken at the Cañon City & Royal Gorge railroad before I headed over to the Harvest Fest, and a couple showing the beautiful bokeh that this bugger can deliver:

If you're interested, all of my shots from the outing can be seen here.

Sorry this was a little long...I guess I just got a little excited.

Chris,

Those are some gorgeous shots.  I love the color depth and the DOF as well. The close ups of the botte, and the Singer sewing machine are awesome.  I gotta get me a camera like that..... one day....