The all new Trackside with Trains, Vol. 81

[DadH]

Once again the Night Shot says it (almost) all. Had to vote with my preferences, but Andy's shot had a lot going for it tho I felt a little closer zoom would have been better. As someone failed to point out, the grafittied car was unavoidable. Here in the Far Southwest, that is about all you do see.  If you don't see it, be VERY grateful. DadH

[dreams]

Mike - I really liked your night shots and had to gladly give you my vote  Where did Andy get the idea that they had 6-axle power?  I have seen hundreds of trains on that sub & don't ever recall seeing 6-axle power.  How to you find out when a train is tied down?   I really enjoyed Andy's shots also, especially the WSOR shot.  I see them frequently on the Saukville sub also, on their way to Random Lake & thereabouts.  I look forward to your new competition.  Chuck

[Chris Owens]

Mike, Excellent job !!!! 

[mikeyuhas]

Not bad... for a ballerina!

Thanks, Rocket Man, I think!

[mandelswamp]

Andy, welcome to the Trackside photo contest.  I think your Wisconsin & Southern train HJ2 at Whitewater photo is very impressive due to the dark blue of the water and the candy apple red coloring of the locomotives.  Your submittal for the contest, the UP M-BUVP28 train at Lebanon is also quite nice for the reasons that you mention.  I particularly liked the farm in the upper left and the graffiti covered blue box car on the right.  However, Mike's submittal to the contest simply has a lot more WOW factor.  It is the type of shot that I like to see on in a Trains calendar.  So my vote this time went to the Trackside with Erik and Mike veteran, Mike Yuhas.

[LVJJJ]

the ghost gets my vote.  wonderful shot of an interesting consist Andy, but Mike's shot borders on greatness 

[NYC]

Andy your shots of countryside railroading were very good but I think Mike decided to take advantage of the new kid on the block and post a very impressive night photograph.  The lighting off the side of the train adds to the magnificent effect.  It has been a long time since I felt such a lopsided pull to one of the photographs in the competition.

Andy, don't give up, next time load up for bear.

 

 

[BNENGR]

I thought that Andy's photo was very nicely done but have to give my vote to Mike for the great night shot!

[Stephen Clark]

Welcome Andy, Both photos were great again making for a hard decision again. The Tunnel Motor would have looked better in black and orange. The night photo was great and one of the best that I have ever seen. I voted for Mike's photo. Keep up the good work.
Steve C

[islandbridgejct]

I went for Andy's shot. From this side of the broad Atlantic, it's an icon of American railroading: plains, grain, a farm in the distance, and a train running through it. Mike's picture reminds me too much of the time the ghost train came down our branch - still sends shivers down my spine thinking about it.

[loadmaster747]

Mike, your ghostly shot was excellent; we've come to expect nothing less from you.  But,  Andy's shot gets my vote this installment.  Why, you might ask?  I have to confess to a huge soft spot in my heart for any "fallen flag" railroad that had Chicago in its name... Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago, Milwaukee, St.Paul & Pacific, and of course Chicago & Northwestern.  Add the rural Midwestern setting, the fact that the train is in motion, and toss in a tunnel motor, and my choice was easier than many of your past battles with Erik.  Welcome, Andy, and keep up the good work!

P.S. I don't think I have ever seen a Golden West freight car that DIDN'T have graffiti!

 

[Partsman_ba]

Hey all, hate to be too hard on Andy, but doesn't putting the consist right down the middle of the photo violate basic composition rules? Just didn't pop for me! On the other hand, Mike's shot is so artistic it makes me want to stay up all night and try to get an image with just a little of the mojo he captured! Lens flare be damned (to tell the truth, I wear glasses, so lens flare looks normal to me!)

[broarthur]

First off, I'm going to enjoy seeing what Andy and his "railfanning dog",  Scout, is going to bring us in the future.  His first shot in my opinion is a beauty.  I think Mike snookered him with the night shot though, it got my vote.  Both of you keep up the good work. 

[Anonymous]

I like the subject matter in both shots.... Andy, when I first saw the tumbnail, I was expecting something a little more crisp that kind of popped off of the screen, with lots of color and sharpness to the photo. Unfortunately that didn't happen when I looked the larger version.

On the other hand Mike's shot had a lot of sharp edges and a clean look that I really liked. Especially since it was a night shot.

So this week I gotta go with the veteran's submission and vote for Mike's CN photo...

[Bergie]

I guess I'm the only guy who doesn't like the LED-looking headlights in Mike's shots. I know, it's a tradeoff of doing white balancing, but I don't like it.

Welcome to the party, Andy. I have a set of replacement teeth in my desk drawer if you'd like to borrow them.   (Trust me, I've felt this type of pain before.)

Irregardless (), hats off to both of you for a fine first installment of Trackside with Trains.com. (Remember kids... irregardless is not a word, it's a double negative.)

Bergie

[zardoz]

I guess I'm the only guy who doesn't like the LED-looking headlights in Mike's shots. I know, it's a tradeoff of doing white balancing, but I don't like it.

Welcome to the party, Andy. I have a set of replacement teeth in my desk drawer if you'd like to borrow them.   (Trust me, I've felt this type of pain before.)

Irregardless (), hats off to both of you for a fine first installment of Trackside with Trains.com. (Remember kids... irregardless is not a word, it's a double negative.)

Bergie

From Merriam-Webster's dictionary:

Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less Pronunciation: \?ir-i-'gärd-l?s\ Function: adverb Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless Date: circa 1912

nonstandard : regardless usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.

http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless

[ONR 1737]

I truly enjoy this section and congratulate Trains.  As we go through voting for photos I feel sometimes its just a gut reaction to a shot (which is valid) but could Trains establish some criteria for voting such as technical merit, composition, etc.? 

 

Thanks for a great web site and a fun idea.   

[monttrak6]

That night shot with a short train is most wonderful. It is the kind of shot I hope to emulate on my in progess model railroad. That picture is RR'ing to me... branch line out of the way non-main, non-unit train, non-traditional!!!

hands down a WINNER. not thst the CNW shot didn't garner some desire to vote for it... but the single unit sitting there in nowhere bought it !!! 

 

[espeefoamer]

Mike's night shot wins! The all gray SD40-2 along with theghostlyweeds,made an excellent photo.

[jcamelots]

I have to state up front that I'm a little bias toward daytime photography, and in this case the COLOR in Andy's shot won me over rather easily. Also, I don't really subscribe to the assumption that because good night photography is more DIFFICULT, it should get extra points in a day-night comparison.