Hello!
This week, Trackside with Trains.com is joined by Trains magazine editor Jim Wrinn. See some of Jim's recent photos, as well as our old buddy Mike Yuhas (including another less-than-impressive photo of Mike... on the ground... covered in snow).
Read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 87.
Click here to vote then add your comments about this week's photos here.
Erik
Jim's image of the sleek, modern Acela trainsets just didn't move me emotionally. It just somehow doesn't look or feel like 'real' railroading.
Mike's very poignant shot of that lonely, little, lost wayfreight, out in the middle of nowhere, cold, dark, with snow piled on the front, exhaust smoke drifing away, spoke to me much more eloquently. (Plus the composition and lighting were excellent).
Voted for Mike.
I had a couple of thoughts as I was going through this.
Before I opened the story: "Mike's going to go up against a Shay!"
After I read the story: "I'll bet I know how WSOR 3801's going to vote!"
Unfortunately for Mr. Wrinn, so am I. And so is my wife. To each of us, the WSOR shot was just more interesting. As always, photographic talent, composure, etc., don't influence me too much, though the "sweet light" shot did something for Mike's photo. Pat thought it wa a sunrise shot. But how cold would that have been?
An aside: the best shot I ever took, in my opinion, was with a Kodak Instamatic camera in 1970--caught a consist of F3s on GTW at Battle Creek, not too far from one of their brand-new SD40s. I got the red nose of the CN-lettered F3 in fantastic sweet light. Timing is everything! Color helps, too.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
....Voted for the Acela photo....Just a little different.
I did so before I checked who the photographer was.
Just seem to like a photo that appears a bit different....Different perspective. And of course the Acela profile helps make that difference.
Quentin
S-P-E-E-D. Even if they are sitting still.
Mikes shot was nice, but there was too much dead space in the picture - a nice landscape with a train in it, versus a train in an interesting landscape.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
zardoz wrote:Jim's image of the sleek, modern Acela trainsets just didn't move me emotionally. It just somehow doesn't look or feel like 'real' railroading.Mike's very poignant shot of that lonely, little, lost wayfreight, out in the middle of nowhere, cold, dark, with snow piled on the front, exhaust smoke drifing away, spoke to me much more eloquently. (Plus the composition and lighting were excellent).Voted for Mike.
Rocket Man, try for a seat on the left side of the train, headed north out of DC. In case you're into timing mileposts, that's where you'll find 'em.
I forgot to mention that, from an artistic standpoint, Jim's shot out of the observation car was a knockout! If I were my wife, that would become a quilted wall-hanging!
Jim - Welcome to Trackside with Trains. You have a very unique perspective on railroading and incorporating the world in which trains travel. The pictures you took in the Washington Metro station and on the NYC car are photographically excellent. Of everything you shared with us today the shot of the NYC car with the flowers and track trailing off into the distance was my favorite.
Mike - Your ability to take a photo at the same location yet have it look different every time is amazing. Your shot of CN 6104 is truly the "Best of Show" if today’s edition of Trackside with Trains.
As far as voting is concerned, I really haven’t' decided yet. Both entries have unique merits that draw me to them. I'm going to have to think about it for a while before I decide.
Jim you almost got me on this one, but Mike's was just a touch better. I loved the shot out the rear observation window, but was disappointed that the flowers weren't in focus as well.
Tough choices this time.
I found my first reaction to the Acela's to be . . . why not mag-lev?? Let's get it on and enter the 21st century.
Allen
I agree with Zardoz.
"Mike's very poignant shot of that lonely, little, lost wayfreight, out in the middle of nowhere, cold, dark, with snow piled on the front, exhaust smoke drifing away, spoke to me much more eloquently."
The photo of the Acela reminds me of looking at the Stanley Steamer in the museum located in the basement of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO. The Acela isn't working, it is just sitting and doing nothing. The Stanley Steam car in the museum isn't working either - both are out of their environment and doing nothing. Yes, the Acela is in a railroad station, but it is doing nothing and there is nothing in the image that has to do with the work that locomotives are built to do.
The WSOR locomotive and its crew are in their environment, and the photograph talks to me about the uncompromising nature of wintertime railroading. This image causes me to think of long ago D&RG railroaders in Gunnison, Colorado - where the temperature just a few weeks ago was minus 38 degrees F.
From Northern Colorado - USA
The Acela's (Acelii?) {Acelae: thanks CopCarSS!} looked to me like some kind of 'toy'. That picture just didn't impress me. Having never seen one in person, that picture didn't make me go "Wow, I've gotta see/ride that thing!" If you had caught one at speed, perhaps, that might be a bit different.
The WSOR shot...well 'nuff has been said about it. It got my vote.
Dan
CNW 6000 wrote: The Acela's (Acelii?)
The Acela's (Acelii?)
I think the name "Acela" is a bit of imagineering, and probably doesn't have to play by the rules of Latin pluralization. Still, if it were Latin derived, it would probably be a member of the first declension. As such, the nominative plural would be "Acelae." I think you're safe with "Acelas," though, Dan!
I liked both shots this week, but Mike's was a nice "trainscape" in the words of the late Gary J. Benson, so it got my vote.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
I like Jim's shot out the tail of Hickory Creek almost as much as your WSOR shot.
His first Metro shot was well lit and captured the formal elegance of the station (typical of most older underground stations) with the centered shot.
I liked both better than the Acela nose shot.
Nice to have Trains Editor Jim Wrinn along for the ride on this week's edition!
I think the best thing about Jim's shot is how the three Acelas are lined up so well. With the reflection of the overhead station lights, it almost looks like they're units straight out of the shop! I've never had the pleasure of viewing the Acelas up close (the closest I've ever gotten to them is running them on MSTS) and Jim's shot gives a pleasant image of what it must be like.
Mike's shot has a few extra details that seem to draw the appeal in me. Admittedly, the snow build-up in front of the lead engine is a bit distracting for me, but the lighting is superb and strongly evokes a quaint rural feel, almost Holiday-like. If it weren't for the snow, I would recommend putting the shot on a Christmas card. It is also a short local train, something I am more used to seeing and thus can relate with more. For that reason, I would have to choose Mike's shot this week (actually, I like Mike's shot of the UP Sheboygan Turn even better than this one; wish he'd chosen that one for the vote).
Awesome to hear also that a fellow forum member is at the throttle of the engine in Mike's shot!
- Bryan
I'd have to agree with many of the others here. If Jim had borrowed a small plane and gotten a good pacing shot of the Acelas, it would be a winning shot. But with three of them lined up there and sitting pretty in the undecorated part of the station, it just doesn't call to me.
Mike's shot on the other hand....as others have said, is a decent scenery shot with an interesting train in it. Given that i've been out in that sort of cold here in Michigan recently, I've given Mike my sympathetic vote.
Now, if he had used a long lens to get up tighter to the front with the loco-berg and the people inside the cab, THAT could have been an interesting picture.
Jim's picture of the shiny clean Acela's was nice, but I must admit that as much as I'm tired of winter, Mike's picture just made we want to say "WOW!!! what snowbank did that train just pass through.????!!!. A unique and emotional photograph.
While the future is clearly evident in Jim's shot and his comments on pg 4 of the March 08 issue of Trains are music to this readers ears, I find that the nostalgia factor kicked in as I looked at Mike's shot. I've spent a number of years wading through winters like the one pictured here, so Mike gets my vote this time. Either way, great work guys.
I am a sucker for a train and snow.Add the white stuff and I want to own it.You rock Mike.Brad Busse
Walkin' the Rails
CopCarSS wrote: CNW 6000 wrote: The Acela's (Acelii?) I think the name "Acela" is a bit of imagineering, and probably doesn't have to play by the rules of Latin pluralization. Still, if it were Latin derived, it would probably be a member of the first declension. As such, the nominative plural would be "Acelae." I think you're safe with "Acelas," though, Dan! I liked both shots this week, but Mike's was a nice "trainscape" in the words of the late Gary J. Benson, so it got my vote.
Shortly after arriving on the property to head up Amtrak, Dave Gunn said he always thought Acela was the space under the living room.
Just lurking now, will be back with a vote and comments later.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Went with Mike's photo, though Jim's D.C. shots (assuming he meant Washington DC) in the Metro were more interesting than the Acela engines. May have had more votes Jim's way had he submitted one of the "subway" shots.
Anyway Jim -- I immensely enjoy your articles in Trains Magazine. Thanks
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
Gosh, I can't believe no one's mentioned anything about the abonimable snowman...
Mike: The Saukville night shot would have been a much better choice.
Jim: Should have gone with the Metro motion shot...it was definitely a winner!
mikeyuhas wrote: Gosh, I can't believe no one's mentioned anything about the abonimable snowman...
Actually Mike you have never looked more graceful than in that picture. Disney on Ice will be calling for sure.
Dave Nelson
Dave, not only was that cruel, it was just plain Goofy!
Duh-HYUK!
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