This week, Andy Cummings from Trains magazine joins Drew Halverson and shares photos of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) from his recent trip to South Dakota.
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Click here to vote then add your comments about this week's photos here.
Erik
I liked the unique angle Drew used for the CN shot. I am, however, appalled by the incredible danger inherent in what he did. What if that train had hit a car or pedestrian? I've seen many railfans taking pictures or just watching trains from the opposite side (from direction of movement) of crossings for many years, and each time I had a brief moment of concern for the photographer should my train hit something or someone. I somehow think that he did not follow the "100'"rule. Having said that, it is an interesting shot.
My favorite of Andy's shots is the one of the DM&E going over the bridge. My second favorite is the one he submitted: with the horses. My third favorite is the one climbing Wall hill. All of his images are (to me) composed well, show the location well, are very colorful, and overall are quite nice. Each one could be a calendar shot for the DM&E.
Andy by a landslide.
WOW...Loved the shots of D M & E and my olde stomping ground.MADE ME HOMESICK... Almost. As KELO-TV Bureau Chief in Aberdeen in early 90's, got down round PEER an Mitchell occaisionly... Chasing was never a problem what with a 10MPH embargo most of the time. Loved seeing those rustyolde CNW SD9'S shuttleing nawth to svc the elevators south of Aberdeen then headin' up to cnxn with BN.
Down heah in the heart of dixie (mungummrie) all we've got is CSX, with an occaisonal visit from NS via the olde G M & O line...Or go east to Columbus for Gawgia SouthWestern...ANYWHO:if ya'al ever start a "video trackside"... let me know. Have some interesting vid stashed away from my stays in IOWAY, MICHIGAN ETC. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...Love seeing all the rusty ole SOO LINE STUFF.
Dave Finger APTV.
I love both shots - it's like asking which of your children you love best.
I would have voted for the DM&E train at the lattice truss bridge. Does anyone have a shot of the North Western, steam or diesel, at this location?
$4 a gallon sure put a crimp on my train chasing. Luckily, being a senior, I can ride all over Metra for free. Unexpectedly caught a UP switch job backing out of a siding at Pingree Road waiting to return on the UPNW. Missed an afternoon freight, mostly empty auto racks to Janesville though.
I'd like a contemporary shot of the UP at the bridge over the Fox River. There's a park along the river to shoot from 3-4 blocks west of the Fox River Grove station. You can get a drink of water at the library along the way.
Of the two selected for competition, I like the DM&E shot better, and voted that way. There's a lot to be said for viewing a great deal of a given train in the distance (one of the reasons I like the area between Meredith and Cortland along Illinois 38 so much!), because it gives one a true sense of what we're really doing out there.
As for the ditch shot, I think I'll stand apalled with Jim--if something should come at you, there's no place to go. It doesn't have to be catastrophic: for example, I've seen a stake bopping along the tracks at the end of a lading strap still held by the load in a flat car. And what did you gain from it? A totally weird angle on a CN unit (it might be the paint scheme that makes it weird; a more solid-colored unit might look better).
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)
zardoz wrote: I liked the unique angle Drew used for the CN shot. I am, however, appalled by the incredible danger inherent in what he did. What if that train had hit a car or pedestrian? I've seen many railfans taking pictures or just watching trains from the opposite side (from direction of movement) of crossings for many years, and each time I had a brief moment of concern for the photographer should my train hit something or someone. I somehow think that he did not follow the "100'"rule. Having said that, it is an interesting shot.
I feel like I have to agree with zardoz...it does seem to be a rather dangerous position but beside the point of the whole matter it is a great shot. But I think the animals in Andy's shot capture the mood of the moment better. So Andy gets my vote! Otherwise all the shots are really great. Keep up the good works guys!
I went with the horses... I would not normally go with the wider angle shot, but the barn, horses and the wide open range really appealed to me. I really like Drew's ditch shot, and could have voted for it any number of times other than this week. It really is a nice twist on the overused traditional wedgie!! I agree with the others, that this could have put you in a bad spot had something bad happened. ON the other hand not being there with you at the time it's hard to be too judgmental because maybe you had good egress and agood zoom to give you plenty of time to get out of the area after getting the shot.
Tough vote, liked them both. The fact that the iron horses and their predecessors are caught in one frame sold me on Andy's shot. Good work guys.
Fred
I went Andy's shot this week. Both shots were something other than a tradition zoom or wedgie. Andy's appealed to me because it included not only the train but the landscape it travels in. I think many railroad photographers (including myself) concentrate too much on capturing the leading locomotive or the consist without giving the viewer any indication where the photo was taken. Although unique, Drew's photo could have been taken in Waukesha, Nashville, or Topeka. Drew's photos of switch job with the 6th Street Bridge in the background is another great example of being able to identify with the location of a shot.
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...
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
Two winners this time. It's one of the few times I've wished I could cast a 50/50 vote.
Andy's DM&E entry tugged at my emotions because the setting is very much like the area where I grew up (along the Soo) in south central North Dakota.
Drew's submission of the CN power at a well-protected grade crossing...from an uncommon angle...simply had big-time railroading written all over it, and got my vote.
Gents...thanks to both of you for outstanding work.
TJB
Nashville, TN
Fine shots both, but - and I realize the safety concerns - went with the ditch shot. Sorry, horses.
And in the Picky Dept., the plane behind the guys at Ellsworth AFB is a B-52, not a B-1. Not difficult to tell the difference, seeing as how the types look nothing alike.
Has anybody else noticed that the plane behind Andy is a B-52, not a B-1??? That would be like looking at a 70ACe and calling it a SD24!!
Both pictures were great. I really liked the down and dirty grime look on Drew's shot. However, with so many rain days, I needed a perkier shot.
A grab shot is usually just that. In this case the engines are too close to the edge running out of the image, they are too far away. Not a bad horse shot however.
The CN image was much better, thought out things were placed not grabbed.
This week's vote is super-tough! I think both of the pictures have great aspects to them, and it was so difficult to choose.
Andy's IC&E shot with the horses has great scenery, and the horses add color and action to what would otherwise be a slow, wide shot. I like how Andy was able to capture two of the horses in action as they were spooked; it makes the shot seem like something someone would put in a painting. Kind of like rural range meets raw rail "horsepower" (excuse the pun).
Drew's CN grade crossing shot is really innovative and the low angle clearly says "power." The shot was captured at just the right moment, where one can still see the detail of the crossing signal across the way, I think that adds to appeal of the photo (as does the dirtiness of the lead engine; that makes it look like its really been through some work). It looks as though that shot might have been a little uncomfortable to get, with all the ballast and gravel on the ground alongside the track. Hopefully there was a grassy patch or a blanket there for Drew to lie on while getting the shot!
Ultimately, the tie-breaker for me came down to a single minor detail: the fact that Andy's shot, despite the great appeal of the horses, is much more distant, taking away detail from the train. Thus, I ended up choosing Drew's shot (sorry, Andy). In addition, I thought that Andy's DM&E shot with the bridge was just as appealing, and thought that would have been of voting quality as well.
Great shots this week!
- Bryan
Had to go with Andy's long shot, just because it is unusual. It's also quite a good shot (not that Drew's isn't) and I think the horses are a great touch.
Have to comment on the danger factor. Anyplace along the tracks can be dangerous, including crossings. Thats why I don't pull closer than about 4 car lengths from a crossing. I have people honking at me & pulling around me but I don't care. I have seen trains that have come off the tracks & they fly all over the place sometimes. 4 car lengths might not be far enough in some cases. Yes, I stand in places like Drew did all the time when I take pics. We probably have bad logic in thinking that somehow we could run away if something started to happen. I have truly been scared once while shooting at the CP crossing in Elm Grove. I was legally on the sidewalk on the NW corner of the crossing. I should have known what was coming when the signals activated & there was nothing in sight. The East bound Amtrak blew thru there at full blast. I don't know what the legal limit is there, but I would guess he was at it. It sucked the breath out of me for a second, & I felt a sensation that I should not have been in that spot. I was scared & I knew it was dangerous but obviously these were afterthoughts. Probably didn't help that I knew the very spot I was on was once the epicenter of a wayward freight that once took out the entire intersection & half the feed store next to the tracks many years ago.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, we should all be mindful of the dangers & remember that just because we are "professional railfans" we are not exempt from rules and or consequences just like everyone else. I'm sure Drew was standing in a perfectly legal spot, but the thoughts on safety are stiill valid.
Thanks
Larry in Wauwatosa
.....My vote is with Andy's "different" photo wide angle view this week.
The other photo by Drew....is very nice but typical wedge location and I voted for Andy's shot at least in part because it's "different". Both shots are nice camera work in my opinion.
Quentin
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
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