Trackside with Trains.com, Vol. 100

[Bergie]

Hello friends,

First, a big thank you to all our long-time readers who have provided feedback throughout the past few years. Without your enthusiasm, this feature would have never taken off. 

This week, Mike Yuhas and I rejoin Trackside to celebrate our 100th installment, featuring 15 all-new photos!

Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 100 ...

... then click here to vote.

When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week's photos below.

Thanks again for participating!

Erik Bergstrom

[Modelcar]

....Both photos appear similar in quality, so my judging must go on content.  Like Erik's rendition with the rather dramatic RR shot and the glassy smooth water....Probably from a dam.  Vote for Erik.

[tree68]

The Lake shot stands on it's own merits, but comes up short against the mountains....

[zardoz]

No fair putting photos from the west against photos from dreary Wisconsin. 

Erik's shot had the scenery going for it, but the train seems out of focus, and the entire image is a bit hazy and lacking in color. I really liked the two photos he did not submit (Gas local and the Schilling local).

Mike's shot is rather generic in its location and equipment, but the image is much sharper (I can even read the locomotive number), and the colors have some vitality. I really liked the W&S shot at the rural crossing, as well as the Oshkosh Bridge shot.

Neither submitted image excited me much, but I voted for Erik's shot.

 

 Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.

[cherokee woman]

Did not get the link to officially vote, but I'm going with Erik's picture as well.  All their pictures were good, but Erik's photo with the mountains and water:  went with that one.

[CNW 6000]

Had to go for Mike's shot.  I wouldv'e voted for "ACe on the Bridge" had you submitted that one (I caught that train near Neenah shortly after you took that picture) but appreciated and liked the stack train against the water.  I've tried for a shot like that for a while (probably from a similar spot) but luck never cooperated with me.

Congrats on 100 episodes!

[IRONROOSTER]

I voted for Erik's.  While I thought both pictures were well done, the reflection in the still water of Erik's was magnificent.

Enjoy

Paul 

[blue streak 1]

Actually the BNSF along the missouri river is the best IMHO.

[Bergie]

 Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.

Any examples? We're all ears.

Bergie

[fuzzybroken]

I went with Mike's shot.  They were both nice photos, but neither really caught my eye.  Especially since Erik got all that MRL stuff, and posted a BNSF shot.

"Irregardless" welcome back Erik!

[jedi_tev]

I went with Erik's photo. I spent  week in Montana back in August '06 when I worked for Greyhound and fell in love with it. The Western end of the state is beautiful. I wish I could've explored more of it. Hoping to get back up there now that I'm looking at going truck driving. St Regis was beyond explaination, too beautiful.

[gemotor]

Just for pure aesthetic, I voted for Erik's (had to check the spelling) Montana shot.  Very nice.  'Course, this is a Western boy writing . . .  A bit soft, but then, so were the paintings of the French Impressionists.  I drove the length of the Clark Fork River from Butte to Lake Pend Oreille (taking the passenger route over Evaro Hill) back in May.  That is one of the most beautiful drives on earth.  Thanks for sharing the image, and thanks to both Erik and Mike for the Trackside project, and congratulations on episode 100.

[jrhambone]

While my vote went to Erik, I thank you both for the many hours and photos you have provided to Trains readers.  I have no idea who came up with the "Trackside" concept, but it has no doubt instilled interest where interest could have waned.  You two gentlemen, plus all the other staffers who have participated, have caused me to anticipate Monday evening Internet reading.  Thank you, all.

[LWales]

Sorry to pile on, but I voted for Erik's also. It has a more dynamic angle than Mike's shot--I didn't care for the nearly-broadside view of the CN train. Sort of hard to beat the reflection, the mountains and bridge on the BNSF image. I wish it had a bit more sky above the mountains-but that's a minor point.

 Thanks for all the Trackside installments--it has been fun to read and interact with the staff of Trains in this way.

Lance

[LU-Trains]

“Water, water everywhere . . and not a drop to . . .” - well, wash off the trains, I suppose.
All we needed was a powerboat racing the trains to add to the action.  The choppy water was kind of cool.  (Sort of the liquid version of Kathi’s sunflower fields.)  And like someone before me, that train was much better in focus . . . BUT . . Good heavens!  Even with the somewhat blurry train in the center, that reflective mountain and lake combo in Erik’s picture was stunning!  Admittedly, I was more of a sucker for the long train gliding along the Missouri River shoreline, but my vote goes to Erik this week.

[lotech_mech]

The lake shot has charm all its own.  Its a livable, comfortable place.  The tree leaves are showing their underside in a hot end-of-summer breeze.  Bad day for fishing but a great day to watch trains.

Montana has stunning scenary but it is not homey like the good old midwest.  I'm voting for Erik's photo of the amazing, rarely seen Montana scenary along with our favorite machine.  Who knows what's behind the photographer?  Could be a Wal-mart and a Dunkin' Doughnuts for all I know.  But I doubt it.

[Rocket Man]

"Dam" fine photo Erik! I have frequent opportunities to get in the mountains and rarely do I find a smooth glassy surface on a lake due to the constant breezes found up in the hills. After "reflecting" on the photos by Mike and Erik this week, I realize how much I miss it when these two guys get together for Trackside. It's nice to have some fresh looks provided by Kathi, Jim, Andrew and others, but it sure would be nice if you guys could come back a little more often if possible. (Maybe after Mike gets to go on a trip...)

CHEERS to the first 100 Tracksides!

[TOMinTN]

I thought Eric would have an edge with that magnificently captured moment...but I didn't expect to see the scale almost tipped at 82%,  It's truly a breathtaking shot.

I'm not a professional photographer, or even an enlightened critic, but I know what I like when I see it and there isn't a thing NOT to like about the BNSF/MRL reflection shot in Montana.

Need more adjectives?  How about STUNNING?  SPECTACULAR?  RIVETING?  HYPNOTICALLY BEAUTIFUL?  OK, you get the idea.  I really liked it.

Just so Mike won't feel too awful, the CN shot was also attractive, but minus about 90% of the "wow factors" that Eric captured.

Tom in TN

Nashville

[loadmaster747]

Welcome back, Bergie!  The vote from this Midwestern 'flatlander' went to your mountain/reflection shot this week, mostly because of the mountains in the background.  I can appreciate the difficulty in holding a camera steady in a boat, but Mike's shot just didn't have the same eye appeal for me.  I too would have been more tempted to vote for the Oshkosh bridge shot (were the side clearances that tight, or was it a telephoto illusion?) or the WSOR E-units proudly stepping out.  Thanks to both of you, and your recent guest photographers, for 100 episodes of Trackside with Trains... your photos have always been good; some have been stunning, and worthy of inclusion in a large-format calendar.   Keep 'em coming!

[dorfantiques]

Mike's "comin' atcha" shot of the BNSF unit popping out of the antique 1899 truss bridge cropped a little tighter would have been a much more dynamic choice. The CN's on a double stack was just too "stock" and the need to wait until the units nearly reached the shrubbery in order to mask all the crap in the background just didn't make it. Congrats, Erik! This was a no brainer.

Dorf 

[zardoz]

 Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.

Any examples? We're all ears.

Bergie

Hey, I'm not the one getting the big bucks to come up with nifty marketing ideas.....

However, since you asked......

* Multiple contestants

* "Battle of Champions"

* Themes (winter, people at work, weather, steam only, railroad structures, etc.)

* "Best of"

* Anything goes (post-processing, double-exposures, photoshopping, etc)

 

That's all I can think of at this early hour; if I come up with any more, I'll add them. 

Perhaps others on this thread will come up with other ideas.

[tree68]

 Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I was hoping for something a bit more elaborate for #100.

Any examples? We're all ears.

Bergie

Hey, I'm not the one getting the big bucks to come up with nifty marketing ideas.....

However, since you asked......

* Multiple contestants

* "Battle of Champions"

* Themes (winter, people at work, weather, steam only, railroad structures, etc.)

* "Best of"

* Anything goes (post-processing, double-exposures, photoshopping, etc)

That's all I can think of at this early hour; if I come up with any more, I'll add them. 

Perhaps others on this thread will come up with other ideas.

When Zardoz first made the comment I had the same general idea.  I like the list.  Maybe #101?

[Ken101]

I went with Eric's shot...how can you not go for a train in mountians. 

This made me wonder if it would keep the focus on the train photography if the locale for each edition were restricted to keep the submitted photos in similar terrain.  This would keep those who can take a trip to somewhere exotic from dominating the competition.

This would, however, limit the variety of photos, so I am not sure that I even like my own idea.  I do love seeing trains in locations that I can't visit.  Perhaps some occasional special features would work:  Trains in mountains; Trains on lakes;  Trains in a tunnel; etc.  This could provide for more fair competition with these special locales.  And the rest of the competitions would be wide open, as now.

At any rate, I have greatly enjoyed all the work of all the photographers in Trackside.  Keep it up! 

[CShaveRR]

More train, more scenery--had to go with Erik's shot (the reflection was just a bonus!).

[espeefoamer]

I went with Erik's shot. It was stunning,even though a little soft.It still was an easy choice.However the two choices were modern freight trains in unusual settings.For episode 100 I was expecting maybe steam,or a passenger train behind E units.().

[CShaveRR]

By the way, concerning the GN box car you saw--compare the build date with the BN merger date--this could be one of the newest BN-predecessor cars out there!  (There was an order of SP&S cars that came out half SP&S, half BN.)

[DadH]

Since we had to vote on one Orange vs another Orange, I went with the reflection photo by Erik as it was "nicer". My actual favorite was "Northbound CN coal train, Oshkosh, WI." as going through that bridge looked like an awfully close clearance mandating a crawling speed I suppose. May have been shot angle and camera range and all those other digital "bells & whistles" adjustments available.

Nice to have some real competion to view.

 

 

                                                   "Trust God, but have a back-up plan." 

[asnjoe24]

First off, congratulations to Mike, Erik, and everyone else at Trains.com for reaching the milestone of 100 vols. of Trackside! Thanks so much for providing a view from the rails every week!

Mike's CN shot has great perspective and lighting (check out how blue that lake water looks!!), but it's pretty tough to beat Erik's picturesque BNSF shot, with its reflective water, towering mountains of green, and lighting. I must admit that one potential drawback is that the shot is a bit too far, making the detail of the train barely visible. However, this was necessary in order to get in every bit of that scenery. Mike's CN shot has the advantage detail-wise in that the detail of the intermodal consist is much closer and sharper.

Both are really nice shots, but I would have to say that Erik's is the more appealing, so he gets my vote for this week (sorry Mike).

- Bryan

[Sagelake]

Sorry Mike,

Even though I'm a big CN fan, Erics picture just kinda knocks the coal dust off!

Very fitting, Quality pictures from both of you guys for the 100th volume (not that the other 99 weren't equally comparable).

Thanks,

Chuck

[jeaton]

Greetings to Mike and Erik.

Mike-85-90% of the time I've been unable to pick a favorite when you and Erik have gone head to head.  This time I think you would have had to come up with one of your killer mainline steam, in winter,with splendid exhaust plume taken at night to beat the train in Montana.

It has been great fun to check in on all 100 editions.  Here's to the next 100, whatever format.

Jay