Hello,
I just posted the latest edition of Trackside and in this installment six of our 10 photographers have contributed this week's theme: Passenger.
Click here to read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 103 ...
... 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
My vote went to Mike Yuhas this time. If you blow that picture up, you see what a spectacular passenger train this is--a lot of pride has gone into it. And I'm a sucker for those ancient-looking CNW truss bridges (Whipple?) that are still holding up well, apparently (haven't heard of UP replacing any of these).
Couple of thoughts on looking over all of them: (1) good weather is hard to find, and (2) Amtrak itself isn't very photogenic. Pat had me blow all of them up, and she liked the two (Tom and Kent) with good lighting the best. I had to rule out Kent's because it was more about the locomotives than passenger trains. Tom's was more about the scenery than the train. (And sometimes I've voted for the scenery, too, but this was luck of the draw, I guess).
Drew, I'm reminded of the motto of Lawrence University in Appleton, which my daughter attended for a couple of years: "Light, more light!" Erik, you got 'way too much in my face this time. The sixth photo (Andy) got little or no reaction from either of us--sorry! Kat, where were you? You coulda been a contender with that Metra shot from last contest!
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)
.....A great group of photos....I really liked a lot of features of most of the photos. A lot of diversity in content.
This time I must vote for Erik's rendition. It seems to contain a rather "dramatic" view with his telephoto shot....
Quentin
Yuhas FTW. The rest of the shots, while generally nice, either focused on the scenery more or the power more than the whole set. Great shot Mike.
Dan
Nice shots, everyone.
I considered Mike's W&S photo; it is a spiffy-looking train, and the bridge is cool; however, it's not really that good of a photo, as there is too much distraction from the telephone pole in the left side of the image. It was my fourth choice.
Erik's shot was my third choice; it is very sharp, and the perspective is rather interesting. And while I do like the "in-your-face" type of image, in this case (being in Elm Grove) including a tad bit more of the surrounding area would be too distracting.
Drew's shot was too dark, the colors washed-out (note the color of the marker lights). I've tried taking pictures at that same location, and can say that Drew did a nice job of framing the image such that most of the surrounding clutter was eliminated.
Tom's shot is very nice--clean, sharp, composed nicely, although perhaps a bit over-exposed (a polarizer would have done wonders for the shot). It was my second choice. The way the train is going 5 directions at the same time shows the topography nicely, and is very cool.
Andy's shot is interesting, but not too inspiring. I believe I understand the image he was trying to get at that location, but it missed the mark by "that much" (I like the "heading off into the sunset" effect). I am amazed he was able to get a direct-into-the-sun image without sensor overload on his D70. I used to have a D70, and I gave up on shooting in to the sun due to the horrible things the sun did to my sensor.
Kent's shot had it all for me. Excellent exposure, beautiful scenery, nice open area, some freight equipment, etc. But most of all, what did it for me was the passenger station and the people waving at the train. Granted, we do not see much of the train, but within the contextual framework of the image, the train is more implied rather than needing to be the main subject. Additionally, the long track out ahead of the train suggest going somewhere far away into the wilderness. The category this week was PASSENGER, and Kent's shot exemplified the theme best.
Voted for Kent.
Hello from the UK,
My vote was for Kent's photo at the Izaak Walton Inn, a great composition from the footbridge. One of my favourite stopping places on our Canadian/USA Rockies trip each year. Always plenty going on. Stayed this September, never thought I could sit on that lawn all day watching trains with a drink in hand! Usually send the wife whitewater rafting! I've just edited a DVD of of our 2007 trip which I have put on Ebay.
I look at the webcam everyday to see what's is going on (http://izaakwaltoninn.com/webcam.htm) and wishing I was there.
A great shot, but I'm biased!
Ken
Kent here too. Good exposure, uncommon angle, and a background to die for.
I voted for Mike's WSOR business train photo this week. Besides the classic bridge overhead, WSOR got it right putting together their train... ABA E-units leading, a dome car, and what looks like an observation car at the end. Lionel could have cataloged this train in the 50s! Tom's shot of the Southwest Chief snaking its way up Raton Pass was a close second, and Kent's 'family photo' at the Izaak Walton Inn might have placed first if the subject was 'Amtrak power' rather than 'Passenger trains'. Once again, all decent photos. Keep up the good work, everyone, even though it makes the voting tougher for us readers.
I had to VOTE for Mike's photo. It was the only NORMAL looking train photo with normal engines. Thanks Mike for a Great Shot. Long Live the PA's. The PA articles are priceless.
Walkin' the Rails
Amazingly enough, only a few evenings ago I was perusing Mike Yuhas’ webpage and saw this very photo. (He has a great photo library and I go there often just to enjoy the array of train shots.) In fact, I was going to write him about this train - actually, about the engines. How many of these E-unit business trains are left in the country? Does anybody know? A few years ago, I saw the Union Pacific big yellow board of directors train in Dallas - It was really something!I’m a model train guy and have a number of F and E units on my layout, so I have a special affection for that engine design.HOWEVER . . . I voted for Erik Bergstrom’s picture this week. I loved the bright sun - the “face to face” with the engineer - and especially the POWER alluded to in that exhaust halo haze - Talk about seismic air disruption!Second place for me went to Drew Halverson’s Builders Meet. I’m a real sucker for shots like this.
A mile from the tracks, but I still hear the whistle! Cleveland, Tennessee
I went with Mike's photo. I spent too many years watching CP's then VIA's "Canadian". Double deck passenger cars always look strange to me. I wouldn't go so far as to call it the only normal looking passenger train, but it sure brings back nice memories for me.
AgentKid
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
None of the submissions really knocked my socks off, but because Mike's shot featured an image that best represented my vision of what a passenger train ought to look like (at least in North America) he got my vote.
TJB Nashville, Tennessee
I voted for Andy's shot on the Adams Line as I was looking for something a little different. I enjoyed all the photos, especially Drew's, but of them all, Andy's shot captured me. I like the fact that it captured AMTRAK rare mileage, a rare soaked Wisconsin summer, and what I think is a successful "in the sun" shot. Great shots and I love this new multi- head to head competition.
Greg"wcnut"
Six generally pleasant...but unremarkable photos, from the impact point of view. I voted for Mike's somewhat "traditional" 1950's varnish...but a reader who grew up in the 1980's probably would have a different perspective on what was a "great" passenger train.
Erik: Give up on the tele "wham shot." When Amtrak mixes Superliners with conventional height baggage (or power cars or whatever), it is the most awkward, uncomfortable, jumbled-looking view that you can create. Ditto Tom: this would probably have been my second choice for a winner, had the equipment not spoiled it. Andy: Nice try, but it just didn't make it. Kent: everything else is too far away from the train to have much impact. I looked at your photo...and didn't notice the people waving until I read your caption and looked again. Plus, the baggage car seems out of focus.
Note to Drew...YOU would have really had the IMPACT shot...had you (if it were possible?) crossed the tracks to take this shot from the other side, thereby cropping out all of the warehouse and the cars.
This was extremely difficult for me. After much mulling over, I ranked Kent #1, only slightly better than Drew # 2 & very closed behind Mike #3. Tom's was fine and Eric & Andy were equally good. Kent's had sooo much to study, yet was not "busy". Good work for all. - Chuck
Went with Mike's shot. Reminescent of the "Glory Days" of passenger service, and just a better overall photo. A couple of the photos were too "squashed" (you know who you are) and the others didn't appeal esthetically... except Kent's showed a great comparison of "Passenger vs Freight" equiptment and a really fine "touristy" setting.
A recent article pointed out that while railroads move far more freight than people, people understand and support passenger service better than freight service. Amtrak is more than a photogenic tourist attraction. Funny how the wilderness doesn't have lots of passengers in the photos. Kathi Kube could have re-submitted her photo of Metra 623 from the previous week. Maybe another volume of Trackside could be called "People Movers" or "People and Trains", showing passenger trains as beautiful and essential at the same time? Or maybe I'm biased because I come from an east coast transit background.
The photo of the big powerful Empire Builder appearing through the unassuming trees with time on the engineer's mind was excellent; passengers AND railroaders want to get the train safely down the rails and get home on time. And the photo was so clear - I felt like I could zoom in and see the faces in the windows as the train continued toward me.
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