We're predominantly locomotive fans - not train fans - or so it would appear

[CShaveRR]

Eric, try the Yahoo Group called Freightcarworld. The moderator's the former editor of Freight Cars Journal.

Carl

[Richard A]

It's for this very reason that I seldom visit Railpictures.net anymore. My interest in trains has always been the operation, be it yard work, switching an industrial plant or working a refinery or coal field. Yes, the locomotive --- diesel or steam (and yes, I remember steam!), is exciting and awesome. But for me it is what that loco is doing and how it's doing it that is interesting. If I were able to get out and photograph trains, the bulk of my collection would be box cars and tankers. This may be one reason I am "stuck" in the 40's and 50's. The variation seemed to be more back then.

But nothing beats the action in a busy yard, regardless of size.

For photos other than locos, try Fallen Flag Railroads at [url][http://gelwood.railfan.net//url]. Good stuff!!!

[CSXrules4eva]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose

This is part of why I never really got into photography or videos. I'm one who wants to see the entire train, not just the head end and or helper power on the trains.

Yes I do agree with you that seeing the entire train is what makes it a train. Yes, I absolultely (spelling) love the big, strong, powerful, and beautiful locomotives working hard. However, I also like to see various amounts of cars weather it's a unit train or manifest. I stay for it all!!!!!!! Sometimes, I'll even get a pen and paper and write down the reporting marks and car numbers of specific cars I've never seen or heard of before. Then I look them up allong with looking up the car's specs.
However, I will say that the main aspect of what grabs people's attention to the wide world of railroading is the locomotive. This is how I got hooked (How do you think I got interested in diesel mechanics???? lol) , then I started looking at other reasons why railroads are beautiful.

[ericsp]

A vast majority of the photographs I take are of freight cars. You might have guessed that from the topics I start. While we are on the topic, has anyone heard of Freight Car Journal? I bought a booklet about 10 years ago that was a joint publication between them and the WP Historical Society. I have never heard anything else about it, even when I searched the internet.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy watching "Junk" trains go by, they always have a good mix of cars, the best ones have a little bit of everything, a few old boxcars mixed in with a few new ones, perhaps some tank cars of different sizes and colors, then next comes a few gondolas filled with scrap metal, then a string of bulkhead flats full of lumber, a few more box cars, some log cars then for the grand finale a couple of trucks or a tractor on a flat car.

With the intermodal trains nowadays, there isn't too much interesting to see, just car after yellow car of TTX COFC.... the power is most definately the most interesting part of those trains.

[adrianspeeder]

It might just be me, but something with a diesel engine and several thousand horses under the hood captures my attention...

Adrianspeeder

[TheS.P.caboose]

This is part of why I never really got into photography or videos. I'm one who wants to see the entire train, not just the head end and or helper power on the trains.

[BNSFGP38]

A locomotive is far more interesting and dynamic than a boxcar full of carrots or a tankcar full of gasoline. Althought a tank car full of gasoline would be nice. [:p]

[Anonymous]

Good evening -
I was trying to find a photo of a TOFC intermodal train and went to the Railpictures.net website as well as a few others. FAR AND AWAY - the phtos were locomotive shots. Primarly 3/4 views of oncoming train, very focused and often cropped / framed to capture the power and very little else. Lots of roster shots too. In looking at my own photos and some by others which were recently posted here, I see further implication of the same tendency.

I realize that a train is a large, legthy thing, but there has to be more opportunity to capture more than we do. If someone looked at the photos we capture, the dominant impression would be that RR's operate locomotives, for locomotives-sake, with no train following. Clearly there are examples to the contrary, but look at the dominant trend and you'll see lots of power, but not lots else. Do you want to be that guy?
- - Stack