Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 54

[Anonymous]

Two Great Shots, but the   ethereal quality of Mike's combined with the powerful image of a steamengine - wins my vote. I look forward to Erik's shots!

 

Great to have this feature back up and running - and kudos on the transition.

 

paw

[zardoz]

I am always trying to get shots like Erik's, with the dramatic low sun, dark sky, nice scenery, nice looking train; however, I would like to have seen a bit more of the locomotives.

In contrast, I can fully appreciate the difficulty of creating an image like Mike's.  The lighting, the background, the people, and the position of the locomotive are all beyond the control of the photographer.  In a situation such as this, I think Mike did a wonderful job getting the image he did.

9.5 for Erik's dramatic image, with a .5 deduction for not enough locomotive.

5.0 for Mike's wedgie with a lot of distractions, with 4.0 added for overcoming numerous dificulties, and .1 added because it's steam.

[Anonymous]

The two photos made for a very tough choice, but I had to go with Erik's. The bridge in the background of the 261 night shot took a little too much away from the regally posed Northern. My only nitpick with Erik's sweeping shot was the distracting orange of the third unit back. Otherwise, a graceful pose that suggested power as well.

[Anonymous]

Both Erik's and Mike's shots are appealing. I am a Nebraskan as well as a fan of the western railroads and landscapes, but I could not ignore the beauty of a Mike's shot. The blue lights on the bridge was and eye grabber! I just wish it could have been taken without the people. I really liked Erik's picture as well, but with the distance the shot was taken at it didn't grab me like Mike's did...... So this week I gotta go with Mike. Sure is good to have you guys back again, you probably won't believe it but I actually look forward to this, and have also learned something from reading all of the feedback that get's posted.

 

Greg

[Anonymous]

These are arguably, the best photos that you gentlemen have ever posted! I'm very much impressed with the quality, composition, and execution of these pictures. NICE WORK!

Now, let's get to the voting. Decisions, decisions... You know, it's getting harder and harder to pick a winner.

I really enjoyed Mike's night shot. Sadly, the composition is slightly off due to the "ghost images" of the people. I find this distracting and it takes away from the subject (locomotive). I also felt that there were many more angles (perspectives to be explored) that would have better framed the subject and eliminated some of the issues of balance in the photo between the subject and the backdrop. Still, it is a worthy contender and deserves much praise.

Erik's submission is truly surrealistic in it's composition. Everything is so neat and orderly... The motive power, the unit cars, the sky,and the pristine surroundings (white cliffs and even the grading is smoothed out perfectly). Very intriguing. 

To my eye it looks like a pic of someone's model railroad layout. It's funny how things go, most modelers try to get a "real" look when taking pics of their layout and here life is imitating how a model railroad would appear to the eye of the observer! Very surrealistic! I like it!

Therefore, I cast my vote for Erik's photo.

Thanks guys for this installment. Keep up the good work!

[lhtalbot]

Welcome back, guys. Very nice photos. I have to go with Mike's nite shot.

Very well done & the background adds some fun.

Larry in Wauwatosa

[CNW 6000]

+1 for Mike!

[PBenham]

This was a no brainer! Mike's night shot of 261 carried the day with me!

[kschmidt]

    Mike,

    I believe I was the last one up on the bridge.  I got there just before to the train arrived.  I kind of stood off to north more than the rest of the group.  Actually I do remember as I was walking back to my truck I remember two guys also walking and one of them asking the other if that would be his shot to beat Erik.  I believe the response was "No, probably the night shot at the depot with the fireworks."  I almost said something at that point, but #261 was still headed west and showed no signs of slowing.  In fact if I remember right, after that question there was talk of breakfast.   I guess that was you and Stefan.  I wish I would have had more time. 

Keith

[kicksvette]

The locomotive has horns... And it's run by ghosts...

I've voted against ghosts before and I'm doing so again. But the horns really killed the shot. Mike, you should have used a different pic from your set of shots.

Erik gets the vote.

[espeefoamer]

Technically,Eric's picture was the better one. Mike's has the bridge towers growing out of the steam engine,and there are more ghosts in the picture,than in an episode of the Art Bell show,but the steam engine draws me to it....Yes master ...I will obey... I will vote for Mike's photo...

[Gunneral]

Both are great photo`s, but their is nothing more evocative than living steam.

[ferroequinologist]

    This one is difficult.... really, I prefer the fireworks.  I'm into those type of shots....(if only I couldmulti expose my digital Rebel...).
since THAT shot is not up for vote.. the long freight has mine.  like the curve of the cars and the scenary.

[SrBldr]

Good Morning

     I am very partial to any steam locomotives so while both pictures were excellent I Had to vote Steam

           SrBldr

[UPTRAIN]

I liked Erik's photo, nothing like a modern coal train.  But, I'm a steam fan and as much as I like living in the middle of nowhere and looking at trains in the middle of nowhere shots (since that's about all I get to take), I like the modern urban blend with the 261.  All in all, I got more steamed up about Mike's photo.  Nice shot Bergie...but it wasn't steam.  LOL!

[Railfan1]

I gave Mike my vote. I'm a sucker for night shots plus the steam made it that much better.

[StephenDx]

First off a great new site

As for the pic's, Mike took a photo that is full of rich colour and is very different. A night with a steam loco just can not be beaten

Actually I'm not sure if it actually a case of being on a different computer with more recent equipment, but both pic's look great with strong colour.

[jimmac230]

Liked both photographs, but voted for the 261, there is nothing like a steam locomotive for character.Keep up the good work....

[Anonymous]

I just posted the latest installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike in our new section within the Railroad Reference area of TrainsMag.com. That's right, we now have our very own corner of the Trains magazine site.

Read Trackside with Erik and Mike Volume 54

Voting for Trackside with Erik and Mike now occures at the top of the Trackside with Erik and Mike section. Click here to vote.

Please feel free to add your comments regarding this installment's photos here.

Thanks, Erik

[Anonymous]

I had a hard time logging on to Trackside with Erik and Mike but finally made it.  As is so often the case both photos were great but I voted for Erik.  Thanks to both of you for all the great photos and keep them coming.  To a 91 year old who is somewhat limited in his activities you give me much entertainment in viewing your photos.

[wcfan4ever]

I will go with Mike's photo of the MILW 261.  I enjoyed this photo for its greatness due to the fact that I was one of the few that was able to ride within the train it was pulling on its first trip from Milwaukee to Wisconsin Dells and New Lisbon and back.  I have also had the opportunitiy to step inside that cab a few years back while it was operating!

[zardoz]

I had a hard time logging on to Trackside with Erik and Mike but finally made it.  As is so often the case both photos were great but I voted for Erik.  Thanks to both of you for all the great photos and keep them coming.  To a 91 year old who is somewhat limited in his activities you give me much entertainment in viewing your photos.

Wow!  91 and able to deal with computers. Kudos to you.  My mother-in-law can't even deal with a tv remote! 

I bet you have lots of experiences you could share with us. Welcome to the forums.

[Anonymous]

I liked Mike's the best..!! Good night shot!!

[jjlamkin]

Check out my "avatar", this is a scene you do not see very often. A view of the Rochelle Railroad Park viewed from a UP locomotive switching from the Rochelle Global III yard. (A fellow motorcar owner, Dave Hawley, also a UP engineer at Rochelle emailed me this pic). It is a cool shot, because it gives a different view of the Park that you do not usually see if you are not a railroader! Also note the locomotive number "Y719".  

[mandelswamp]

While I felt Mike's photo was very good, I found the front of the locomotive to be too much in the dark to enjoy the details that should be viewable.  On Erik's photo, I thought he took full advantage of the wonderful lighting that was present and so the cliff behind the train is magnificant.  Erik won my vote for Volume 54.  I'm glad to have Trackside with Erik and Mike back once again!

[Chris Owens]

I really liked Erik's Photo the best (4 Stars)

 

Are there any women out there that enjoy Railfanning, Amtrak, Dinner trains?

[oltmannd]

Two stunning photos! 

I went with Erik's only because Mike's lacked sufficient lighting on the front end of 261 (a nit pick, for sure!)

-Don

[DrummingTrainfan]

Mike's was very good, but it's steam. Erik's wasn't in an urbanized area, but of a diesel so my vote had to go to him. Mike's backround would've given him the victory if it hadn't been steam.

[da Milwaukee beerNut]

<BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/trccs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>jjlamkin wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4"><P>Check out my "avatar", this is a scene you do not see very often. A view of the Rochelle Railroad Park viewed from a UP locomotive switching from the Rochelle Global II yard. (A fellow motorcar owner, Dave Hawley, also a UP engineer at Rochelle emailed me this pic). It is a cool shot, because it gives a different view of the Park that you do not usually see if you are not a railroader! Also note the locomotive number "Y719".  </P></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

WOW JJ - pat yourself on the back for a shot you did not take! Global II is at Proviso. III is at Rochelle. Speaking of III - the avatar, which you did not shoot, is NOT eligible for voting.

261 photo rocks - Bergie's BNSF model railroad shot at 1:1 is awesome - and yours doesn't matter!

[jjlamkin]

da Milwaukee Beer Nut,

I was not trying to take credit for the photo, I just thought it was different and worth sharing.

 

Stay Safe

Jim