Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 61

[Bergie]

I just posted the latest installment of Trackside with Erik and Mike in our new section within the Railroad Reference area of TrainsMag.com.

Read Trackside with Erik and Mike Volume 61

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 add your comments regarding this week's photos here.

Thanks, Erik

[senshi]

Went with Mike's this time.  The night BNSF shot is good but the flare off the head unit throws the lighting off the picture off for me.

[CShaveRR]

I thought the lighting problems came from the discoloration provided by the sodium vapor lights all around the yard.  Nonetheless, I voted for Erik's this time, because it gave the same feel of busy-ness that Mike's did in the last contest.  I'm seeing more than one thing happening here (or getting ready to happen), and that is real railroading to me. 

I've often said that I'm not a photographer, and even when I hang out with talented people like CopCar Chris, nothing is likely to rub off on me.  So photographers may choose Mike's colorful shot--and there's nothing wrong with it that I'm aware of.

[spokyone]

I did not like the pic that Eric submitted for judging. That pic would win if it had been daylight. Oh! I loved his pic of BNSF2017. So I voted for Mike this month.

[blhanel]

Extremely tough choice today- both are very cool shots.  I flipped a coin and went with Eric's.

[TimChgo9]

Wow, tough to choose.

I like Erik's picture alot, the discoloration from the sodium vapor lights give the scene a surreal quality, that I quite like. It imparts a feeling of "late night-around-the-clock" activity that railroading is all about. I like the composition too, the "canyon" created by the two trains on either side, let your eyes go right to the subject, the oncoming freight. Very well done photo...

Now, Mike's is just as good. I love the sharpness, and the colors in his photo. He captures the train nicely, and it is very well done, lighting is even, and it is a nice looking scene.

I am going to have to flip a coin on this one.

Heads = Erik
Tails = Mike.....

And the result is: Heads. Erik gets my vote.!

[PBenham]

No need to get out the Vermont quarter, Bergie gets the vote from me! That night shot is a winner! It took more than just reliance on the camera to get that to work, in fact, I'd say Bergie had to ignore some of the camera's systems. (calling for use of a flash or whatever.)
Mike's shot is too routine when stacked up against the night shot. Erik's effort pays off with me.

[edblysard]

Bergie gets my vote too, although I am biased just a bit towards yard shots…go figure!.

The fact that the train is indeed snaking through a “canyon” of other cars just rings my bell, so to speak, plus the shape and texture of the cars on either side of the locomotive add to the illusion.

Everyday working sight for me, but that might be the reason it attracts me more than Mike’s shot.

[samfp1943]

You guys are killing me!

   First; I am not a pohotgrapher, more of a point and shoot with my Wal-Mart disposable.

   Second; I enjoy all the pictures you put up for us to see.

   Third; What is the prize for the"winner" in this contest? 

        A keg of Milwaukee's finest foamy soda, and a wheelbarrow full of J-ville Brats?

[Datafever]

I love train yards.  I love rural America.  To compare these two pictures is like trying to compare apples with oranges.  I like both of them.  How does one truly decide which of two incomparable objects (or pictures in this case) is better?

Thank you both, Mike and Erik, for the wonderful work that you do to put together this column.  I enjoy every installment.

[Modelcar]

....This week it has to be Erik's night shot. I must admit night shots are a favorite of mine.
It looks like a good night shot to me with rather sharp rendition.
I have nothing against Mike's shot it just happens to be up against a night shot that I prefer...

[mandelswamp]

While Mike's entry is a pleasant composition, I found Erik's entry to be much more interesting and an excellant example of what the Canon is capable of.  So my vote this week went to Erik's photo.  Hope you both had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!

[zardoz]

I really liked both this week.  Mike's farm scene is very nice and well composed, and the signal by the crossing is a nice touch.  But the haze, for me, is a turn off. 

However, Erik's photo invoked much more of an emotional response from me.  It is almost like a model railroad photo!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As an aside note--Mike, is that A-file load (the transformer) in your 5:59pm shot of the GP-38's the same one as in Erik's entry photo (just in front of the locomotives on the track to the left)?

If so, what a coincidence!!

[LVJJJ]

Love the monochromatic composition of Erik's nite shot, also very unique and all railroad.  Up here in at the end of the earth (Blaine Washington) rite next to Canada, saw one of the new GP-38's leading red-silver & green-black.  While a few thru trains use the big six axle units, we have mostly GP-38's (actually GP-39M's) switching local industries (Alcoa, BP Refinery). We have some rebuilt GP-9's and GP-30's too. Thanx to BNSF we get a lot of color on the tracks which helps in this drab, dreary, wet, end of the earth excuse for a town (I loved living in Las Vegas but my wife wanted to be with the kids and grandkid, go figure).  However, right now we have 15" of snow, 13 degrees and brite sunshine thanks to a northeaster.  Next week, back to 49 degrees & rain.  Larry in Blaine 

[Chris Owens]

I Really enjoyed the night shots!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Ry.

[Rocket Man]

I like Bergie's better this week.

Mike, are you planning to return to the same place around the first week of October, 2007???

[UnionPacificVic]

Erik's shot shows true creativity. It's not your typical, mindless "run by," or other standard railroad pix. This one really shows some thinking and artistic style and thats what gets my attention. With due respect to Mike's shot, we've seen that picture 100 times. Erik's shot is different, it's fresh,-- kind of like Mike's shot of the Milwaukee Road steamer at night a few months back. Personally, that's what I look for in this weekly challenge.

[DICKK]

Voted for Eric.   Just something about the picture.

[kuschi]

I went w/ Mike this time. Erik's picture would have made it if the headlight of the engine hadn't be so bright and cover up all the details around it.

[walthuston]

Oh! How I love night photos. Keep them coming.

Keep those photos of the 38-2s coming too.

Walt

[route_rock]

 Gotta go with Erik as I was at work the night he was there ! (Almost went with Mikes cause I didnt get my picture took lol)

 

[fuzzybroken]

Awesome shots, both of 'em!  But there's just something about that night shot...  It's so dark it's almost B&W, with just a hint of color making its way to the camera -- a much more interesting shot.  Great job, Erik, you got my vote!

[Anonymous]

Amazing Shot Eric!! I cant beleive how crisp this is esp as it was done in low light with your camera set at ISO 200. It gives a night-time grandeur to an otherwise fairly common occurance. Did the sepia tone happen from the sodium vapor lights or did you adjust the colors to sepie to further enhance the surrealness due to low light? I liked the other two shots you showed prior to the one you put out for the vote. Truth be told, I liked the nearly empty yard throat with the 2 engines threading their way through even better than the vote photo. Is there a site separate that u perhaps have all the shots from that night? Great work!!!

[fuzzybroken]

Mike -- you shoulda used the Lebanon shot, or the Clyman Jct. shot!!!   Actually, all three of 'em are awesome... but Erik's night shot edges your entry out very well!

[Anonymous]

Always enjoy your photos, both of you, but thought Erik's photo was just a little unusual  so he gets my vote this week.  Thanks again to both of you for sharing your photos with us.

[lhtalbot]

Once again, both nice shots. Have to go with Bergie's this time. It jumps out at you. I love the little touches of color to remind you it isn't a b&w shot.

Very well done, both of you.

Regards

Larry in Wauwatosa

[Anonymous]

With being a fan and active in railroad and night photography.. I think that with both combined makes a great picture!! Nice job!

[jgfuller]

I spent most of my Operating time in large terminals, so I'd have to vote for the Galesburg hump yard shots!

[da Milwaukee beerNut]

One for de nudes  - butt barely.
The whole palatte of empty November envelops Mike's countryside shot. The dormant farm equipment keeps my eye from staring like a deer at the ditchlights.
Of interest in Eric's yard shot - the depressed load left of the engine appears to be equipment built by Waukesha Electric. A tough vote to cast this week, guys.
Wear your blaze orange and keep on shootin !!!

[Noah Hofrichter]

Boy, talk about a tough choice! I like both photos, and it's really hard to decide. So I flipped a coin, and as I was fliping I was hoping for Mike's to come up, so I decided that was the one I should vote for. They are both awesome shots though!

Noah