Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 64

[UnionPacificVic]

Eric, you used the wrong photo!  Should have stuck with the Amtrak Empire Builder and it's approaching winter "breeze" shot.  That one had all kinds of potential.  Not trying to be critical, because the CP shot is a good picture, but it's the "usual" stuff. 

Now Mike's pic of the UP loco's is not necessarily that much of an improvement, but it's different, not the usual, out of the ordinary. On that basis I voted for Mike.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Another close one this time! While I do kind of like's Mike shot, the grain, distracting car and the telegraph pole seemingly sprouting from the cab of the lead loco are just a little bit over the edge. Had I not read Mike's commentary I wouldn't have known the train had been moving either, and I would have just thought it was a time exposure taken at too high of a grain and that was improperly composed. The "Comin' at ya" feel of Erik's shot just hit me as cool. I too would have much prefered to vote on the #7 photo with the engineer waving though!

Noah

[edblysard]

Out of the two submitted for voting, Erik's jumps out more...you can tell the train is hitting it, and the lean into the curve gives just enough sense of motion to make it exciting...and it is just the train, not much else in the photo to distract your focus or attention.

Although, I would have preferred he submit the photo of Amtrak #7 with the engineer waving his cap...puts a little more human factor into the photo.

Why shouldn't the engineer have as much fun getting his photo taken as the guy snapping the shot?.

 

As Mike noted, the car in his photo is a distraction...minus that, it would have been a little tougher to choose.

[Bergie]

I voted with the majority--Erik's winning by a landslide!  Wow--100%!  Oh, wait...that means I'm the first person to vote, most likely.

Actually, you must have been second.

I post these stories, therefore I always start out with a 1-to-0 lead!

Bergie

[PBenham]

Yes I know there is a UP train in the night shot Mike put up but it gets my vote! If you care to, Mike you can go to photoshop and tone down the headlights, if you wish. But the Xenon (Zenon?) headlights are coming into locomotive applications. The other day whilst schlepping into (UGH!) work (@ 06:55) I saw a CN autorack train on the old NYC Belt line here in Mudville,USA on it's way to the Great White North via the International bridge. The only unit, a Dash9-44CW had very bright lights on it. The engineer dimmed them for a moment, so I know it was my bud KT at the throttle. He later confirmed that CN is using the Xenon lights in all replacement and new locomotive applications-despite the co$t.

[Datafever]

Erik, good job!  You've managed to make that train look like it is going to come right out of the photo.  But Mike, I think that your night shot wins it for me. 

[CShaveRR]

I voted with the majority--Erik's winning by a landslide!  Wow--100%!  Oh, wait...that means I'm the first person to vote, most likely.

Anyway, in spite of the nice feelings some night shots give me, the unnatural bluishness (lunar white?) of the headlight and ditch lights kind of made my shy away from Mike's shot.  Had his second photo (instead of the third in the column) been chosen, it might have been a closer call for me.  But it's nice to see new power on a train, regardless of railroad.

[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 64

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