Trackside with Erik and Mike, Vol. 71

[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 71

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

[blhanel]

Erik wins, hands down.  Any other week would've been a toss-up, though- super shot of the intermodal, Mike.

[spokyone]

My o my. I was surprised at the results from the early returns showing Erik the leader. Although I have seen 100's of pics from Dale Junction, I enjoy every one. So I voted for Mike today.

[CShaveRR]

Sorry, Brian (and Erik)--I'm going the other way.

Erik's is a great photograph, and he is entirely justified if he hangs it up on his wall.

But, while Erik's is Art, Mike's is Train!  And, therefore, it wins.

(Erik also lost a point when he referred to the 4-6-6-4 as a Big Boy near his interior shot--which might have stood a chance against my rigorous judging-as-a-non-photographer criteria.)

The comment about photographing entire trains also appealed to me.  We found that that's more of the rule than the exception out west when we took our trip this spring (it was green in Tehachapi, by the way!), but we have to travel a good 30 miles away from home to have our first crack at a shot like that.

[Bergie]

(Erik also lost a point when he referred to the 4-6-6-4 as a Big Boy near his interior shot--which might have stood a chance against my rigorous judging-as-a-non-photographer criteria.)

Remember the quote from the movie Office Space?  "Looks like somebody's got a case of the Mondays." That's me today.

I'm all mixed up, like Pasta Primavera...  (First person to name where that Pasta Primavera line is from gets a pat on the back.)

Anyway, can you tell I'm a child of the diesel?

Bergie

[UnionPacificVic]

Comparing these photos is like comparing apples and oranges.  Yes they're round.  But that's about all you can say.

I loved the 844 headlight shot.  Bergie, that photo deserves to be on your wall-- whether its the first or not.  What a tremendous shot that captures the essence of steam railroading.  That it's the 844 of the Union Pacific is just icing on the cake.

But I loved Mike's intermodal train as well.  Not just the long snaking train, but the kalidescope of colors exemplified in the containers in the wells following behind.  What a tremendous picture.

I've been nagging for months about shots that are different.  Well you guys exceeded my expectations with these.  One word describes both pictures: OUTSTANDING!

[CNW 6000]

Had to vote Mike this go around.  Love those SD70ACe's! 

[TrackTalk 1]

Eriks shot of 844's smokebox, headlight and numberboard is timeless, plus it's well done.  Great shot.  I'm not the least bit turned on by another Union Pacific Stack train whether power is significant or not.  There is way too much of these type of shots being passed around and represented as great railroad photography.  Get creative.

[JoeKoh]

Erik

I liked your shot of the engineer waiting to get on the road.I would make a large print of the smokebox too.mamma and matt will tell you we have lots of different pictures of trains on the walls.

stay safe

joe

[asnjoe24]

This week's vote is again ultra tough! How do you guys do it?!

Erik's close up shot of UP 844's headlight and number boards is absolutely stunning!! It looks a little something like one would see when a vehicle company is showcasing a new design! Definitely something you would be proud polishing in the engine house every night [Breath, breath...squeak, squeak, squeak]. The fact that steam is introduced this week into the voting is a welcoming change of pace and exhibits another side of railroading not too often seen. Magnificent shot, Erik!!

At the same time, the intermodal action of Mike's UP shot really caught my eye from the start! Curved rails are always a great way to shoot a long freight, as it tends to capture more of the detail of the consist (e.g., you can see so much detail in the double-stack containers in Mike's shot). The angle is captured in such a way that it gives me the feel that the train is bearing down on me...very nice! Lastly, the scenery is desert-like, making me feel right at home, as though it were in western NM! Mike, a truly wonderful shot!!

It all boils down to a coin-flip, and Mike won it, so I ended up voting for his.

- Bryan

[squeeze]

Luv that Steam shot! That would be out of this world if in B&W. Almost reminds one of Ansel Adams type of shot. Tough choice again, but went with the 844. Thanks guys.

[Anonymous]

Erik, that shot got to me, as you said.. absolutely perfect conditions... probably never to be duplicated again.  Any one of the lead of shots could have won this week, but I strongly feel the one you chose IS the standout shot, probably one of the best I've seen of your work to date for that matter.  Mike, although your shot was very good, this week it never stood a chance.I realize this is just my but hey..it WAS a tough one to beat.

[JDHRAP]

Liked the 844 nose image.  One question though.  Could you have positioned a little further to your left to not have as bright a reflection of the silver 844?  Just wondering.

Working for another Class 1 in the west I like the UP's under utilized car mgt practice (missing tops on cofc) also the 3500' long train with two new motors on the UP intermodal train image.  This is sarcasm.  Could have powered this small train with one motor especially if westbound with predominantly mty cans.

 

 

[DICKK]

I am always awed by power but a bit of nostalgia like Erik's picture is a welcome change once in a while.

[Railfan1]

I voted for Erik. While I couldn't care less about steam locomotives, this is just a great photo.

[da Milwaukee beerNut]

A splendid boommerang Mike. That lone semi behind the train illustrates how RR move large volumes of merchandise efficiently. 2 diesel engine - 72 or more containers. A wee bit surprised - the train appears to be less than 60 cars long. Like the parade of shadows off the train as well.
Mr.B has topped your shot with a classic detail shot. One friend refers to shots like that as a HANGER - and this one, Eric, deserves a quality frame and prominent location.

Bonus points for Eric if he can explain FEF-3-80 25/32 266 without using more than one reference source!

[CShaveRR]

Working for another Class 1 in the west I like the UP's under utilized car mgt practice (missing tops on cofc) also the 3500' long train with two new motors on the UP intermodal train image.  This is sarcasm.  Could have powered this small train with one motor especially if westbound with predominantly mty cans.

I'm sure you could get a job with CSX!  This is also sarcasm.

[NYC]

Eric's shot wins hands down in my eyes.  Unique shot for their competition.  The heck with hanging it up on his wall, I just might hang this shot up on mine.

[lhtalbot]

Glad you guys are back! Both photos are very nice. I also liked the window shot with the crewman.

Larry in Wauwatosa

[gemotor]

Oh my, it's Erik's smokebox shot this time.  I did something similar in Denver quite a few years ago, and yes, it's on my wall.  Mike's intermodal - nicely composed, nicely exposed.  Technically good, but as another writer stated, it's time to get creative.  I enjoy trains in the landscape, but given the number of scenic opportunities all over Wyoming, this location was flat uninteresting.  Erik got creative, and got a photo that's timeless and elegant, dare I say artistic. 

[dknelson]

I'm all mixed up, like Pasta Primavera...  (First person to name where that Pasta Primavera line is from gets a pat on the back.)

Bergie

"Why'd you throw that chair at Giraldo Rivera?"  The Beastie Boys have been railfanning again I see!

Dave Nelson

[JDHRAP]

CSX?  Shuffle the letters around and it resembles SUCKS.

[fuzzybroken]

LOVED Erik's shot.  Great detail shot.  The other steam shots were awesome as well.

Your descriptions, on the other hand...  I apparently missed the Big Boy reference, but 844 is mentioned as being the Challenger at one point...   And #96 is not a SW1000M, it's a classic UP SW10!  Yep, Erik's definitely having a case of the Mondays...

[PBenham]

Erik's shot is in a class by itself this week. Mike, the SD70/2 shot is kind of ordinary next to that smokebox shot. But, this is tough and slightly unfair to judge between a mood (artistic?) shot and a good, but not overwhelming action shot. To be fair, both shots should be similar in nature. Otherwise, matters of taste get in the way. They can also spark debates, too.

[senshi]

Any other time I would have gone with Mikes but the 844 crest triggers something in my railfan brain.  Now we just need to get one of them back on the Geneva Sub sometime soon.

[Modelcar]

....Erik's shot for Vol. 71 gets my vote hands down...I agree with everthing Erik wrote about this shot in his write up of his opportunity to take this photo. 

It reeks of railroad ambience.  Something that seems lost and this has captured just a peek back into it all......

Mike made a nice rail scene as well but I must vote for this special shot of Erik's this week.

[Bergie]

I'm all mixed up, like Pasta Primavera...  (First person to name where that Pasta Primavera line is from gets a pat on the back.)

Bergie

"Why'd you throw that chair at Giraldo Rivera?"  The Beastie Boys have been railfanning again I see!

Dave Nelson

 

Dave Nelson, I'm so proud of you! OK, fess up.... what Web site did you use?  

Bergie

[Bergie]

LOVED Erik's shot.  Great detail shot.  The other steam shots were awesome as well.

Your descriptions, on the other hand...  I apparently missed the Big Boy reference, but 844 is mentioned as being the Challenger at one point...   And #96 is not a SW1000M, it's a classic UP SW10!  Yep, Erik's definitely having a case of the Mondays...

Thanks!

As for the SW... yes, it's an SW10. The locomotive roster book that I used initially was incorrect (which is concerning).

Bergie

[Bergie]

Liked the 844 nose image.  One question though.  Could you have positioned a little further to your left to not have as bright a reflection of the silver 844?  Just wondering.

Working for another Class 1 in the west I like the UP's under utilized car mgt practice (missing tops on cofc) also the 3500' long train with two new motors on the UP intermodal train image.  This is sarcasm.  Could have powered this small train with one motor especially if westbound with predominantly mty cans.

 

 

I actually took several exposures and ended up using the one that was a little on the bright side because recent installments have led me to believe that, based on users' comments, monitors tend to run a little dark. If I would have used the exposure that was perfect (on my monitor) it may have been dark to others. I guess on the flip side, it must look too bright to other readers. It's a real challenge.

Thanks for reading!

Bergie

[CopCarSS]

I actually took several exposures and ended up using the one that was a little on the bright side because recent installments have led me to believe that, based on users' comments, monitors tend to run a little dark. If I would have used the exposure that was perfect (on my monitor) it may have been dark to others. I guess on the flip side, it must look too bright to other readers. It's a real challenge.

Thanks for reading!

Bergie

Simply superb shot, Bergie. It easily gets my vote.

As per your bracketing towards the bright side, you'll get an added benefit. Digital sensors record brighter tones better than darker tones. If you watch your histogram and "expose to the right" you'll record more information cleanly than if you just expose correctly. It'll require a little more post-processing time, but I've noticed that the benefits, especially as regards noise, are HUGE!

Michael Reichmann has a great article about it here. Just be sure not to clip those highlights!

Once again, excellent shot. That'd be a wall-hanger for sure if it was mine!