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‘Piedmont’ cab ride video
Now I would by this video.Do you have it?
Yes, please post more of this!
I love it! Until 2012, I was a volunteer train host on the NC trains between Raleigh and Charlotte, and worked on train 73 at least twice a month, but never got a cab ride. Straightening curves and minimizing the number of grade crossings will be part of long-awaited improvements in this area.
What is the roadbed being laid parallel to existing rail?
is this a new rail bed?
I have a technical tip for Mr. Johnston: hard-mounting, i.e. securing, the video camera to a surface on the locomotive will produce a video that is a smooth and stable as the ride you experienced. There will not be any of the up-and-down, side-to-side, motion-sickness-producing movement that is so obvious in this video. I’ve used that technique on everything from Maine 2-footers, to Cass, to DRG&W narrow gauge, to Royal Gorge and beyond with great results.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the piece - thanks very much for the post.
didn’t look like he was going very fast, maybe 50?
Nice to see a cab ride of something other than the northeast. I would buy a full video of this as well.
I would like to second the comments of Ray Hender. The up-and-down motion in the video not only surprised me but it also was distracting from the overall impact of the video. l’ve only ridden in a locomotive once and, admittedly it was in a yard switcher (EL #621 in the Sharon, Penna yards) sixty years ago but I am sure given the technological advances made in videography that this video could have been much more viewer friendly.
@ John Wharton, They are straightening out the route and the roadbed shown along and crossed by the current trackage will ease the curves allowing a higher speed run. Also there is at least one grade crossing being eliminated.
I just started a train layout this little video was very cool with this scenery being behind the camera guess I would give anything to see something like that and more product from the stores Thank You Roger salon God bless
Train 73 is southbound by timetable, not northbound. The train is actually moving west during this video clip.
Looks like you were bouncing around on one of our old GO Transit GMD F59PH’s.
Love the footage and would like to see more cab rides. I have been a lifelong photographer and videographer and would give anything for such an opportunity. There is a device that can be used to mimic the human ability to smooth things out. It’s called a steadycam and there are relatively inexpensive ones available for light weight cameras. Someone suggested mounting the camera in the locomotive. That might bring out even worse movement. The steadycam is a better choice.
So many trolls! Thanks for the video.
I just viewed this short video. I wish it was longer, but at least Bob took the time to share it with all of us. For those who made comments about the camera movement, hey, whatcha want? Even with some of the movement, I enjoyed what was shown. We should all applaud Bob for his efforts so we could view it for ourselves. So Bob, good job with the conditions you had on a moving train. The only negative comment from me is I wish the conversation or questions put to the engineer could be heard much easier. I believe one was in regards to the new roadbed, but I couldn’t understand every word. Thanks Bob. Do some more soon!
I know this stretch of track well. The cab rides goes through the project where I have occasionally worked as a part time construction observer during the summer providing safety oversight. My son and his family used to live in the area and says the bridge under construction replacing the grade crossing at Morrisville Pkwy is very much needed.
As a couple of the previous correspondents have stated, it’s a pity it’s not a bit longer, but it’s good to see projects like this being carried out particularly if it also gets rid of grade crossings. The simple answer to the camera movement is to either use a suction mount to the cab window or dash, failing that a ‘flexible’ tripod mounting can also work well. Keep this type of video coming !
it would be easier to find these videos if you were to include a unique number to find it by when listing it in the paper magazine. I’ve read that YouTube actually has a unique number in the file path to their videos you can find one you’re looking at the video on my computer. You can then just Google the number to find the train video.
Great video. Railroads like the old New York Central and the Pennsylvania had banked curves. Why are they not banking curves anymore?