I just wondering the level of difficulty of chasing the 4014 and or the East bound Double header. I am sure both state and local authorities will be on high alert to be sure the foamers are not out killing them selves or destroying public property to get the perfect shot.
So looking for some constructive dialogue on how plan how to make the most of my trip.
I’ll be in Cheyenne on May 4, following the train west. Then be following the esat bound train again.
Chasing is strictly a team pursuit. You need a driver and a vidographer/photographer. The driver has to be good at avoiding distractions such as your exclamations of delight and other weird noises of appreciation, and minding his/her business…carefully. Things happen quickly at 40-60 mph.
I do appreciate the finer attempts at chasing, and have enjoyed many fine works on youtube. But I would rather be static and take video from a carefully chosen (reconnaissanced previously) vantagepoint, whether an overpass (meh), on an embankment at least 20 yards from the tracks that will be used (people want those jerky up-close zooms which do nothing for the final rendering), or walk down the tracks away from the blinkers and crossing noise so you don’t get them infernal and oh-so-common annoying bell sounds.
Do you mean chase to photograph? Do everything you can to plan where you are going, what you are going to do and whatever you need to accomplish your trip. Use mapbooks, Google Earth, MapQuest, RR atlas to figure out where rails and road go together. Research any info on railfan guides, other’s experiences in the area of interest. Remember out west, one must always take distance into consideration. Once out there, be a little flexible and have alternate plans/locations in case something doesn’t work out. I did 5 chases of 611 in Virginia in 2015-16, but it was the chase of 765 across the Poconos in Sept. 2015 where I missed a turn and almost blew the whole day.
Well I mean chase as finding good location to photograph the train as she rolls on her journey.
I am not planning to photograph the train from a moving car.
My concern is with so many restrictions place on trying to get a good shot of the train, coupled with a huge number of chasers, will it be feasible to find, rail side locations to stop and snap some pictures.
Well I mean chase as finding good location to photograph the train as she rolls on her journey.
I am not planning to photograph the train from a moving car.
My concern is with so many restrictions place on trying to get a good shot of the train, coupled with a huge number of chasers, will it be feasible to find, rail side locations to stop and snap some pictures.
A quick look at Google Maps from Cheyenne to Laramie shows decent roadside access from Cheyenne to Buford, then a lot of hard country between there and Laramie. In a crowd scene, elevation is your friend, looks to be a couple of bridges in Laramie. Most of Sherman Hill is non-accessible, except for 4x4’s, that is on the few places available for public access.
I thought some railroading club or organization has already arranged a train- chasing bus tour for railfans by using an open top bus like this:
I am not sure the route the UP #4014 will take though, but buses like this should be capable to reach 62mph at least. Chasing the train and park the double-decker at the best location for taking photos of the steam engine.
Judging from the lack of responses to Editor Wrinn’s blog on seeing the 4014, I would say a lot of “fans” are going to ignore good advice and just bumble their way through the whole event. Fail to plan; plan to fail… BTW , TRAINS Mag will be running a chase bus, its not a double decker, which would be kind of impractical in the Wyoming desert? It should be quite entertaining in May to read about everyone’s failure to enjoy the event.
I recommend an open-cockpit biplane such as a Stearman, or Tiger Moth. Really, that’s got to be a great way to chase trains. If only I had pilot’s license. And a biplane.
Man 54’, wouldn’t THAT be a gas? Barring a Stearman or a Tiger Moth a high-wing light craft like a Cessna 150 or 172 would be adequate, assuming the windows are clean!
By the way, the last time we rode behind N&W 611 someone WAS chasing it with an AT-6! (That’s an SNJ to you Navy and Marine Corps airdales!)
Staying home as well. I can’t see that moonscape as anything remotely on what I would want to use my personal vacation on. One of the problems I have with the UP Steam Program is they rarely send their engines outside of the Western Plains or Eastern Desert region. Nothing really scenic there, good hotels are sparse, I can only imagine having to deal with local rental car firms. Would not really be much of a vacation for me.
Will probably take a CUNARD Cruise on the Queen Mary2 instead, probably cheaper as well.
Having been involved in a couple of episodes of ‘Railfan Road Races’ Noteably SR 4501 in Tn, and North Mississippi; a long time ago. Similarly, out here in Kansas, chasing 3985 and 844 some in Ok and Ks. My preference is to find a good spot set up and photograph. Having had more than one very,very close call; with the automotive crazies, in that railfan road race, and potentially, demolition derby.
While mentioning that I’ve gotten too old for that insanity;[sigh] Me, I’m goining to wait for the video and photos! [:-^] I’ll leave that going fast, and racing around a circle to BaltACD and family! [swg]
I sometimes wish my old man was still around along with his Aeronca Champ. I don’t think I would have talked him into flying it from New York to the West in it. Driving would be faster as that thing had a top speed of 65 MPH. But, yeah, Flintlock, an SNJ would be a fine thing as well. But me, I love biplanes!
I know what you mean 54’ I’ve been in a Stearman twice!
You know, there was a fighter pilot during the First World War who said that being up in an open-cockpit airplane (OK, they didn’t have any others at the time) made him feel like a little god. I thought I understood what he meant by that but until I did it myself I realized I hadn’t understood it at all. Nothing else like it! And not scary either. Roller-coasters are scary!
Oh, that fighter pilot’s name? Hermann Goering. And that’s about the only thing I can empathise with concerning that rapacious SOB.
Hehehehe… yeah we are going to hear a lot of moaning in May I am sure after the event!
Well I went out a few years back to follow UP 844 from Pocatello to Ogden. This is what I think most people would consider a ‘less famous’ route to the more famed Ogden-Cheyenne run, but it was honestly a bit stressful. My dad was driving for me, but it was a pain to keep pace with the steam engine. Mind you they run the steam train at passenger speeds, and bouncing along on a small two lane highway with 50 other cars also trying to follow the steam engine is a bit tricky…
Proof I was not kidding about crowds either…
That day though had a few blessings, UP 844 had to stop to re-grease at Cache Junction then limp through Wheelon in the Bear River Canyon at the restricted track speed on those bridges. Only about ten or so other railfans had gone down to the bottom of the canyon to look up on the bridges and its were I got some of my favorite shots of the day.
As soon as UP 844 was out of that canyon, back up to trackspeed with only one stop left at Brigham City! Ogden station was the only time the train slowed down again, and by then it was a massive crowd just to watch it make the reverse move back into the station track.
back in the mid 1990’s
