Hello,
The latest edition of Trackside with Trains.com is now live over on TrainsMag.com. This week’s theme: “City scene”
First, read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 111
… then click here to vote for the photo you feel best captures this week’s theme.
When finished reading and voting, add your comments about this week’s photos below. We’ll be back with a recap next Monday, April 13, 2009.
Thanks for participating!
Erik Bergstrom
Wow - First one in with comments! (But not the first to vote)
Bergie got my vote, although Kathi and Aaron both get honorable mention for nicely depicting railroading in the city. A true switcher working in the “figurative” shadow of downtown - pretty much says it all.
Andy’s entry, unfortunately, said “railroading in the suburbs” to me. I like the shot, but it just didn’t fit the theme.
And while Drew’s shot showed imagination, I think it could have done a better job showing that the railroad was in the city. It was simply cropped too tightly.
Big cities have tall buildings. Erik’s picture has tall buildings; the others don’t show such, could’t have been taken anywhere since they are so cropped. But a switcher with the towering skyscraper in the back is definetly a big city picture.
I thought all the photogs did a good job this week of getting the essence of the theme in the shots. For me I was torn between two shots: Aaron’s and Andy’s. In the end I went with Andy’s shot as I could identify with the situation more than with the overpass in Aaron’s.
I see all photographs as being nicely done railroad themed photos this time.
I chose Eriks. It is a nice composition. sharp color contrasts. Supports the “City scene” well…and I agree the location sure seems to have been the railroad center of America for many years.
I voted for Erik as well. I like how the buildings are included in the frame, and not cut off. Just one note: Railroads never played any “roll” in making Chicago, they did however, play a “role” in the same. [;)]
I also like Kathi’s shot. Red locomotives in snow do look good (and there’s been enough of a break from them that I might consider voting for a shot of one) and the shot is well composed and full of color, but the skyscrapers in Erik’s shot won out today. Definetely my second choice, though.
Aaron’s shot was nice except for that billboard. It just cut off too much of the train for my liking. Nice shot otherwise though. My third choice.
I liked how the P42 was peeking around that corner in Drew’s shot, but the cropping is a bit too tight in my opinion. Also, the loco is in shadow, something that couldn’t be helped of course, but it does make a big difference in my mind. My fifth choice.
Andy’s shot is good as well (it looks like somewhere other than WI though!) but it doesn’t exactly fit the theme. My fourth choice.
Very nice entries, all!
Thanks, everyone (except Erik) for the tour of the Milwaukee area.
Aaron had a nice shot except for the billboard.
Drew’s was too tightly zoomed.
Andy’s was all about sprawl.
Kathi’s was nice, but it lacked something.
Erik’s shot was iconic. There was no doubt as to where he was. He got my vote.
Erik’s fine shot got my vote.The BNSF switcher with Sears Tower in the background shouts “city”. The Metra car balances the photo nicely. Arron,too bad about that billboard.Without that the choice would have been tougher.
Thought Erik’s was beautiful, but just didn’t do it for me. Kathi’s and Aaron’s gave me the same kind of feeling. Drew’s suffers from underexposure of the focal point - nice frame, dark loco. Then, I saw Andy’s shot, and realized what was missing for me in the other shots - the bustle and activity of a city surrounding the train. Not sure why some don’t think it fits, as the theme wasn’t “Urban w/Skyscrapers Scene.”
Should I be honest?
Sure, why not?
None of the submissions really did much for me, but Andy’s had the most interesting composition so it got my vote.
When I saw the “city scene” theme I really expected a commuter run in Chicago, Los Angeles, or maybe the Miami area…but nothing of that ilk showed up.
Now, I’ll look at the comments that have been posted and see if anyone else shared my opinion.
TJB / Nashville, TN
The theme is CITY not suburbs. Those of us south of the Cheddar Curtain seem to think of Milwaukee as just another outlying suburb like Rockford or Kankakee or Gary or… Besides, when you can use the nation’s tallest building as a backdrop for both freight and commuter on Amtrak property, it speaks of what happens in the wolrd’s greatest railroad City.
Bergie got my vote even if he did pull out a rerun. This is now the second time I’ve voted for this shot.
Kicks
St Charles IL
I don’t usually comment on the comments, but after scoping out the rest of the remarks I was a little surprised to find that the definition of “city” had a great deal to do with influencing those who voted and offered opinions.
To me, a city can be almost any size. I grew up in a community of just over 1,000 that was chartered as a city, so maybe that’s why I wasn’t necessarily looking for high rise office towers.
TJB / Nashville
Thank you.
Although, if someone would have got a shot of a high rise office tower on a flatbed, I probably would have had to vote for it. [}:)]
No vote this week cuz I find it absurd that aside from a background glimpse of Metra in Erik Bergstom’s shot no urban transit or commuter operations are represented; the REAL city scenes.
Erik, I can happily say that you (finally) have my vote. [8D]
My first process is to look at each thumb, top to bottom, and then to open each one, bottom to top. I actually dismissed yours outright during the thumb reading. [:I] But, being a good soldier, I made sure I wasn’t leaving anything undone or unseen. When I got back to yours, it popped hugely.
So, my compliments.
I think I understand the observation, above, about no transit being represented. Still, rails is rails, and what was offered this week for our judgment meets the common definitions. I also understand that the noun “city” means different things to different people. I live in a stretched country with tons of space and comparatively few people. A populated centre with more than 20,000 people counts as a city in some places. I live in twin communities totalling 50,000 which we delight in calling a city. Yet our only rail traffic consists of a dialy VIA RDC and the occasional small local freight.
-Crandell
You know what, I was going to make some snide comment about needing hydroencephalitic banjo pickers in the “real country” format for next week, but you are right, PacificElectric9! Why didn’t anyone submit a transit or commuter action shot?
I thought that Eric’s Chicago shot was clearly the best, but I didn’t vote for it because it is recycled. I would like to see only unused photos in the contest. So, I voted for Kathi’s red on white beautifully composed shot. If we want to bring back previous winners, how about and All-Star competition among previous winners? Kenk
First, let me put in my vote. I voted Erik’s Chicago shot because it is a great shot. I love vertical shots because they are hard to do especially with a railroad type theme. We actually had 2 verts this week, but I thought Erik’s was a clear winner overall.
Now, let me comment on the comments. I was surprised when Waukesha was dissed as a city, but when even Milwaukee was relegated to a suburb, I was really surprised. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but sometimes you have to stick up for your own! Milwaukee IS a city & believe it or not, there are still some good places to get railroad shots. Sometimes you just have to be a little more creative.
Nice vol everybody, thanks
Larry in Wauwatosa (also listed as a city)
Went with Andy’s photo as it is a CITY scene viewed quite regulaly throughout America in cities of all sizes – skyscrapers not-withstanding. My city (500K+) butts against a legally recognized CITY of one square mile area and a few thousand persons – and the RR runs through both (though they have a “yard” (LOL) here!!
Bergie’s photo was great but a “yard” is a “yard” is a “yard” … unless you’re here!
“Trust GOD, but have a back-up plan”.
It was a hard one between Eric and Andy. Eric certainly had the tall city buildings but not much train. I liked the busy scene of Andys. To me that is what it looks like when a train is passing through city suburban areas. The others were also good but for me Andy’s stood out the most. I voted for Andy’s.
Julie