Hello,
The latest edition of Trackside with Trains.com is now live over on TrainsMag.com. This week’s theme, “Workin’ on the railroad,” features 8 of our 10 railroad photographers.
First, read Trackside with Trains.com Volume 112
… 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 27, 2009.
Thanks for participating!
Erik Bergstrom
I ended up going with Mike Yuhas’ picture. I liked the angle, background, etc. Nice job Mike.
Lots of good photos that have a good impact this time, but the one that impacted the most when I opened the larger view was Mike’s…Very nice. And of course, right on with the theme. Sorry, can’t vote for more than one.
It is interesting that all but one of the submitters chose a shot focusing on some aspect of the operating craft. It is to be expected, I suppose, as that is what most people see most often. Out of 8 people at Trains, I would have hoped there would have been more diversity in their respective shots.
Also interesting to some wil be that the one “oddball” shot in the group is also the only B&W shot.
Have to vote for my “craft” and choose the oddball in the group.
For a change I am among the majority…at least so far…in choosing Aaron’s welder. Eric’s trainman hanging off the engine heading toward a switch comes in second for me. Others show supervisory type poses of watching a train or the fireman “resting” in his seat whether he is or not. Just got to give it to Aaron because it is the only real work I see being accomplished!
I went with Kat Kube and her shot of the crewman seemingly ready to tie up. One of the neatest things I ever watched, from the standpoint of experience, was UP changing crews on its trains at Cheyenne. I saw three trains come in, crews get off and walk away, and new crews get on and go. We were waiting for lunch at the restaurant in the station, and probably should have only seen one if the service had been up to par, but that’s another story.
Aaron’s welder shot was a close second for me. Every so often I see something like that–somewhat enjoyable, since while he’s there, I can’t do my work, and I get the time to watch him and whatever else may catch my eye.
I like Kathi’s photo for the choice of roads, but wish the background could have been in focus.
Aaron’s image is perversely rich with buddy spread-legged across metal to which he is applying a very hot electrical arc. I like that it is in grey tone.
My vote, yet again, goes to Erik for his very nicely focused and composed shot, near-neutral tones surrounding the engine and crewman hanging off the side. I like it immensely.
-Crandell
There’s certainly no shortage of good choices.
I could have voted for any of them and been comfortable with my decision, but for reasons I can’t explain, Kathi’s BNSF shot reached out and twisted my arm.
TJB - Nashville, TN
This week’s pictures were all outstanding. I had to pick one, so I went with what I like more (switching) and of the 2 switching pictures, Erik’s was the least found, so the most welcome.
My vote goes to Aaron Jors’ welder, but any of the shots might have been a winner…in its own bizarre way:
Jim Wrinn obviously read too many back issues of “Railroad Magazine” as a teenager and was apparently overly impressed with Virgl C. Staff’s myriad news photos of Yvonne Yahnke in miniskirts…
Mike Yuhas might have considered comparing noses…
Was Erik Bergstrom photgraphing a “Swiffer Duster” commercial, showing the rejected broom leaving town?
Tom Danneman’s shot just goes to prove that old Conductors never die…they just come back as ghosts to direct trains in some wobegone corner of Montana.
Drew Halverson’s buddy, Jim, captured a great shot of the conductor grabbing his own prize winning view for CN’s photo contest, “Trespassin’ on the Railroad.”
As for the brakeman in Drew’s own shot, I can only say that I REALLY hope the train was backing up.
Andy Cummings certainly captured what appears to be Andre the Giant about to do his famous, “Look at me, I’m a hood ornament” gag.
And as for Kathy Kube…Kathy, we guys KNOW exactly what YOU were photographing here…
Don
[bow] Superb writing!
Voted for Aaron as well. That welder is definitely working ON the railroad!
Really, no less than stellar shots in the bunch. Congrats to all.
If the theme were “riding on the railroad” several of the photos would have gotten more votes. Eliminating those, we have: “waiting to work on the railroad”, “just finished working on the railroad”, and Aaron’s black and white shot of a man actually “workin’ on the railroad”. Guess which one got my vote? It is rare for me to vote for a black and white photo, but this photo would best illustrate the theme regardless. Good job, Aaron!
Wow! There’s such a great selection here! I ended up going with Erik’s photo. The MRL loco and flared headlights just stood out to me early on, and I went with my hunch since I couldn’t decide otherwise…
Great photos all!
Nice turnout this time…great to have more photos to choose from even if it is harder.
I went with Aaron’s welder, it’s a great picture. All the others are good, I really like this theme format.
Thanks again for a great volume 112.
Larry in Wauwatosa
Voted for Arron’s photo as it was only one of three that REALLY said “work’n on the railroad” without the photographer telling me why he/she submitted his/her particular shot. Engineer / locomotive shots are “a dime a dozen” in this mag. Track maintenance IS NOT given its’ due.
wow.
This was a “no contest” to me.
Icy ground.
Cold steel against your rump.
I can feel the frigid wind biting at the exposed skin.
I feel the sweat freeze against the body.
I can feel the stinging ache settling in the stiffening joints.
If there was ever a picture of sacrificial duty, this one is it.
The welder.
A sacrifice of one for the safety of many.
Great shot, Aaron.
Any of the photos this week could be a winner. It was very hard to choose only one. Well done all. I eventually chose Drew Halverson’s after some time of elimination.
Once again I am amazed at the different interpretations of a theme, which makes for a very interesting, albiet difficult to choose, photo contest.
My main decision was between Jim’s and Aaron’s. I liked the way Jim’s photo made use of the curves of the train and the bricks on the platform, and the person looks so forlorn.
I almost didn’t vote for Aaron’s shot, because I’m generally not too impressed with greyscale photography. But there was something about the image which appealed to me, so it got my vote.
I almost let my past affiliation sway my vote, as I remember enjoying working with Jeff (the conductor in Mike’s image); however, the wide-angle lens made the image too distorted.
The other images were all excellent representations of railroaders at work; unfortunately none of them tripped my shutter the way Jim and Andy’s did.
I especially enjoyed this week’s photos. My Dad worked at Frisco Lindenwood Yards, outside checking cars and later inside the Yard office. We used to spend many happy hours just sitting outside his office after he got off work and watching the workers switching the cars and the freights heading out. Frisco still had 2 passenger trains that went out in the evening and we’d watch for them too. I can still remember seeing the wigwag lights on the passenger engines reflecting against the boxcars. My aunt lived right next to the main line at the far end of the Yards and we’d watch trains from her yard too. Mom was 3rd generation Frisco, that’s how she met my Dad, so she loved to watch the trains with us.
Really tough this week; so many great shots. I had to vote for Kathi as her story about following this train to the crew change point and capturing the hogger as he walk toward the yard office is so very typical of day-to-day activity.