Folks —
Trackside with Trains.com Vol. 122 is now live. You can view it here, and vote for your favorite photo here.
Best,
Wow…Two of them really popped out at us…{Wife Jean too}.
Alex’s photo is a beautiful rendition of a classic RR scene…and then when I enlarged Steve’s…That was really dramatic…Different, and a beautiful sharp photo…and of course it shows a sense of grinding up grade. So had to give our vote to Steve.
It looks like I’m early in the voting this time. All of the pictures were good, ranging from dramatic (Steve) and spectacular (Andy) to just downright pretty (Alex). But it was Drew’s shot that best illustrated the theme, so he got my vote. The grades don’t have to be steep, but the vertical curve gets the point across.
If you want a good spot to see some Midwestern mainline grades, go to LaFox, Illinois, on the UP main line. Take LaFox Road to trackside, and look east. Besides the gorgeous, concrete-tied, three-track CTC main line (with tracks on the wide spacing), you’ll see a fantastic vista to the next control point, usually with a train somewhere in the viewfinder.
Yeah, I gotta go with Drew’s shot…I can just feel and hear the struggle as the brow of the locomotive peeps over the brow of the hill with just inches to go! The others were just pictures of trains in settings. Although I do have to single out Steve as being unique in his view…
While I agree that Steve’s image is dramatic, to me it didn’t really address the theme of this week’s contest.
Drew’s shot was unique, but it didn’t quite do it for me.
Andy’s shot did show a change in elevation for the train, but otherwise was rather dull.
Alex’s shot, for me, was really spectacular. It had mountains in the background, lots of clean locomotives and train, it was sharp, nicely exposed, nicely composed; all in all it was a clear choice for me.
Really liked the Utah Railway calendar shot, but Steve’s got down and dirty and said 'TRAIN!"
All of the shots are nice.
Most importantly for me is this - Steve, please tell me the train was stopped when you took your shot.
While other shots were truly impressive, I felt Drew’s photo best exemplified hills and grade, even the graininess in the distance worked for me. Others may have had grade, but Drew’s “showed” it best.
We have some excellent photos to choose from this time,but after looking at all four,Drew’s shouted 'GRADE". the best.
At least this week I quickly narrowed the field by 50% almost immediately. Alex had great Utah scenery in his background and it was a pretty awesome train, but it didn’t stand out as . . well, outstanding in conveying the subject this week. (At least to me . . . and I appear to be in the minority on this in the early voting. whoops!) And as much as I enjoy seeing pictures of the Tehachapi Loop - In fact, I have on occasion pulled it up on google-earth just to see it in it’s relational immensity - Andy’s pictures was not the best one I’ve ever seen, and left me uninspired to vote for him.
You certainly GET the impression of a hill in Drew’s picture! It’s one of those “I-think-I-can-I think-I can-I-think-I can . . “ shots of promise. Plus Drew was able to use more words with the suffice “est” than any of the other competitors. He almost got my best-est vote . . .
HOWEVER . . . I don’t know if there’s really a grade in the picture, but the angle of Steve’s shot was AWESOME. It just seethed with POWER! . . And it’s perspective was certainly fresh to our contest.
I voted for Steve. For best-est picture this week.
We all see differently, and that is certainly true in the appreciation of images. I liked them all (this is not a fluff statement!), and my second choice would have been the shimmery one with the loco cresting in the telephoto shot. Nice. Working hard! But hills are every bit evident in Steve’s shot, no matter how it was rendered. The angle of the rails in the image are toward the upper left, so it is evidently a grade. The hills in the background are like the salt and pepper to a meal that could use 'em.
-Crandell
While it wasn’t the most scenic, Drew’s shot most effectively illustrated the subject.
Steve’s was the most unique shot I’ve seen in the many years of Trains Trackside contests. Had to go with his photo, even though it appears he may have been a “mite too close” if he didn’t use a telephoto lens.
By the way, why is it you snow-birds seem to jump at the chance to vote positively for ANY rail shot that envolves a snow scene and red motive power?
“Steam Uber Alles”
Drew, I loved your shot of CP peeking over the crest of the low midwestern grade… almost got my vote. However, Alex’s calendar-grade photo in the snowy Wasatch nosed you out. I hope that Steve used a telephoto lens to get his shot, or at least positioned the camera trackside and set the timer. Keep up the good work, everyone!
Alex got my vote. I liked everything about his shot…well…almost everything. That odd paint job on the lead unit sort of fouled things up, but at least it wasn’t pink or turquoise or purple…and didn’t clash with the others.
Steve’s unusual angle caught my eye, too, but as intriguing as it was, I kept coming back to the first shot of the group.
Just one question. Where were the cog railway photos? When I saw the topic I was sure there’d be at least one contendor from Mt. Washington or Pike’s Peak.
TJB - Nashville, Tennessee
Yes indeed the train was stopped! The crew was aware of my presence and I had permission from the railroad to be there. The 24 - 105 lens was set at 37mm.
Safety first, last and always! - Steve Crise
The train was stopped when I took the shot. In fact it was stopped at or near MP 52.8 (aka Martinez) on the east side of the Cajon pass. Steve Crise
G’Day all,
Alex, Andy, and Steve’s photos were spectacular photos but Drew’s photo really shows the grade and the struggle the engineers would have had to get their train up and over. Good one Drew. [tup]
Nice theme!
Many folks I know would not consider a shot like Drew pulled off to be worthy of keeping. However, I feel that it was perfect. Steve’s shot is also excellent and I love the colors and the angle…but wasn’t quite what I thougth of regarding this theme. Andy and Alex, while submitting nice photos in their own right, have to fall in the category of ‘Also Ran’.
Voted for Drew.
Drew all the way. Alex’s shot is phenomenal and is one I’d be glad to hang on my wall, but Drew’s shot nailed the theme.
Steve’s shot provided an interesting perspective, and might well have gotten my vote in the “rolling stock” competition.