Trackside with Trains.com Vol. 171 is now live and ready for your votes. You can view the selection here:
http://trn.trains.com/Trackside/2011/08/Vol%20171%20Two%20main%20tracks.aspx
Best,
Really liked Tom’s photo, but Ken’s spoke to the theme better by showing both mainlines being utilized in the same direction.
Tom’s was best: two tracks, two trains, two different locomotives, two different directions, classic railroad and railroading. The others, had too much track and signals or couldn’t tell if it was two track main or a passing siding. Dave’'s WP&Y was fantastic, too. And Ken’s was great…but Tom’s was best!
Tom Nanos got my vote. Simply the best representation of the theme…#### Oh…and if any of the Trains staffers see this, another reminder to change the text in the e-mail that notifies us that a new volume of “Trackside With Trains” is on line. It really needs to read THIS WEEK’S installment rather than: {Share your opinion … and see what others were saying about last week’s installment in our reader forum}.#### Finally, and then I’ll stop complaining, this discussion forum that’s supposed to accompany each new volume has been goofed up more often than not lately. If I were an administrator at Kalmbach, I’d get everybody together for a staff meeting and figure out what the various individuals who work on it are doing or, in some cases, NOT doing…and re-establish a protocol.
Tom in Nashville
I voted for Mike Roque’s early evening scene…I happen to like these types of photos. And I think this is a very nice one. Contrast and color. Two signals tells me it is a 2 track line…
I debated about two more: The Abo Canyon photo and the meet of Acela in the northeast. Like both very well…
But being a softy for the “blue time” shots…I had to choose Mike’s shot.
If I could have given two photographs my vote, I would have.
Tom’s shot from the middle of the action had impact from the moment I opened the page. But I finally went with Ken’s shot of two tracks and two mainline trains, because that’s the kind of action I eat up when I can find it (I’d rather be looking at the cars a bit more closely, but still…)
Many of this week’s contestants need a dictionary and a better comprehension of the word “theme,” though admittedly it is often difficult to match a stock of personal photos with a precise theme.
The three MOST pertinent THEME-wise, in my opinion, are listed in descending order (most pertinent last):
Lustig: A photo for a theme of two-trains, NOT two main tracks.
Nanos: Could be double-track and not two-tracks.
Fitzgerald: The absolute essence of the theme! Two trains going the same direction in two-track territory in a super newsworthy photo!
Thanks for the suggestions, Tom. To those who aren’t aware, Matt Quandt’s last day at Kalmbach was last Friday. All of us on staff are scrambling to learn how to do the things he did, which we’re finding out was quite a bit. I expect that within a few weeks, the rough edges you’re seeing now will be looking smoother.
Kens photo and the accompanying caption are fascinating but…
Mike Roque’s had all the elements.
The old searchlight signals, the overhead signal bridge, the telephone poles, the signal box, and the lighting to set the entire mood.
Even though I suspect the train went by due to the light streaks and ghost images, it’s still a photo of 2 main tracks, not a photo of a train, which seems to me to be correct interpretation of the theme.
And out of them all, it grabbed my eye first.
Got to go with Alex’s photo, it looks like a Christmas card! And brother, considering the heat in Virginia this summer I could use some Christmas! Makes me want to jump into and roll in the snow!
Thanks Andy,
I’m certain that all who enjoy and participate in the forum will appreciate and repairs and improvements you put in place.
Tom in Nashville
That’s really splitting hairs. I don’t think a technical railroad difference is really relevant here.
“A difference that makes no difference, is no difference”.
I had a tough time choosing between Bryan’s and Mike’s. Of all the photos, I liked Tom’s the best: the sharp image, the high-tech look, the look of modern railroading, the symmetry of the tracks and train, and most of all what got my attention was the reflection of the Amtrak on the hood of the clean freight unit.
However, while the other photos were really quite good, the emphasis on the TRACKS was most pronounced (IMHO) in Bryan’s image, which got my vote.