Railfan's Worst Nightmare

[fitz]

Ok guys, the 4449 trip is over, and I have my prints and video. The slides haven't returned from processing yet.

Something that happened during the Sunday runbys prompted this thread. I had set up the video cam on a monopod, well out of everyone's way in the photo line. I had it zoomed out to max as 4449 had backed out of sight over the trestle at Madras. He came into view and I started recording. Much to my horror I was suddenly looking at hair. Some dude stepped right into the field of view. I moved the monopod, camera still running (and ruining the continuity of the shot) and darned if he didn't step further out. I yelled at him and watched his finger (not the one you are thinking of) poised over his shutter release for his one shot. Smoke was coming out of my ears by this time.

The photo I put here is not an example of that, but I'm sure you all have shots that someone "ruint" by strolling by or daisy picking, etc. This one is just another case of folks who don't understand the concept of photo lines, in Bend on Sunday. :(
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/49bendv.jpg

[BN9900]

Great shot.....and chance you might find out who the bozo is and send him copies of the pic that he ruined? To bad cameras aren't fitted with stun guns to knock him to his knees (and out of your pic.

[yankinoz]

speaking of idiots - would the guy with the very small child please keep his small child off the Railroad Tracks and away from the big giant locomotive.

geez.

[Colonel]

Rob,

I have to agree with you a rail line is a trip hazzard and is also greasy so it can be very slippery and easy to fall and strike your head on the other rail.

[Greg Elems]

fitz,

You were lucky it was just a fuzzy head. I had a Sierra railroad triple header ruined by a friend who was wearing an orange WP safety award hat. In fact that guy managed to get not only in my picture but the guy standing next to me.
Also, my worst nightmare was seeing the WP fab four and not having my camera loaded with film. Dumb, de dumb, dumb,,, DUMB!

Oh well, that was 25 years ago......

Greg Elems

[ 29 March 2002, 05:06: Message edited by: Greg Elems ]

[MarkJ]

The trick is to find a nice track side location that no one else knows about (or can get to). One time, I thought I had the perfect spot to catch a fall steam excursion headed by ex Reading T1 2002. Nobody would ever think to walk the rails all the way back to my train watching spot. Wrong! When I got to my "perfect spot" I saw about 15 people there. And yes, my pictures have some of those 15 people in them. :rolleyes:

[BrianS]

You guys need to realize that people that go to these events are rather foamy. That being said, you should realize if you don't want people in your photos, go somewhere else! Mark has the right idea, however, he just didn't have as great of a spot as he thought he did. The best thing to do once you find "that perfect spot" is to tell nobody about it. Anywhere there's big steam there will be foamers, so you guys need to take that into consideration.

[NSCALEMIKE]

I have only seen the 4449 twice running down to LA. Fortunately the folks in the photo lines were very cooperative...I can only imagine your frustration at what encountered.

btw..do you know if the 4449 is making a run down to LA this year?

Mike Cassidy