Railfans at "Work"

[BrianS]

Digging through my slides turned up a few shots of my friends trackside. What shots do y'all have of your friends out fanning?

http://www.parails.com/~railohio/Railfans/chris1.jpg

http://www.parails.com/~railohio/Railfans/gang_south_deshler.jpg

http://www.parails.com/~railohio/Railfans/chris2.jpg

http://www.parails.com/~railohio/Railfans/tool.jpg

[ 02 April 2002, 14:21: Message edited by: BrianS ]

[Colonel]

Brian,

Excellent pictures it gives another angle to how all these photographs are taken. We always seem to take it for granted that someone has taken the trouble to go out and bring back fantastic photgraphs for all of us to enjoy.

[watash]

(forgot how to do a link)

[ 25 February 2002, 08:35: Message edited by: watash ]

[Alan]

Good photos. Brian. What railfanning is all about. Nice to see pics. of people taking pics. smile.gif

[Peirce]

Brian,
This is a good thread idea and you gave it a nice start.

Here is one of an unknown railfan at the Danbury Railway Museum, when their RS-1 was pulling the "Railyard Local."

http://images.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/84258/039_A_RAILFAN_GETTING_HIS-vi.jpg

As usual, the Alco is showing its heritage and trying to act like a steam engine.

[Peirce]

And here is a good way to start'em young.

http://images.fotki.com/v2/photos/4/41513/85041/001_THOMAS_THE_TANK_ENGINE-vi.jpg

[fitz]

Peirce, here's a shot of me and a few of my friends who just happened to be standing alongside the tracks up on Stampede Pass in Washington when this old relic just happened by. Right!! :D ;) smile.gif http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/4449b.jpg

[ 25 February 2002, 21:49: Message edited by: fitz ]

[Peirce]

Yeah, I can see it is all a stroke of luck. :D

Nice picture.

[Peirce]

Hey, Brian, where did your pictures go?

[Peirce]

Another railfan at "work" at the Danbury Railway Museum.

http://images.fotki.com/v6/photos/4/41513/84259/railfanyard-vi.jpg

[ 20. October 2002, 14:08: Message edited by: Peirce ]

[Martyn Read]

A couple of railfans perched on Langstone Rock watch as a London bound HST set leaves the seawall at Dawlish, 15th Feb 2003. smile.gif

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=2117909&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[ 26. December 2003, 11:24: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]

[Alan]

Great shot Martyn! Is that the stretch of track the Voyagers don't like when it is rough weather? :rolleyes:

[Martyn Read]

The Voyagers are apparently all fixed now, (well, they haven't fixed the issue of them being half the size of the trains they replaced, ...but they have sorted the "seawater in the dynamic brakes" issues apparently! smile.gif )

I'm told that the big advantage of trains with onboard computers is that upgrades can be done in a couple of minutes as a techie plugs in a laptop, rather than having components changed out as trains pass through works, so once they found a solution to the problem the entire fleet was corrected within a weekend! :eek: graemlins/wow.gif

[Martyn Read]

Sorry, for all of you who don't know what we're going on about, this is a Virgin Voyager, at the same location as the previous pic, but with my camera pointed the other way!!! smile.gif
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=603227&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

[ 26. December 2003, 10:41: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]

[Peirce]

Couple of great pictures, Martyn.

[Alan]

Yes Martyn, apparently the sea water can still shut down a Voyager, but now they can be restarted in a couple of minutes smile.gif

[Martyn Read]

...ain't technology grand! :D graemlins/notworthy.gif graemlins/headscratch.gif The good old steam & early diesel power didn't have an onboard computer to decide that the waves were too high!

The latest on these is that in the summer timetable they are not going to call at many of the intermediate stops as they would get too overcrowded, it sounds like regular trains will be running non-stop through Exeter and Taunton, which hasn't happenned for a good few years!

The sooner they get an order in to make them all up to 6+ cars long the better...

[ 21. February 2003, 10:34: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]

[Alan]

I remember in good old steam days when normal train length on the east coast main line was twelve coaches! :rolleyes:

[Peirce]

Although some can be seen all winter, it is a sign of spring when the railfans return to their northern habitats. Here is one that likes to take a close look at her subject.

http://images2.fotki.com/v20/photos/4/41513/148806/Railfan2003acu-vi.jpg

Another sign if spring is when the attention of some railfans turn to other railfans. Here is a good example. While railfan A is concentrating on the rail, railfan B is concentrating on railfan A.

http://images2.fotki.com/v21/photos/4/41513/148806/Railfan2003b-vi.jpg

Both pictures were taken last Wednesday at the Danbury Railway Museum.

[ajy6b]

At least some of you managed to get trains as well as railfans in your pictures. graemlins/097.gif Some of my pics of railfans just have the fan and empty tracks because we hit a giant lull in the action. graemlins/shakehead.gif

[Peirce]

If you are photographing rail fans, you need something in your picture that defines the scene. It does not have to be a train, but something associated with railroads and railroading. Also, the other way around, having one or more people in your train or equipment shot adds life and gives a sense of scale.

[Martyn Read]

Peirce, love the second pic, a railfan shooting a railfan shooting a train???!!! smile.gif

[John Whitby]

The railfans in this shot are enviously watching a group of official photographers on their mobile camera platform.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/john.whitby/melide_1643.jpg
The mobile platform was used to get some dramatic action photos and video of special trains during the Swiss 150 Year celebrations in 1997. The electric railcar on which the platform is fitted ran on an adjacent track to the special trains often for many miles at a time.
Here is one of the special vintage trains approaching.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/john.whitby/melide1.jpg
John.

[Alan]

Fantastic pictures, John! I had never seen that mobile camera platform before. Just like the Swiss to be organised smile.gif

Those Crocs look great!

[fitz]

I know I have posted this one before, and could have sworn it was on this thread. Anyway, Martin Hansen, LLoyd Palmer, Nils Huxtable and someone else "at work" filming the McCloud last fall. :D
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/MCCL25.JPG

[ 11. January 2004, 23:30: Message edited by: fitz ]

[Peirce]

This is worth repeating here - a very young railfan.
http://images2.fotki.com/v22/photos/4/41513/244173/ChildinCaboose-vi.jpg

[Peirce]

I expect some of you will have some new pix to add to this subject, by now. Besides, there are a few red "x" fixes need.

[Shannon]

Merry Christmas all,

Some great pictures in this thread. A couple of points I would like to add. Computers are great things to have in the home and the car and in the work place. But when it come to locomotivies I am not sure. The worst thing that happened in a first generations locomotive was the PC switch tripping or a main relay tripping, an easy fix. ;)

With the new computerized equipment I am not sure it belongs. Case in point. During the trip from the east for all the UP equipment for Rail Fair 1999 everything was working fine until the train approched Norden. While in the tunnel, the UP diesel was pushing the two steam engines and pulling the rest of the train when its computer crashed and unloaded the traction motors. To keep from stalling in the sheads the steamers had to go wide open and the crews had to use the breathing masks because of the fumes. This could have resulted in a lot of hurt crewman. But only resulted is some very hot temps in the cabs of the steamers. :mad:

Computers in locomotivies??? graemlins/headscratch.gif

The red X is taking over. Out damn red X out. graemlins/nono.gif

Shannon

WP LIVES graemlins/097.gif

[ 25. December 2003, 18:43: Message edited by: Shannon ]

[Martyn Read]

Ever heard of the Railfan who was "outstanding in his field?"

Here he is ;) :D

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=1365107&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

The loco is Bullied pacific 34067 'Tangmere'. My red X's are fixed on the first part of this thread as well!

[Peirce]

Thanks, Martyn, for fixing the red 'x' problem. Then, giving us the bonus of a super railfan shot with a perfect caption.

[Peirce]

When railfans are not out photographing trains and the infrastructure around them, they can often be found comparing notes on cameras or techniques.

http://images1.fotki.com/v6/photos/4/41513/84259/petedave-vi.jpg

[fitz]

Peirce, thanks for pointing out the red X's again. Whew, I don't know how many I have in here. More railfans at work on the McCloud River RR in October 2002. :D http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/MCCL10.JPG
By the way, is this REAL, or is it Paul Templar's Cooncreek On30 layout????? :confused:

[rush2ny]

Here is a persistant railfan at work. The gentleman on the right admires some CSX action even though it is almost 10 degrees below zero. His name shall rename nameless but he knows who he is (snickers) :D

http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellhoffman/aam.jpg

Russ

[Johnny Trains]

LOOK AT THAT STUPID IDIOT!
HE LEFT HIS HAT IN RUSS' TRUCK!
WHY THAT BIG DUMM......................

Oops!
Forget I said that!
Carry on.
Wish I knew who that "stranger" was.......

[rush2ny]

That don't speak volumes for the "annonymus" photographer that took the picture! (snickers) :D

Russ

[rush2ny]

Here is one that Johnny wanted me to post for him of Edtrain!

http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellhoffman/aan.jpg

Russ

[Johnny Trains]

That's Eddie in St. Bernard, Cincinnati.

Man, talk about cold. We had freezing driving rain and then my Minolta X350 died a sad death shortly after that photo.

Ed knows some of the best spots in Cincinnati to railfan. We must have seen 100 movements that day even with a 2 hour loss finding me a new camera.

Nice 9/11 shirt Ed is wearing!

[Peirce]

That sure is one cold-looking scene. But, a hard-working railfan does what he has to do. Like that pic.

[Johnny Trains]

What makes my railfanning with Ed great, is he is a wonderful friend just like you are Peirce!

Yes, it was cold. I would rather have had snow than driving cold rain.

[Edtrain]

Thanks Johnny.

I recall that day well. At first we planned on going to Marion, OH. The snow was so deep up there that we figured we might not even make it to Marion. So you came to Cincy instead. Yes it was cold. Don't recall the temp... maybe around 20, with rain and wind. I just know that it was bitterly cold. We sat in the van most of the time and jumped out to take a pic then right back in.

Remember the trouble you had remembering "that" phone #. LOL :)))) And you got to meet Tim at Camtron. I should give him a plug. He is really great to work with.

That was the day that we visited the Fire Museum, too.

Take care.... see ya in May.

Ed

[r_i_straw]

Here is my Dad checking out some scruffy looking power in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellstraw/acn.sized.jpg

[Johnny Trains]

I will never forget that day, Ed! Marion would have been a suicide mission!!!!!

My mother-in-law is roughly 80 miles north of you?
We had ice and snow up there that was just incredible! Coming down to you, just past Dayton the weather changed over to cold cold rain.

My daughter had an appointment at her school in Indiana and my wife was unable to get there. The next day I drove her out and the ice on the trees was something I had never seen before! Actually, I had to take her, go back home and then go out to get her again and that was about 200 miles of driving that day! On my way back home on the first trip I saw a woman on the road who had her windshield broken from a fallen branch! It's a wonder she wasn't killed!

We were lucky I guess not to have had such bad weather in Cincy, but man it was cold.

I will only have one day to railfan in Cincy in May. I will talk to you about it tonight also.
My schedule is kind of tight. I hope to get to see you and our buddy Don, the General Yardmaster of the Queensgate yard too!

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by r_i_straw:
Here is my Dad checking out some scruffy looking power in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
I'd rather see this type of "scruffy" power, than what succeeded it!

:D

Boxcab E50

[BrianS]

Johnny wanted me to post this for him. This is from Deshler's Railroad & Heritage Days, although I don't know which year. I'll let him fill in the details.

http://railohio.photo-addicts.com/jt/railfansatwork.JPG

[BrianS]

After actually looking at the photo, that tent looks awfully familiar! LOL :D

[Peirce]

A place for certain railfans to recover from all that hard labor? graemlins/220.gif graemlins/LOL.gif

[Martyn Read]

A railfan checks out 66072 at Par on the 1st March, it had just arrived from Penzance with empty oil tanks and run round and the crew were waiting to head for St Blazey yard.

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=3093285&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1

The empty oil tanks headed East to Plymouth on another train that evening, and 66072 went back to working clay trains, which it had already done a couple of runs on by the white weathering on the roof!

[Johnny Trains]

Is that your tent Brian??????

I think I took that in 2001. I forget. lol I've been there 5-6 times already!

[Peirce]

Johnny Trains caught this railfan at work.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/album23/aai.jpg

He is referring to the one on the left. JT will explain.

[Johnny Trains]

That's no railfan, that's my wife! tongue.gif smile.gif smile.gif tongue.gif

We rode all the Green Mountain RR's tourist trains in Vermont.

We sure had a private (ex-Santa Fe) car all to ourselves that day!

[Peirce]

A young railfan, at the Danbury Railway Museum.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/peircebehrendt/acy.sized.jpg

[Peirce]

A little more about the young railfan in the previous post. He came to the museum by train, with his father and older brother. I had been taking some pictures of items exhibited inside the building when I saw this youngster's interest in the old Lionel cars at the front of the O-gauge display.

[Peirce]

This young railfan looks like he is taking his "job" very seriously.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/peircebehrendt/ady.jpg

[rush2ny]

Ok gang, you have all seen Peirce's pics of railfans at work but what about the man himself? here he is hard at "work" railfanning......or is it railfan-fanning?

http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellhoffman/abu.jpg

Russ

[Peirce]

OK, Russ, you got me! But, remember, I shoot back.

http://images2.fotki.com/v22/photos/4/41513/148806/RussinCaboose-vi.jpg

[rush2ny]

Ahh yes Peirce! You caught me sleeping in the cupola of one of DRM's cabeese! (LOL) Actually, your interesting commentary that day kept me wide awake (along with a brisk wind) smile.gif

Happy railroading!

Russ

[ilovetrains]

Okay, my turn I guess. Here is a little "railroad shack" that some railfan built near the horseshoe bend in Mance, PA. It's called "Mance Training Camp." The doors are left open and anyone is welcomed to go in, most people have engraved their names inside the little shack with what trains and motive power they saw, along with a date and sometimes a time.

http://www.ilovetrains.net/images/1.JPG

Here is another view of the shack. Thanks to whoever built it, kept us nice and warm while we were out rail fanning.

http://www.ilovetrains.net/images/2.JPG

[BoxcabE50]

That's really neat! I pray that there will not come a day when some jerk comes along, and graemlins/shakehead.gif ruins a good thing!

What is the PA horn for?

:D

Boxcab E50

[ilovetrains]

Hey boxcab. This guy has alot of stuff in it.. TV, old radio, even cooking stuff outside. So far from what I hear, he's only had like one thing stolen. The PA, I think hooks up to the radio inside. smile.gif It's a great place to watch the CSX trains, you can see the entire train, it's kind of like horseshoe curve in PA.

Also, something new.. I hear now, that the guy just bought a house not to far from the shack, so now he can keep tabs on it. I believe he lives out of state somewhere. I'll have to find out. smile.gif

Oh.. I would say the shack is about maybe 100 feet from the track if that.

[rush2ny]

I could live in that thing!!!!!

Russ

[rush2ny]

Peirce,

Here was the view from my end of the camera in the caboose's cupola:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellhoffman/abx.jpg

Russ