How do y'all work the camera settings when shooting a daylight scene with the locomotive's headlight and ditch lights in full illumination, completely underexposing the scene? An example is below, as taken on a bright day with the sun at my back. My DSLR can be programmed to increase or lessen stops by 0.3, 0.7 and 1.0 and I've successfully used these in still photography, but with the lighting variables present in a scene with an approaching train, what might you suggest?
Well, in the dark room you just cut the exposure time on your enlarger. With digital, there is always photo shop.
Thanks Russell -- good work! I guess I'm amongst the 'old skool' photographers here who shot film for many decades. Film was unforgiving and required respect for the fundamentals of good photography. I'm a happy convert to digital, but I can't quite erase my roots with film and my want to minimize correction.
A friend visited Clinchfield country yesterday to see the Santa train and sent me these nice photos of the F and SD-45 that led the train. These fine looking units were supplied by the Railway Museum in Oak Ridge, TN.
My friend also found this real deal caboose, regularly used by NS on runs from the Eastman plant at Kingsport up the Clinchfield to Frisco, TN where the train connects with the NS main. The hack sports a working stove and everything else you'd expect, plus an N&W pancake logo!
In the interest of full disclosure, I ventured out another day and tried again with somewhat better results, though I forgot to set the focus point to the right and ended up with a less than sharp focus on the locomotive. Oh well. Sadly, I can't try again. This train no longer runs, a victim of CSX's systemwide changes.
Ex PSC - Public Service Company of Colorado EMD SW600. Waiting pick up, possibly tonight, by the Cheyenne to Denver train. Headed to St Marys(sp) GA. BNSF to Alabama, the handed over to CSX. So I was told. Had to grab photos while I had the chance! Was rather surprised to find it sitting in town! Just need to find out where it's headed.
Great set of images. I see a bell must have been too much extra $$. And that beacon location, I would not want to be the engineer and have to see that thing flashing in my face for 12 hrs LOL. Journal boxes sporting some roller bearings too. Nice. Good to see an old soldier still carrying on.
Those handrails must be homebuilt. The factory grabs are still there. A great old soldier still soldiering on!
Hasn’t left yet. Moved, and now coupled behind an SD70MAC. As well as a decent string of cars. May be moving tonight. Checked up, after Dr visit earlier.
A quick check today, locomotive has departed. Headed to St Marys(sp) GA. Taking up residence on a tourist railroad! No idea what’s there. Will have to take a look.
Beacon could be a problem! Wonder if bell was removed for safe keeping? So that it could NOT be removed by “unauthorized personnel”?? Fairly dark where it was parked, and very little traffic that way at night. I’ve been there in the middle of the night! It’s dead, and a bit frightening! Never know who, or what may show up outta nowhere!! Would love to see more photos of its travel to GA. Might have track it, to see if route it’s taking can be found. All I know, is BNSF to Alabama, then CSX to destination.
Light units make a reverse move to couple to an autorack train on Thanksgiving night. Canon T5, 18-55mm @ 32mm f/16 121sec
On the Milwaukee's main west from Chicago is Spaulding, IL where it crosses the EJ&E. An attractive MILW depot stood near the interlocking tower there when I took this photo in 1976. A few years later it burned and was razed. Thankfully, the interlocking tower was saved and stands today at the Illinois Railroad Museum.
Both wonderful photographs. Night photos just seem so railroady. And the photo of the Spaulding depot makes me think of all those old depots I saw back then and didn't photograph. Rose Creek, MN (my grandfather was born in the upper story), Hayfield, MN, LeRoy, MN, Owatonna, MN, etc. Doug
It's NS's railroad, but the Rathole sees power from everywhere it seems. On 10/20/2017 just below Burnside, KY near MP 171 is a CSX/CSX/BNSF/NS lashup working south towards Chattanooga. NS 3384 is an SD-40-2 and seems dwarfed by modern units.
