Wrong Side Of The Tracks

Akirasho Nov 26, 2008

  1. Akirasho

    Akirasho TrainBoard Member

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    ... this is what happens when you've been waiting at a spot where two mainlines converge to cross a river over a common bridge and you try to get the right angle for light on one line while ignoring the signal indicating an opposing approach on the other...

    [​IMG]

    Still, I think it's the kind of shot a railfan could live with cuz it kinda tells this story... and I was smart enuff to keep off the other line.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think we've all seen this perspective a few times. I've never thought about capturing it in this way.

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. ccaranna

    ccaranna TrainBoard Member

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    That seems kind of close to the tracks. Are you OK? Be careful out there...
     
  4. Akirasho

    Akirasho TrainBoard Member

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    ... while there was a bit of telephoto in this pic (trying to accentuate the far passing train as much as possible) I was only about this close...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    ... which was the lead unit of the opposing train!

    Because there are two active lines at this point, I try to take extra care in remembering that just cuz the gates and lights come down for the CSX line, don't mean that the NS line ain't about to get buzy too! Indeed, I've witnessed several vehicles make that assumption at this spot with relatively near miss consequences (ironically, it's right next to a police district HQ and I've even seen cruisers run the chance).
     
  5. dave n

    dave n TrainBoard Supporter

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    been there done that... :)

    Is that in Dayton, just across the river from downtown?
     
  6. Akirasho

    Akirasho TrainBoard Member

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    ... yeah, at the Washington Street crossing where the old Reynolds & Reynolds complex used to be...

    Since I don't have a scanner, I spend a lot of time at this point in an attempt to catch action shots. I've also tried hanging out 'tween Miamisburg and Carlisle since the two lines run side by side for a bit there as well. Since I squeeze bicycling and railfanning into the same time slot... I don't have to pedal as hard to chase trains!
     
  7. dave n

    dave n TrainBoard Supporter

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    I haven't been back to that spot since they made all the changes -- I used to like to hang out at the southern approach to the bridge, but the last time I was there they put up a fence and changed the roads around a bunch (I actually got a little lost looking for my old spot - up the hill from a parking lot of a building that's no longer there). Is access to the bridge area still tough? I live in Cincinnati....
     
  8. Akirasho

    Akirasho TrainBoard Member

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    ... access is dependent on precisely where you want to be (it can be problematic for lighting issues) but it's not bad per se. There is a new skool going up on most of the land that used to be the old R&R site east of the tracks... so I don't know if you'd be able to access the tracks through their parking lot or not (could put up a fence).

    While the district HQ for the cops is right at the Washington Street crossing, they don't seem to "bother" railfanners as long as you don't do something goofy. A few folks will park directly under the I-75 overpass at Washington Street... then walk the RoW to find a spot.

    At the river, you can access below the bridge on either side via a bike/pedestrian trail. That's where I took that "High Iron" shot.

    Course, with the closing of the GM Moraine assembly plant, traffic on the NS will prolly go from a dribble to a drop! CSX seems to do the lion's share of what little local switching goes on outside of the autoracks at the GM plant. Course, part deux... without the congestion of that yard... maybe NS will throw more thru traffic on the line.

    The CSX and NS run parallel north of Carlisle to just south of Miamisburg which means if you're willing to sit in the sun... will see essentially the same flow of traffic... plus there are signals there so's you at least know something is coming!
     
  9. dave n

    dave n TrainBoard Supporter

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    Cool - thanks for the info. I haven't been up there in awhile - the last time I was there everything was bulldozed over, so I'll check it out next time up that way. Happy Railfanning!
     

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