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.
The railfans in this shot are enviously watching a group of official photographers on their mobile camera platform. 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. John.
Fantastic pictures, John! I had never seen that mobile camera platform before. Just like the Swiss to be organised Those Crocs look great!
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. [ 11. January 2004, 23:30: Message edited by: fitz ]
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.
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. Computers in locomotivies??? The red X is taking over. Out damn red X out. Shannon WP LIVES [ 25. December 2003, 18:43: Message edited by: Shannon ]
Ever heard of the Railfan who was "outstanding in his field?" Here he is The loco is Bullied pacific 34067 'Tangmere'. My red X's are fixed on the first part of this thread as well!
Thanks, Martyn, for fixing the red 'x' problem. Then, giving us the bonus of a super railfan shot with a perfect caption.
When railfans are not out photographing trains and the infrastructure around them, they can often be found comparing notes on cameras or techniques.
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. By the way, is this REAL, or is it Paul Templar's Cooncreek On30 layout?????
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) Russ
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.......
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!
That sure is one cold-looking scene. But, a hard-working railfan does what he has to do. Like that pic.
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.
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
