9/10 Rail

[Sinifar]

Well you liked the last batch, so I thought I would post another group from yesterday ...








Rail grinder 316, northbound on the CN . .



AND a caboose ...



Southbound, shot at Green Road ...



And that wuz about it for a slow Saturday, well the afternoon at any rate. IF you like these, I have over 1200 posted on line, so .. not a one time thing!

If you want more, let me know., will be out this afternoon to shoot more....

Sinifar

[GWiens2001]

Fantastic variety of trains. We have very little variety here in Tucson. And I can't even remember the last time I saw a caboose.

Thank you for sharing.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

You should make and sell calendars at railroad shows. What kind of camera/lens/filter are you using the colors are popping off the screen.

Wish we had that much train variety here as well, I have CSX1 running through my town and mostly passanger Amtrak but some freight rolls through as well. I listen to them on the police scanner and they have this automatic axle counter they go over that will transmit in a semi human voice "Wilbraham, Massachusetts, axle count 48, no defects, train speed 50, over" and then you hear the engineer chatter on the same channel. This defect detector lets me know if there is a big long train coming through town so if I feel like driving to the tracks to take pictures I have a better chance theres a train passing by when I get there. I've seen two memorable trains there, a very long and colorful Barnum and Bailey Circus and a very long train of flat bed cars with a bunch of US Army tanks on them.

Here's a video I just found of hundreds of tanks on a train in TX. https://www.intellihub.com/hundreds-m1- ... d-houston/

Squelchtone

[Sinifar]

Squelchy --

Let's start this off by saying I have taken several on line digital camera courses, including "Lightbox" which is post production processing program for photos. Second, I use one of two cameras - either a Nikon D3200 w/ 55mm-200mm lens, or like these - a Canon 170 power shot. It is not the camera but the operator which makes the difference.

AS far as a calendar, I have sold a few of my photos and they have appeared on calendars. Mostly they are for sharing with others, and I do use a few of them for my screen saver - work up a set of them, and then put them in one folder, and then the puter will roll thru them.. A couple of really good ones I use for the wall paper on this unit.

AS far as chasing trains, today you could just take a rail radio out and follow the hot box detectors for notification, or like most of the Dupy gang do - we all have ATCS on our puters. This is a program which works with a live feed off the internet, and show the location of every train in the sub district. The white "tracks" are just the rail, green are the path which is active, follow the signal lights on the ATCS diagram to know which direction they are traveling. The red indicates trains on the track, and where they are. BY this one can judge where and how long till the next train, where the meet will be, and who is past your location. I have the CP from Winona MN, thru Milwaukee, WI. This is the Toma and Watertown Divisions. ON the CN i have from Forest park, MP 11.0 to Fond du Lac, MP 130.0 - Shops North up and running. IF there is a train around I will know where it is. Follow it also on rail radio and you have a light and sound show which makes for an interesting afternoon, especially if 504, the local on the CN is flat switching cars in the area.

Around here military vehicles come down from Oshkosh, on the Wisconsin & Southern, who has trackage rights from Ackerville to Waukesha, where they jump off their rail onto their own. (Cutler St. Junction) ... So we do see long lines of stuff coming thru from time to time. It was the WSOR who caused the big wreck on the CN last year when they overran a stop signal.

So -- Getting back to your post, this is all digital and in post processing one can make the colors pop with a variety of methods. Mainly, increasing the contrast a bit, and deepening the overall load of pixels. Next to counter the buffer in the camera, one needs to add "sharp" to clean up the thing a bit more. BUT nothing can make a difference if you do not first capture the thing right. ISO speed, F stop, and shutter speed all contribute to the final picture - along with on digital the right white balance. If you want "warmer" shots,reads that more red and yellow, use the "sunlight" setting, if you want "cooler", read that more blue and greens, use the "cloudy" setting. That is how you get the thing to pop. Knowing how to use a camera and get the shot right the first time - post production only adds the icing and cherry on top.

LIKE? What more? I normally post on several locked road boards, but can post out here is you wish ... There are an additional 10 from Sunday up on the web right now...

Sinifar

[tjohn]

Great shots! We have a roundhouse right around the corner from us along a route but like Squelch there are only a handful of different trains that roll through. The best thing about them is the graffiti work on the sides (skillz)

I've dabbled in object photography in the basis of capturing antique locks in all their glory, and I must say good photography

Also, railroad guys CAN lock themselves out of train like objects (typically the large modified engines used to patrol the tracks and lift stuff) and since they know we are right around the corner there have been several interesting openings. Of course ALL work ceases when the locksmith shows up so they can stand around and heckle the guilty party and ensuring the WTH expression of mine

[jeffmoss26]

Beautiful pictures!!