Midweek Photos 6/27/2018

On 6/24/2018, I rode the Reading & Northern BUDD RDCs from Port Clinton,PA. to Jim Thorpe,PA.
I then rode a Lehigh Gorge Scenic trip behind R&N # 425, an engine I had never seen operate before in person. The 4-6-2 is of Gulf, Mobile & Northern ancestry, and delivered by Baldwin in early 1928.
This engine is really loud when under load, and pours out cinders at an astonishing rate, making it difficult to do photography from a vestibule door or open car. It's almost impossible to be in an open car without goggles!

I feel that the $47.00 charged in total for both trips was worth every penny, and the crews of both railroads (R&N and LGSR) were professional, courteous, and tolerant. A seating problem I had on the RDCs was solved quickly and effectively by the assistant conductor.
Here are some of the highlights from the day, starting with the RDCs arriving at in Port Clinton @ 9:30am.

Nice shots of the 425!

Ed

Well, I have a few.  This despite the daily temperature going from the 60s to the 90s and then back to the 60s again every few days, and six inches of rain.  Add to this swarms of biting gnats and ticks and you'll understand why June is my least favorite month for photography!   I got a few shots anyway.  In addition to trains, I also caught a few rodeos, and a Civil War re-enactor gathering.  The big news is there was a derailment on the BNSF Marshall sub not far from my house.  Rumor was a train crossed some tracks that were under water and things did not turn out well.  I was going to throw my Kayak on top of my Subaru and head down there, thinking it was just another grain train in the water.  Turned out it was an oil train, and the whole area had been evacuated because they thought it might blow up!  Thirty-three cars were all sideways on the levee, and over a quarter million gallons (or was it barrels?) of oil went into the river.  The place was locked down pretty tight, but I found out they didn't close off the river.  I took a look at it and realized it was just too fast for my little kayak.  I thought about hiring a local airplane, but then thought "nah."  Anyway, some shots.

1.  Ft. Sisseton, SD.  Officers of the U.S. 7th Cavalry.  No, they really are!  Active duty with the actual 7th Cavalry dressed in Civil War uniforms.  I shot this with my 4x5 using glass plates and an 1858 Petzval lens.  They loved it!

2.  Fairview, SD.  D&I rock train passing through town.

3. Bristol, SD.  A rerouted train passing under one of the last hump bridges in my area.  Another storm was closing in and even though it's June were were wearing our jackets!  BNSF Appleton sub (former CM&StP mainline.)

4. Ortley, SD.  BNSF train rerouted from Marshall sub.  

5. Little Sioux, IA.  UP train heading south on one of the hot days.

6. Sioux Falls, SD.  Steer wrestling at the rodeo.  The idea is to jump off a galloping horse and onto a running steer, wrestle it to the ground and flip it over.  Add this to the list of things I'll never try.

7. Flandreau, SD.  I think this is where the saying "grab the bull by the horns" came from.

Kent in SD

The Michigan Transit museum has extended their rides this year.  Back in 2007 they were forced to leave Selfridge ANG base.  Since then they only had about a mile and a half of track to operate on.  This year they struck a deal with Selfridge to go beyond their current track, and go all the way up to the gate of the base.  This extends the ride about 2 miles.  

I was out and captured the train on this section of track last Sunday.  It has been 10 years since this section of the RR has seen a train.  

Hopefully in the future they are able to get back on the base and take the train all the way to the air museum that is on the base.  

From Illinois Railway Museum last weekend.

Old timer from Union Pacific at Island Yard - Pittsburgh, PA today - ACF hopper unit train.

I just started going out again. Caught this one on the Colorado Joint Line. I need to work with and color balance my equipment again, but not bad. I posted this here to see how it comes out when I look at it on my phone, and computers.

Checking, it looks to saturated on my phone, so work needs to be done.

marker posted:

Checking, it looks to saturated on my phone, so work needs to be done.

I took a stab at it.  Used the gradient tool on the top, desaturate yellow channel,  decreased vibrance, and leveled.

Kent in SD

Kent, thank you. It's been years. How's that night photography going? Someone told me you lit up a bridge.  I missed it.

marker posted:

Kent, thank you. It's been years. How's that night photography going? Someone told me you lit up a bridge.  I missed it.

I take a break from night shots in June & July.  Mostly this is due to a lack of dark.  (Night doesn't come until ~10pm.)  And yes, I took a stab at lighting up the mother of all bridges on the Northern Plains, the great Karnak Trestle in southeast North Dakota on BNSF KO sub.  It's 900 yards long and 180 ft. high and crosses Lake Ashtabula.  I managed to get about 300 yards of it.   In winter the lake freezes solid enough to drive on, and I'm hoping to try catching the whole thing some day. 

Kent in SD

Stunning photos Kent! I always enjoy seeing what you are up to.

I'll be looking out. Thanks for showing me those photos. 

Ed Mullan posted:

Nice shots of the 425!

Ed

Thanks Ed!  You should check out this outfit. Both the Everett RR and the R&N are great experiences in PA.

Kind of wondering why no one has asked about the F-units, or the 2102...

Tim O'Malley posted:

Greetings from RailCamp2018! I am in Wilmington DE today, about to board an Amtrak Regional train to Washington, DC for various tours of the Union Station with 24 teenage boys and girls. I will report more when I get back home.

The uniform consists of polo shirts ball caps, safety glasses and gloves. Each camper’s goodies are arranged here for the incoming camper. 

Railfanning is part of the experience as we spend a couple of nights at the Newark, DE station catchng whatever passes by. For more information, look up www.railcamp.com. 

Please post some of your pics to the thread, and have a great week. July 4th is coming up soon. 

Hope they enjoy the experience as much as I did! I'm a RailCamp alumni, class of 2001.