Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum 🚂 Welcome: Pictures YOU have taken! • Hope to see you out rail-fanning.

How I Manage Wind Noise • (A rail-fanning Tip)

The best way to eliminate or reduce wind noise is to use an external microphone with “Dead Cat Wind Shield” I use the RODE: Video Mic Me-L, on an iPhone 11 Pro and on my Canon DSLR. I use RODE: Video Micro Compact on camera. For harsh wind conditions on a Canon, turn on the “Wind filter / Attenuator”. I use Final Cut Pro for editing and there is no magic button to eliminate wind noise but it can be reduced. Hope this helps.

Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Kent, thank you so much for your photos. You were in the right place for this adventure!

Dan Weinhold

Happy New Year everyone and @trainroomgary, thank you for this very uniquely interesting thread, Real, Model, or hand built, it’s always interesting to review everyone’s pictures. There’s some beautiful pictures and videos on this thread and I suggest new comers to start from the beginning, it’s a really fun trip. While in a recent travel to Biloxi Mississippi I found this bridge out in the water. Happy Railroading Everyone

@Two23 posted:

Colton, South Dakota

BNSF Madison subdivision

I took off from work a bit early on Tuesday (OK, a lot early) to go check out a snow plow being run from Sioux Falls to Madison (?), SD. I carefully drove up a still somewhat snow packed I-29 and then cut west to intercept it. I found the plow getting ready to hit the heaviest stretch immediately north of Colton. I parked my Forester and found a spot to catch the action. The plow backed by three engines began to move and then rammed into the start of the nearly mile long drift. It didn't get very far! Suddenly, the plow was off the rail and at a 45 degree angle on its side. I drove down, got out, and took a look. It was pretty obvious the plow was done for the day. It looked like a Hulcher moment there. I talked briefly with some of crew. Fortunately no one was hurt but somebody did spill their coffee.

Heavy equipment showed up the next day and began digging everything out. Not only was the plow dug out and lifted back on the tracks using a sideboom dozer, but the entire mile long drift was dug out with a combination of excavators, bulldozer, and tractor mounted snowblower. This took three days plus and I can only guess how many tens of thousands of dollars. The drifts were not only deep (over 10 ft.) but the 50 mph winds had packed them like concrete. I was able to walk on them as if on a sidewalk.

The plow sat forlorn for several days, looking a little battered. A pair of bright orange BNSF engines showed up this afternoon and pulled it back to the shop, its tail tucked between its legs. Looking at where the heavy equipment was still attacking the drift on the north end, I have no idea why someone thought a V plow was going to get through any of that.

I don't normally like to post this many photos, but I think these do tell the story.

PS--More heavy snow is again in the forecast.

Wow Kent, excellent photos !  What a drift !  Is that plow a homemade affair (wooden body) ?  What's the take away - run engines thru there regularly before it gets impassable ?

Rich in SD

Took these today.

@trestleking posted:

Wow Kent, excellent photos !  What a drift !  Is that plow a homemade affair (wooden body) ?  What's the take away - run engines thru there regularly before it gets impassable ?

Rich in SD

The plow is called a "snowdozer" and they date to the 1930s.  You can see a little still chimney in the center because at one time they were heated with a small caboose coal stove.  I think they were built in the Northtown facility in Minneapolis.  You can probably find more about them online.  I've been inside one and they reek of another age.  In the majority of years they don't run plows because the engines can go through quite a lot.  However, when we have blizzards with 50+ mph winds that last for days they can't run trains.  Most highways are closed and they can't get crews out.  The drifts are packed like concrete and build up fast.  In these kinds of long lasting severe storms running trains becomes impossible, and that's not even considering the 20 to 40 below temps that follow them.  As for this particular plow run, I saw no way this plow had any chance at all.  I have caught them successfully plowing this line before but that storm didn't have the high winds like this one did.

Kent in SD

Kent, thank you very much for the photographs and information about the plows; snowdozer is a great name!  Here in Northwestern Pennsylvania, we certainly don’t have the weather you have in South Dakota, but we experienced a bit of it over Christmas.  We had temperatures around zero and wind of 20+ mph for 2 days and nights that drifted and packed the snow so hard my snowblower could only get so far.  Then I had to chop snow with the shovel and slide it across the driveway.  All that to say, I can certainly understand how days on end of 50 mph winds would pack the snow like concrete!  

2022 Year in review! • Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum

* To see the photographer’s description. Check the page number.

January 2022 • Erik C Linden Page 11

February 2022 • Jerry Williams Page 13

March 2022 • necrails Page 14

April 2022 • Don McErlean Page 17

May 2022 • pittsburghrailfan Page 18

June 2022 • SeptaTony Page 19

July 2022• Mikey Page 20

August 2022 • GG1 4877 Page 21

September 2022 • Ross Page 22

October 2022 • trestle king Page 27

November 2022 • p51 Page 24

December 2022 • J611 Page 25

Bonus - Coolest photo description: Mooner Page 25

“I don't think it's a dream my wife shares, but as I get nearer becoming an old man (nearer...not there yet), I'd be content to have the house on the corner with a rocker on the porch so I could watch (feel?) the trains going by. I'd probably give up my O scale trains and just watch the real thing every day. For now a visit will do, but if she goes before I do, I'm calling the local realtor. Now I'm not hoping she goes before I do, but…”

What are your favorites for 2022. Please feel free to ad to this “Review” We should all be proud of our images, because they were all done by members of the OGR Forum. “Congrats”

I would like to thank all the OGR Members that post photos & videos, this gives us a wide variety of exciting rail-fanning images. Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Gary, I'm humbled you included one of my shots as one of your best for the year!

Gary, those are great selections!  Congratulations to all who have posted!

Here's one of the videos that goes along with the photo Gary picked for his post...in this video, I just show the Army and CSX volunteers moving the caboose from their siding to the museum, but if you like 'critters' this will be something you'll like.

If I have some time this evening, I'll try to edit and upload the video of the actual lift.

Just took these this morning.

A couple hours watching AMT dual-mode ALP-45DPs and F59PHIs at Dorval, one of Montreal's hot spots.

This bridge always attracted my eye, east of Redfield, SD.  It belonged to C&NW back in the day, but is abandoned now.  A closer look will wait for another day when the “Limited Maintenance” roads aren’t snowed-over.  Next is Aberdeen, SD at the large, preserved 1911 C,M, StP&P station, now used for offices & a BNSF yard office.  Behind me are some repurposed  freight depots, again for a warmer day’s further exploration.

Rich in SD

Lunch by the tracks today, Naperville Illinois.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Lunch by the tracks today.

And the location would be................?

@Hot Water posted:

Good thought, Naperville Illinois.

@trestleking posted:

This bridge always attracted my eye, east of Redfield, SD.  It belonged to C&NW back in the day, but is abandoned now.  A closer look will wait for another day when the “Limited Maintenance” roads aren’t snowed-over.  Next is Aberdeen, SD at the large, preserved 1911 C,M, StP&P station, now used for offices & a BNSF yard office.  Behind me are some repurposed  freight depots, again for a warmer day’s further exploration.

Rich in SD

I have yet to hike in and photo that one.  It's on my list.  Will probably wait a few months though.  I didn't even know about it until two years ago.


Kent in SD

Garrettson, SD


It was another gloomy frost morning when I went to work, but I got done early. I changed into warm clothes (it was +9 F degrees) and decided to follow the BNSF tracks north into Minnesota. I started at Garrettson, SD and went a little past Pipestone, MN. I intercepted a s/b grain train and took a few photos, leapfrogging it southward. I like orange engines in the snow.🙂 I managed to get a few nice photos during the couple of hours spent. There's an even heavier ice fog tonight so I plan on getting started earlier tomorrow.🙂

Kent in SD

@Two23 posted:

I have yet to hike in and photo that one.  It's on my list.  Will probably wait a few months though.  I didn't even know about it until two years ago.


Kent in SD

@Two23, looking forward to your pics of this ex-CNW bridge over the James River.  The river was frozen over but neither we nor the dogs were dressed for a hike that day.

Rich in SD

Hi Kent in SD {Two23}:

Thanks for always posting excellent rail-fanning photos. I have a suggestion. So all the members can see your photos at a glance, please check the box: “Insert all images and videos into post body (large size)”.

Thanks: Gary

@trestleking posted:

@Two23, looking forward to your pics of this ex-CNW bridge over the James River.  The river was frozen over but neither we nor the dogs were dressed for a hike that day.

Rich in SD

I drive on the lakes all the time in winter, but don't trust river ice much (unless there are snowmobile tracks on it.)   What I want to do is take a wet plate photo of it, but it has to be a lot warmer for that.

Kent in SD

@trainroomgary- Just catching up on my viewing of the more recent postings.  I wanted to thank you for selecting one of my pictures for your 2022 review, it was both a surprise and an honor.  Thank you.

Don McErlean

I took these earlier today, even caught one of the Amtrak heritage units.

Caught this PanAm 503 idling along the local tracks in Milford, NH a few hours ago.

@trainroomgary posted:

2022 Year in review! • Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum

* To see the photographer’s description. Check the page number.

August 2022 • GG1 4877 Page 21

Please feel free to ad to this “Review”

Thanks Gary for this review. I am in good company with @GG1 4877. I took this picture from the Park car dome last June and posted it in a July thread about our trip on The Canadian. My picture is not nearly so clear. I'll blame a dirty dome window.

NJT GP40 Heritage Units (NJDOT and CNJ) and plain Jane versions, along with a PL42 taking a rest before the morning commute…Port Morris, NJ…

Tom

@Bob "O" posted:

Thanks Gary for this review. I am in good company with @GG1 4877. I took this picture from the Park car dome last June and posted it in a July thread about our trip on The Canadian. My picture is not nearly so clear. I'll blame a dirty dome window.

Bob,

The images are so similar.  That is great!

I rode the train from Winnipeg to Vancouver and got a few shots, including inside the cab.

Kent in SD

@trainroomgary,

Thank you for selecting one of my photos in you 2022 review!

Ross

The best rail fanning day of my life:

Thanks for the inclusion on your Review Trainroom Gary!

Some recent work

Tolland, CO 1/23

Titan Road, Sedalia CO 12/22

Eisele, CO 1/23

Pinecliffe, CO 1/23

Castle Rock, CO 11/22

Larkspur, CO 12/22

Spruce, CO 12/22

Palmer Lake, CO 12/22

Palmer Lake, CO 12/22

Palmer Lake, CO 12/22

Cumbres, CO 3/20

Golden, CO 11/22

Golden, CO 11/20

Golden, CO 12/22

Eldorado Canyon near Wundervu, CO Tunnel 24 12/22

Coal Creek, CO 11/22

Oakwood Yard • Norfolk Southern • Melvindale, Michigan

December 8, 2022 - On this rail-fanning trip we are in Melvindale, Michigan. This city borders Detroit & Dearborn. This is a staging yard for the Ford Motor Company. Building autorack trains for the Norfolk Southern. These consist are trains loading with cars & pickup trucks from the final assembly lines at the Ford Rouge Factory. My F150 was built here.

On my way home I stopped to do some shopping in Downtown Allen Park and was on the sidewalk when I caught this CSX intermodal on the move. Thus ending a good day out rail-fanning.

Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Some actual photos from me today. Over the MLK Day federal holiday, I ventured out to the Delmarva Peninsula for a chase of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad. The company runs three ex-Conrail (previously PRR) shortlines out of Massey and Selbyville (DE), and Federalsburg, MD. On the holiday, only the Massey power was running, just a relatively short run from Massey to the Perdue mill at Roberts.

From past research, the usual power based here is one of the road's three ex-Conrail/PC RS3Ms, but I believe it was down for long-term maintenance. Instead, the road is leasing a Black River Railroad SW1200, which I didn't mind seeing at all.

Passing under the one elevated shot, at the fittingly named High Bridge Road.

Passing an idled field at Dixon Tavern Road.

Speer Road, 1 and 2.

Downtown Millington, Delaware.

Crossing the last road before the Perdue Mill, Brierleys Mill Road.

The only bridge of any length on the route, crossing over the Chester River. Unfortunately, while the entire route was max 15-mph, the run was still short enough that the return to Massey was backlit.  

Elkton, SD
RCPE Railroad
(BNSF ethanol shuttle)


Winter continues.

@Two23 posted:

Elkton, SD
RCPE Railroad
(BNSF ethanol shuttle)


Winter continues.

Wow, kinda limited engineer visibility today !

Amtrak 46 (the 50th anniversary sticker Phase V unit) was leading the Lakeshore Limited on my 2021 USA Railpass trip. I hopped off to watch the crew pull the train forward when separating the two halves of the train at Rensselaer. One of the P32AC-DMs making a racket behind me would take the second half of the consist to New York. I concluded my trip by riding Amtrak's Keystone to Lancaster and renting a car to chase the morning Strasburg Railroad run, after which I observed the eastbound Pennsylvanian's arrival and departure before catching my train home.