Trains n Guitars

[chico]

No silver bells here, but I was in kzoo last week for a couple days, and of course made the trip by Parsons. And wouldn't you know it, a TRAIN was coming! (surprise surprise as Gomer would have said)

 

Anyway, you are looking at the Grand Elk RR heading north with their train #303 to work the industries north of Kalamazoo in Otsego and Wayland to mention a couple places.

 

Grand Elk is a newcomer to the railroad scene in Kzoo, a shortline operating a spinoff railroad from a Class One RR (Norfolk Southern) who previously operated it. Prior to that, it was Conrail-Penn Central-Pennsylvania RR property over the years. At one time it went all the way to the Straits of Mackinac. Today it only goes as far north as Grand Rapids. But I predict this company will aggressively market their RR and carloadings will go up on an annual basis. Gone will be the auto-manufacturing traffic but bulk commodities will grow. Class One RRs don't want to come to your siding unless you have a 100 car train for them.

 

Back in 'the day', Gibson would have a siding with 40' boxcars spotted bringing in spruce, maple, and other wood stock. Don't believe there was any outbound shipping by rail, but I could be wrong, it is just a guess. Maybe I'll ask Jim sometime.

 

There's your train story for the day! Oh, and I got outta town before the big time snow falls!

 

Enjoy,

Chico.

[schundog]

The stars were definitely aligned for you, my friend!! Your two favorite things, all at once!! Glad you didn't get snowed in; I woke up in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Saturday morning, went for a walk on the beach, working up a sweat, and flew into O'Hare in Chicago Saturday evening to 4-6 inches of snow, wind, and cold!!

[FredZepp]

Interesting details and a really cool pic... thanks.

 

[eljay]

back atcha chico, and to all the H faithful! eljay

[High Flying Bird]

Nice photo and story. Man, Ray, it looks cold up there.

[chico]

Nice photo and story. Man, Ray, it looks cold up there.

 

It was about 26 on that day, but tonight, its 12 BEFORE the wind chill is factored, and that puts it down to zero or below. They are getting bands of lake effect snow off of L Michigan, probably a little bit warmer (its all relative though) over in the Zoo vs. here in WI. tonight.

 

sure wouldn't want to sit out there for a group photo~!

[skydog52]

sure wouldn't want to sit out there for a group photo~!

 

 

 

I'm game. I've lived in Michigan my whole life and used to it, unfortunately!

 

Nice photo and Happy Holidays to you and everyone here.

[pegleg32]

Great photo Chico!!

[Patrick]

There's no blur or any other signs of movement from that train. How the hell did you have the time to set your shutter speed and still capture that engine in perfect position?? I get blur on standing still guitars!!!!!

[chico]

I shoot shutter priority, setting it at 1/500 sec. exposure. that'll stop most moving objects, though if the train were going any faster (speed was about 20MPH) I would speed up the shutter 1/640SEC.

 

Stopping the motion is usually the objective but some RR photographers will go artsy-fartsy and intentionally blur for effect. Usually that requires at shutter speed of 1/60SEC, which is about as slow of shutter speed you can use and still shoot hand-held (no tripod). Another type of artsy fartsy blur shot when the photographer sets a faster shutter speed, but intentionally "jerks" a camera, effectively panning such that the object (train) is frozen against a blurry backdrop, like in this example:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=342864&nseq=6

 

I'm from the film generation, and we were always taught, "sunny side, 1/500 sec. at f5, Kodachrome 64"

 

But in the digital era of photography, all the rules have gone out the window as to the "proper" way to shoot..

Night photos, motion, a 24/7/365 kinda approach. We only used to go out to shoot on sunny days~!

 

Now, for guitar photos, its all different thinking than what I expoused above. I defer to HFB..

 

chico

[Guest HRB853370]

No silver bells here, but I was in kzoo last week for a couple days, and of course made the trip by Parsons. And wouldn't you know it, a TRAIN was coming! (surprise surprise as Gomer would have said)

 

Anyway, you are looking at the Grand Elk RR heading north with their train #303 to work the industries north of Kalamazoo in Otsego and Wayland to mention a couple places.

 

Grand Elk is a newcomer to the railroad scene in Kzoo, a shortline operating a spinoff railroad from a Class One RR (Norfolk Southern) who previously operated it. Prior to that, it was Conrail-Penn Central-Pennsylvania RR property over the years. At one time it went all the way to the Straits of Mackinac. Today it only goes as far north as Grand Rapids. But I predict this company will aggressively market their RR and carloadings will go up on an annual basis. Gone will be the auto-manufacturing traffic but bulk commodities will grow. Class One RRs don't want to come to your siding unless you have a 100 car train for them.

 

Back in 'the day', Gibson would have a siding with 40' boxcars spotted bringing in spruce, maple, and other wood stock. Don't believe there was any outbound shipping by rail, but I could be wrong, it is just a guess. Maybe I'll ask Jim sometime.

 

There's your train story for the day! Oh, and I got outta town before the big time snow falls!

 

Enjoy,

Chico.

 

Thanks Chico. But if you live in Wisconsin, you probably get much more snow than Kazoo gets!!!

[yoslate]

Nice shot, Ray. Your usual thoughtful, interesting post. Best wishes, my friend!

[ronalr]

That is an outstanding picture....reminds me of the days my Dad and I would create our model train garden for Christmas back in the 50's.....thanks chico!!!

[Assumer]

Just a great photo. The train adds so much to the vibe.