Messages

106

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Re: Polar Express just before sunset....

« on: January 16, 2013, 08:19:41 AM »

That's a great pic, Kevin, as always.

Too bad that it is the only one that made it through the railpictures screening process. I would have liked to have seen what else you had come up with that day.

Hi Bill,

I made the decision to head up to Portland when I found out that the trains would start running in the early afternoon.  I was really hoping to catch a few frames at the east end of the line, with the waterfront in the background.  You can get those shots in the summertime, but the light is usually bad most of the day.   Unfortunately, what I found out was that even at 1:30 PM in December, the east side is already in shadow.  The east-end shots were doomed from the moment I got there.   The light was good on the west side, and I did shoot several sequences during the two daylight runs, but the look of the other frames was not a lot different from what you see in the shot that I posted.   I went with that frame for RP, because it was the prettiest light of the day, and I was able to get the nicely lit Portland Company in the background.   Whenever I post stuff on RP, I try to have those shots be the ones that show the subject railroad in the best possible way.....as opposed to any possible way.   

I saw Richard's post regarding the aesthetics of the Portland location and while ideally, I always prefer to photograph trains in their "native" environments, I also understand that when it comes to steam, survival is the most important thing.  As I travel around, I see so many really authentic steam operations, in very historic and photogenic locations, that are constantly struggling to survive.   The remoteness of these locations made it possible for these railroads to survive being paved over by progress, but that same remoteness is now their biggest threat.   Ely, Chama, Orbisonia.....the list goes on.   Operating in Portland may not be very authentic, but the close proximity of the population means that events such as Polar Express will continue to bring in the money that it takes to keep the operation alive for future generations to enjoy.  We sometimes have to be careful what we wish for.

Me?   I'm wishing for the day when I can take this shot again:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=380633&nseq=181

 

/Kevin

107

Maine Narrow Gauge RR Co. & Museum / Polar Express just before sunset....

« on: January 15, 2013, 10:41:00 AM »

It's unfortunate that we don't see more photos of the MNGRR operation in Portland here on the forums. 

Here's a shot that I took of one of the last of the daylight Polar Express runs, just before sunset on Dec 23rd:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=420685&nseq=4

/Kevin

108

Work and Events / Re: Victorian Christmas Pics

« on: December 22, 2012, 11:10:13 PM »

Fourth one:  Plenty of folks on the platform at Sheepscot waiting to head off to AC:

I apologize for having to do four posts.  Not sure why, but the forum would only let me post one pic at a time, despite the fact that all of them were under the 128K size limit.   There must be a magic word to get it to take 4 images in one post.   If someone can let me in on the secret, I'd be grateful!

Have a great Christmas all!!

/Kevin

109

Work and Events / Re: Victorian Christmas Pics

« on: December 22, 2012, 11:07:15 PM »

Third one:  Some of the folks up at AC, watching their ride to Sheepscot arrive:

110

Work and Events / Re: Victorian Christmas Pics

« on: December 22, 2012, 11:06:26 PM »

Second one:   Santa with one of the many little ones at AC:

111

Work and Events / 2012 Victorian Christmas Pics

« on: December 22, 2012, 11:04:00 PM »

Folks,

I saw Wayne's request for pics over on the work thread.  I am about to head off to CT for the holidays, but I managed a few quick edits on some obvious candidates.   I am not used to posting really low-res images, so I hope these look OK.

First one: Humanson Brook.....hummin!

/Kevin

112

Work and Events / Re: Annual Picnic?

« on: August 07, 2012, 07:08:39 AM »

Thanks Stewart!  Let us know the plan when you have it.  If there's a Sunday extra, I will need to grab a hotel someplace.

/Kevin

113

Work and Events / Annual Picnic 2012

« on: August 04, 2012, 09:52:42 PM »

Folks,

I've been browsing the forums every few days, just checking to see what might be in store for the Annual Picnic weekend.  Are there any special activities planned?   I'm looking for a good excuse to put my compass on NE next weekend.

Thx,

/Kevin

114

Work and Events / Re: 4th of July 2012 *pics*

« on: July 06, 2012, 01:17:00 PM »

Wow, Stephen you really got around on the 4th!  Nice job documenting the day.  Hope you were able to enjoy some of it while you were running back and forth.   The portrait of the engine crew and the Row-Mow shot are my faves.  I would have had difficulty with the portrait, but that Row-Mow shot was one I really wanted!

/Kevin

115

Whimsical Weirdness and Foolery / Re: WW&F Visits....

« on: July 04, 2012, 07:25:59 AM »

Well, maybe not an "official visit", but.....Skagway, Alaska. 

Go to this page: http://www.wpyr.com/news/rotaryevent2011.html

Down at the bottom of the page is a little video.  Play that sucker and pay special attention to the interviews at the end.  My apologies that you have to sit through several minutes to see it, but I think you'll be able to put up with it! 

/Kevin

116

Other Narrow Gauge / Re: EBT not operating in 2012!

« on: June 14, 2012, 01:43:20 PM »

Your telling me. Dawn and I had planned to visit for our honeymoon in August. When I read that, I was really disapointed. That was a huge reason why we had chosen to go to Pa. for our honeymoon, and not Colorado or New Mexico. We may still go there to take a look around the property, etc. but it won't be the same without a train ride.

Hi Joe,

The EBT closure is disappointing.  You may want to go to Colorado instead.   Once again, depending on your timing, you might make Railfest in Durango, which is in mid-August.   During those 4 days, there are lots of special train rides (D&S trains, E&P#4, Goose #5, etc).  It's a Thursday-Sunday event.  There is, of course, the normal Silverton Train, which you need to do at least once in your life.  Dan Markoff will also be there with Eureka.  This might be his last Railfest for a while as Eureka's flue-time extension will be expiring, so if you ever wanted to ride behind Eureka, now's the time.   She will even be running one day of short trips from DGO to Home Ranch for those who don't want to pay for an all-day trip.   A bonus of doing Railfest is that you can always drive over to Chama (2 hrs by car) and spend a day watching or riding the trips over Cumbres Pass.

If you decide to go to Colorado, your best bet is to fly into Albuquerque, NM and drive.  Southwest goes there pretty cheaply, if you buy your tickets during sales....like the one that ends tonight!  Southwest.com!!!!

/Kevin

117

Work and Events / Re: Reefer 65 - Official Work Thread

« on: June 13, 2012, 10:07:14 AM »

Unfortunately, neither Stephen nor I were able to make the oh-dark-thirty operation in Wiscasset on Sunday.   Stephen had a TV program to shoot and I had a commit to tow gliders for the CAP.

My last shot of the reefer was when she was headed off the property:http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400477&nseq=0

I did get a chance to visit the display location as I was leaving for home on Saturday.   The display track is located on the west side of the pier, with buildings that would preclude a clean shot in the morning.   The car would probably best be photographed in the late afternoon after 3PM, and before the shadows creep over it.   I do hope that all who see it realize the passion, energy, time and money that went into it and that there are no problems with graffiti and the like.   It's a really sweet piece that says alot about the museum and the people who built it.

/Kevin

118

Work and Events / Re: Reefer 65 - Official Work Thread

« on: June 11, 2012, 09:51:37 PM »

Folks,

Here are a couple of shots from Saturday.  

The photo freight climbing The Ladder http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400298&nseq=1

Stewart doing his "milk man" act at Alna Center http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400296&nseq=2

Jason looking mighty concerned as the lead truck starts up the incline http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=400350&nseq=0

I will have a few more within a day or two.  The folks at RailPictures are very picky, especially with high-sun shots like the last one, so I am trying to make sure there are no deep deep shadows.  So far, so good.  As I write this, that shot of Stewart is one of the top shots of the day on the site!

/Kevin

119

Work and Events / Re: Reefer 65 - Official Work Thread

« on: April 03, 2012, 01:10:40 PM »

Thanks Stewart!   Is there any plan to take freight cars out for Easter, or during Work Weekend?

/Kevin

120

General Discussion / Re: FRA Regulations (Pilot, Grade Crossing, Brakes, etc.)

« on: April 03, 2012, 01:08:25 PM »

Thanks guys!   I think that the experience various museums have with the FRA varies from place to place.    When I was out at Nevada Northern in February, the FRA had nearly all of the museum's historic box and hopper cars restricted to the yard because they were over 50 years old.   Even though the museum had inspected them and worked on them, the inspector basically failed everything.   Fortunately, the yard limits at NN are pretty liberal.

I guess it matters who the inspector is.   The FAA is not a lot different with respect to airplanes.   You can easily get two different rulings from two different district offices.

As Joe says, it pays to start cultivating a good relationship early on.

/Kevin