An interesting pic of the coaling tower. I think it's very important to capture lineside structures like this since the current railroad boom and push to modernization is making them disappear faster that I think we appreciate. Whether it's coaling towers, old stations, branch lines, signal towers or what have you we need to record them now because they will be gone sooner rather than later...
I agree with you on this. There are fewer of the coaling towers around but this one stands for now because it is solid concrete and would cost more to take down then leave. When it warms up I will get out to the other tower near me that is a completely different design. There is also an old branch line that has a rusting steam train on it nearby that I need to get to so.... Keep checking back.
I like your scanned image. Like you and I it might be showing its age a bit but I like nothing better than to be able to glimpse back into the past. I have a number of old slides and prints that I'll post when I finally get a good scanner. I've scanned a few with my current equipment but I'm not really pleased with the results. You can do some PP on an image but if your starting point is not the best you can only do so much.
For something different I posted this image in the landscape forum a couple days ago and didn't get a single response--so I might as well post it where it will at least be appreciated if not commented on. Taken in Late June 1985 it shows two BC Rail C44-9W engines leading a southbound drag freight a few miles north of Lillooet, B.C.
btw - does anyone know if the old Santa Fe Super Chief or the Texas Chief are on display anywhere at a museum or something? Talk about a train you didn't want to stand next to the tracks while it was passing by! They would fly through rural Oklahoma so fast that the station master would make everyone come in off the platform when they went by! It was a sight to see - if only a very blurry sight.
Paul,
All four are superb shots. Number 1 is probably the best Lionel shot I've ever seen. The other 3 are a fine use of light. Excellent composition!
Chris
I believe a Santa Fe passenger warbonnet is on display in Sacramento, the PAs? Not as sure but believe a few have been recovered and stored if not restored?
Some of the cars from the Santa Fe are still running on the Amtrak Southwest Chief.
I suppose if I plan and time this it might be possible to get a better one - but I grabbed it when the opportunity came up. Maybe with a polarizer?
Now that I've given myself a heck of a bad cold just before vacation by standing in the rain -I might as well post the shot that almost made it worth while...
I have to echo John's comments. Trying to capture the weather in visual terms is not as easy as it looks. Man, it must have been raining hard to produce that kind of effect...
I believe a Santa Fe passenger warbonnet is on display in Sacramento, the PAs? Not as sure but believe a few have been recovered and stored if not restored?
Some of the cars from the Santa Fe are still running on the Amtrak Southwest Chief.
I suppose if I plan and time this it might be possible to get a better one - but I grabbed it when the opportunity came up. Maybe with a polarizer?
..forgot to post the pic.
