Trains Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Laughing Frog Images

UP on the ex- Western Pacific

Posted on January 25, 2015January 19, 2015 by Kurt

The former Western Pacific Railroad traverses through the Feather River Canyon between Portola and Oroville, CA. This is breathtaking and relatively unknown scenery.

The WP was taken over by the Union Pacific over thirty years ago, so I never got to see the line as WP. As close as I can get it to the real thing is the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola (check out that gallery here), which is well worth visiting if you’re in the area.

The WP that I have come to know is under the Armour Yellow of the Union Pacific, and it’s still a remarkable line to photograph.

I had started to put some of my images from the former WP into the UP, and came to the realization that they might well get lost in there. They need to stand on their own! So, there’s something new on Laughing Frog Images – the UP on the ex- Western Pacific Gallery.

I tend to get less than ideal weather in the Feather River Canyon, and the photos reflect that. However, life isn’t always blue skies and sunshine – and I’ve never been one to put the camera away if I’ve made the journey and the time to photograph something. Sometimes, I’ve felt that the sun takes the same time off that I do, but digital photography has made that much easier to deal with than it was in the days of ISO 64 Kodachrome!

The BNSF has trackage rights over the WP, and that will be a separate gallery as well. I contemplated that idea for a while, and for similar reasons, decided to make that its’ own gallery.

At some point in time, there are two more galleries coming that are related to the WP. These will be of the eastbound and westbound trips of the 2014 Feather River Express as viewed from the train. (Yeah, I know, I promised those a while ago, but they’re still works in progress!).

Enjoy!

BNSF Pasadena Sub Gallery Added

Posted on January 23, 2015January 19, 2015 by Kurt

The BNSF Pasadena Sub Gallery has been added to Laughing Frog Images.

The current Pasadena Sub is actually owned by Metrolink – the Los Angeles regional commuter rail system. The western half of the Pasadena Sub is now part of the Metro Gold Line, a light rail commuter line. Freight service from San Bernardino to the MillerCoors brewery in Irwindale is provided by BNSF.

Back in The Day, the Pasadena Sub was a prime passenger route for the Santa Fe – all of the name trains that stopped at Pasadena passed over the subdivision.

The Pasadena Sub local freight was handled by two to four GP-30/GP-35 units before they were largely retired. I though it was cool to be photographing some of this action with my 1.2 megapixel digital camera way back when that was the cat’s meow. And now… I want to smack myself upside the head, because the usable print size of those images is about 4″x6″ on a good day… I included a few images from the early days of digital to look at, if nothing else. I do have some slides to find and scan, but for the most part, my quality stuff of the Pasadena Sub doesn’t include the Blondes (Santa Fe’s blue and yellow version of the Warbonnet applied to locomotives in the latter part of the 20th century).

Of late, the power has been ex-Santa Fe GP-60Ms that were children of the reborn Super Fleet and delivered in the classic Warbonnet paint scheme in the early 1990’s. They were built for speed to handle priority intermodal traffic from Chicago to Los Angeles and Richmond. And now, most of them are serving out their time on local and regional freights on the former Santa Fe lines.

I decided to break out the Pasadena Sub and give it its’ own gallery owing to the many shots of the GP-60M’s in their Warbonnet paint. If you get a Santa Fe leader, and work the angles right, it could be 1995, and not 2015…

Despite the fact that I live in close proximity to the Pasadena Sub, I don’t get to photograph it much, as it’s a weekday-only operation for the most part, and I have this thing called work…

Enjoy what I’m able to share with you of the BNSF Pasadena Sub!

Westbound Grain and Glint

Posted on November 28, 2014November 24, 2014 by Kurt

Westbound grain and glint. What’s that about?

We’re between Fenner and Goffs, CA on the former Santa Fe Railroad, now commonly referred to as the BNSF Transcon.

This is a westbound grain train moving downgrade from the summit at Goffs. The train is heading towards the setting sun – and I’m shooting at roughly the opposite angle of the sun. That’s where the glint comes from. This is an untouched color image.

Note how the colors have largely shifted to black, white, gray and muted pastels. Those of you familiar with the BNSF know that these locomotives are predominantly orange, and that the covered hopper cars are a red oxide color – but you’d never know that from this image!

But the detail! Glint shots can bring out details that you wouldn’t ordinarily notice. You’re looking at the surfaces that reflect light in an entirely different way. What isn’t reflecting light simply shows as black. And it’s different. And interesting. And not your typical image.

It’s not your typical train picture. And that’s what makes in interesting. You can find the image here at Laughing Frog Images.

If Black and White is something that interests you, you can get it in B&W with the click of a mouse.

Is this a mellow photo or what?

Posted on November 26, 2014November 24, 2014 by Kurt

Is this a mellow photo or what? There’s just something tranquil and peaceful about this one.

I was in a zone… sitting in the lounge car of Amtrak’s eastbound Southwest Chief somewhere north of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I can do that on a train. Sitting. Staring. Taking it all in. And sometimes, I remember to pick up the camera and take a picture. And sometimes, I’m so absorbed in taking in parts of America that more should experience that I don’t pick up the camera until it’s too late, if at all.

There’s just something about this one… Mellow. Peaceful. Tranquil.

It’s one of those pictures that actually was helped by clouds – if the ground was in full sun, I don’t think it would work. That the foreground is mostly in the shadow of the clouds takes your eyes to the clouds and the sky. And that’s where mellow comes in…

I can get lost in it because there’s nothing to the picture, yet there is everything to the picture.

I’ve got this on a coffee mug. You can find it here on Laughing Frog Images and make it your own your way.

Don’t forget to visit the main Gallery page for your discount code!

Detroit Toledo & Ironton, MI, 1982-84

Posted on November 13, 2014November 8, 2014 by Kurt

We’ve added a new gallery to Laughing Frog Images – Detroit Toledo & Ironton in Michigan, 1982-1984.

Much like the Grand Trunk Western, the Detroit Toledo & Ironton in eastern Michigan was a natural side trip to the pursuits of the Port Huron and Detroit.

Detroit Toledo & Ironton’s Flat Rock Yard was an easy diversion off of I-75 between Toledo and Detroit. DT&I power was showing up on the GTW in Port Huron.

And, back then, in a galaxy far far away in a time long ago, as long as you checked in, stayed off of the tracks and equipment, and didn’t do anything stupid, you could take your pictures in peace.

So, it was easy.

But… easy shooting of the DT&I didn’t always mean that it was in the best light. As a matter of fact, sometimes the light was downright terrible. every once in a while, I got lucky – but it seems like high noon and clouds were the norm fo rme back then. I’ve tried to make all of the images as close to perfect as I can, but in some cases, they’re dark below the frame. Some look like they’re floating on a sea of black. I debated whether or not to include some of them – but I decided to include them, as a dark underframe on a DT&I unit is better than no DT&I unit at all. The Detroit Toledo & Ironton was disappearing during this time, and I tried to make the most of the opportunities I had.

The ultimate question that arises from this gallery is simple: which one is the correct shade of DT&I orange?

As with the GTW gallery, this gallery will likely appeal to model railroaders as well as the ferroequinologists out there.

Enjoy!

Grand Trunk Western, MI, ’82-’84

Posted on November 10, 2014November 8, 2014 by Kurt

We’ve added a new gallery to Laughing Frog Images – Grand Trunk Western in eastern Michigan, 1982-1984.

The Grand Trunk Western in eastern Michigan was a natural side trip to the pursuits of the Port Huron and Detroit from 1982 to 1984.

Their Tunnel Yard office was directly across the Pere Marquette and Grand Trunk Western mains from the PH&D office.

Everything in and out of Port Huron (PH&D, PM (as the ex-PM/C&O/Chessie System was known, and the Trunk) went by or near Tappan Tower at the West end of the yard.

The Trunk had a regular run-through freight with the Milwaukee Road, so you could see Milwaukee power in Port Huron. The assimilation of the Detroit Toledo and Ironton was taking place during this time, as was the assimilation of the Detroit and Toledo Shore Line. Assimilation meant variety, and also lament. There were ex-Rock Island GP38-2’s running around in patched Rock Island paint. There was variety…

The Tunnel Yard engine facility was wide open. Switchers and Geeps lay in wait. One of the shades of GT blue was the correct one! And, there were still some units running around in GT black.

Detroit Toledo and Ironton’s Flat Rock Yard was an easy diversion off of I-75 between Toledo and Detroit.

And, back then, in a galaxy far far away in a time long ago, as long as you checked in, stayed off of the tracks and equipment, and didn’t do anything stupid, you could take your pictures in peace.

So, it was easy.

But… the PH&D was the main attraction, and easy shooting of the Trunk didn’t always mean that everything was always in the best light. I’ve tried to make the images as close to perfect as I can, but in some cases, they’re dark below the frame. I debated whether or not to include some of them – but I decided to include them, as a dark underframe on a GTW unit is better than no GTW unit at all.

That said, I captured a reasonable representation of the GTW in eastern Michigan in that time frame. This gallery will likely appeal to model railroaders as well as the ferroequinologists out there.

Enjoy!

Port Huron & Detroit in color, 1982-84

Posted on November 2, 2014November 1, 2014 by Kurt

I discovered the Port Huron & Detroit Railroad with a forgotten cohort in July of 1982.

An Alco-powered shortline in Michigan, the Port Huron & Detroit was something new to me. Alco switchers were all but gone in Western Pennsylvania. And the folks there put up with, educated, tolerated, and supported a young railroad photographer.

I was shooting Kodachrome 64 – each slide cost me just shy of a quarter for film, postage and processing. I was making $4-5 dollars an hour through various summer enterprises. And I lived about 300 miles away. 30+ years later, I wish I’d shot more… I have too many memories of the people that made the railroad what it was, and too few pictures of them.

Back then, I was still mastering Kodachrome, let along photography in general. After working the scanner for hours, it’s been hours of cleaning, editing, and fixing. The PH&D gallery can be found on Laughing Frog Images by clicking here.

I made several trips to the Port Huron & Detroit through the end of the railroad’s time shooting black and white and color (that’s how you had to do it back then – no click of a mouse in a software program like there is these days!). In December of 1984, the Port Huron & Detroit was purchased by CSX. I still keep in touch with a couple former employees. Doesn’t seem like 30 years ago…

The Frog is working on a black and white Port Huron & Detroit gallery – hopefully it will be up before Thanksgiving.

Port Huron was also served by the Grand Trunk Western and Chessie System (former Chesapeake and Ohio, and before that, Pere Marquette). The Chessie line was still referred to as the “PM”, and had a carfloat operation to Sarnia, Ontario that I never shot… (Yes, I regret it – but the lighting was bad in the morning, and by the time the light came around, I was chasing the PH&D.) You could drive in to the Trunk’s engine facility, check in – and as long as you stayed off of the tracks and engines – and didn’t do anything stupid, all was well. Look for future blog posts and galleries from these railroads I came to know because of the PH&D.

The Port Huron & Detroit Railroad Historical Society’s Facebook Page can be found here.

Half of all profits from this gallery will be donated to the Port Huron & Detroit Historical Society.

2014 Holiday Sale!

Posted on November 2, 2014November 1, 2014 by Kurt

Laughing Frog Images is based upon two simple premises: (1) photographic art should be affordable, and (2) you should be able to get the image that you want the way that you want it.

The Frog recognizes that everyone appreciates a sale, so now through December 25th – everything at Laughing Frog Images is 10% off!

It’s the Laughing Frog Images 2014 Holiday Sale!

Nothing is excluded, and there’s no limit to your savings. Spoil yourself or get someone a unique gift from Laughing Frog Images.

Use Coupon Code LFIholidays14 to get 10% off everything at Laughing Frog Images.

Happy shopping, and Happy Holidays to you and yours from Laughing Frog Images.

Newfoundland Railway

Posted on September 28, 2014September 21, 2014 by Kurt

While on a shore excursion out of Corner Brook, Newfoundland on a New England / Atlantic Canada cruise, we passed a small museum honoring the Newfoundland Railway. I was on a bus, and wasn’t too happy – as seeing the museum and not being able to photograph it was worse than not seeing it, not knowing it was there, and then not feeling like I missed anything. We’ve all been there for something.

As things would have it, we had some time before the ship sailed, so… It was off to the dock and to the cab line. And then, a short drive to the museum in Humbermouth, NL.

My cab driver was a native Newfoundlander, and had driven by the museum many times, but had never stopped. He walked with me as I photographed, and as we talked about life in Newfoundland, we also talked about the history we were looking at. One thing about trains is that they an often tell a story. The rails themselves tell you who made them and when, and sometimes, where as well. Castings have the manufacturer’s name, and often the date. Engines have a Builder’s Plate to tell their story. So, in about half an hour, we both learned things we didn’t know before our brief encounter.

Unfortunately, the Museum itself was closed, so my education about the Newfoundland Railway was limited to the rolling stock on display.

The Newfoundland Railway ceased operations in 1988 when the Trans-Canada Highway was completed across Newfoundland.

Here’s a link to the Newfoundland Railway Gallery on Laughing Frog Images.

If you’d like to learn more about the museum, check out the Railway Society of Newfoundland Facebook Page.

The Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador’s railway site can be found here: Railway Society of Newfoundland

Also worth checking out is the Railway Coastal Museum website. The museum itself, with excellent dioramas and displays in former Newfoundland Railway passenger cars is in St. John’s, NL.

If that’s not enough information, here’s some recommended reading: “Rails Across the Rock: A Then and Now Celebration of the Newfoundland Railway.” Pieroway, Ken. 2013 (I don’t have it in my collection yet, but it’s been well received in the reviews I’ve read.)

We saw just enough in Newfoundland to add it to my Bucket List. A few hours of shore time just didn’t do it justice.

Trains in England! New Gallery added.

Posted on April 6, 2014April 19, 2014 by Kurt

In 2007, I had to take a business trip to London. And yes, my camera went with me! I did manage to set aside some time for photography after the work was done, and after spending some time sorting and editing, a look at railroading in the UK is now posted for your enjoyment.

I’d seen pictures of European trains before I went, and thought they looked “small” – at least after growing up with the Penn Central, Conrail, Bessemer & Lake Erie, Baltimore & Ohio and the Chessie System railroads.

Well, guess what? They are a lot smaller than what we’re used to here in the States. Their “small” size is due to an older infrastructure and urban clearances that we don’t have here. Their freight trains are shorter – but more frequent. Their passenger trains, well, there’s both frequency and variety there! It was strange to be there and see commuter, short-distance and long-distance passenger trains with a variety of equipment. It was also strange to be in a country where trains are an everyday part of life and movement. Quite unlike the US and Canada, where neither our politicians nor transportation policies are very functional. Canada used to be a dramatic contrast to the US, but their politicians have been slowly dismantling their passenger rail system (except for Montreal and Toronto) since 1989. We’ve got 18 years on them, but they are sadly catching up. Anyway… enough commentary on passenger rail – back to the UK!

One of the neat things about watching trains in England is this thing called “open access”. Here’s the short story: British Rail was privatized, and the tracks and infrastructure are owned by one entity. Operators of freight and passenger trains pay user fees to move over the tracks. If you’re a railfan (“trainspotter” in the UK), this is great – because you can sit in one place and see trains from many different operators without having to move to a different rail line. You’ll see that variety in the images from part of a day spent at Stratford, and a few minutes (really!) at Derby (which I learned is pronounced “Darby”).

If you want to learn more about the engines you see, as well as the EMUs (Electric Multiple Unit self-propelled passenger cars) and DMUs (Diesel Multiple Unit self-propelled passenger cars), Wikipedia is a great place to go. For example, if you want to learn about the Class 66 diesels, go to Wikipedia and type in Class 66 in the search bar. Researching these things is easy, as all locomotives, EMUs and DMUs are classified according to the British Rail Classification System – the first two or three digits are the class, and the last three digits are the individual unit numbers. You’ll see the Class 66 locomotives of several users in the Gallery – the only thing different is the paint and the last three numbers.

So, take a little trip to England and check out their trains. I’ve heard that the images make great gifts as mugs, water bottles, as well as framed on the wall…

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