I couldn't believe my eyes as I picked up the latest issue of Classic Trains. There on the cover was an amazing shot of fallen-flag DL&W F8 units rounding a bend and leaning into a superelevated curve as their train rolled off the Nicholson Viaduct in 1951. In the foreground is a set of double semaphores guarding the tracks. The viaduct was still new enough (completed 1915) that the trees clinging to the hillside around it don't yet block the long view back to the bridge itself. Quite a shot!
The reason it caught my eye is that I grew up on that line. Not down in PA, but up in New York - just over the PA/NY border. I saw the last days of the E-L, but I was too small still to really understand the railroads. I loved the sight and sounds of engines, but I was too young to leave my own backyard. I never knew where the tracks went, where the trains came from, or the fact that such impressive structures such as the Nicholson Viaduct (and Martin's Creek Viaduct) existed so close to my home.
I often wish I had been of the age to have the freedom to go exploring back then; To drive the backroads of Pennsylvania and catch the Erie pulling and pushing freight over Gulf Summit and Starucca Viaduct, or to see them racing along the banks of the Delaware River; To wander out and see the Lackawanna capture Clark's Summit; To witness the Delaware and Hudson climb Belden Hill with mulitple pushers, or the PA units. The list here is too long to compile. You'd get bored reading about my missed opportunities. We all have them don't we? And I know something else: Had I been older back then, if I'd had the chance to see all these things and to chase freight trains on the old D&H Penn Division up and down Ararat Mountain I'd still lament. I would wish I had been around to experience the days before all of that. I would regret not being able to experience what it was like when all those spots were hosting steam power.
I often remind myself that, as far as this hobby is concerned, now is the greatest time to be a railfan. I know that security concerns pressure us at times to explain ourselves more than we have ever had to do. I know attorneys and lawyers have made it difficult for railroaders to call us up into the engine for a ride.
I guess my point is this: No matter when we are from, we'll always think the past was better in this hobby. Even though we may look forward to the bulging expanse of new and heavier traffic putting more trains on the rails, even though new life is coming into the industry, we will always wish for things the way they were. Enjoy it now, take pictures, remember it.
Michael Hammond
http://www.282movies.com/
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
The One That Got Away Pt. 2
Sunday dawn rose crisp, pink, and cold. It was definitely the promised change from the day before. The Allegheny Divide lay in the hills ahead of me as I started out of the hotel parking lot with a renewed sense of hope.
My first stop was the Brickyard. Fans of the Altoona area will know the Brickyard grade crossing. It's a great place to sit and watch the trains as they near the bottom of the hill, or as they start their grueling climb westward. The day was still young enough that thick fog lazed through the air. The sun was just peeking over the hills and the autumn trees catching this golden light were starting to radiate their colors. In just a few minutes I saw a couple of trains, but the sun position was all wrong. It was still too low to crest the trees that line the tracks at this location. The trains would not be in full light. I jumped back in the truck and headed upgrade/WB to a spot in the woods where I could park the truck, throw on my 50lbs. of gear, and start hiking.
Pushing uphill through the thick underbrush, it became clear that the decision to wear my long pants was a good one. Pricker bushes all around would have made mincemeat of legs protected only by a pair of cargo shorts. An hour passed before my lenses would capture anything. Then the traffic started. In the space of about twenty minutes 64J (loaded garbage) with pushers, empty coal, a manifest with pushers, and lite pushers went WB up the hill through McGarvey's Curve while 22W (Intermodal), loaded coal, and a manifest train eased downgrade. The brake pads on the manifest were smoking and the pushers on the tail were on full dynamics to hold back the 122-car train.
Scanner chatter alerted to the fact that the WB pushers were headed for MP 245.5 to rescue a train that had stalled for some reason or another on the hill. A white SUV roaring upgrade in the wide space between tracks 1 and 2 was an area trainmaster heading for the same location to lend a hand if needed. I moved myself EB and downgrade just around McGarveys Curve to get a long shot of the Brickyard grade crossing. Filling out the scene was the signal bridge at 238.4. it didn't take long to record another loaded coal train coming down into Altoona, and yet another intermodal starting up the hill and out of town.
The day was turning out to be surprisingly hot and dry. Temps that were supposed to be in the low-70s was becoming closer to the mid-80s as I would later find out. My body was becoming dehydrated quickly and my gallon of water was in my truck about two miles away. I was thirsty with a cracking throat, but there was a spot I wanted to get to before the sun got too high or too badly positioned to get a shot - a neat, tall roI climbed the rock cut overlooking the MP239.7 signal bridge and could hear a train that just passed by 10 minutes ago just blowing its horn for the fans at the Curve park. I hadn't seen this train because I had been away from the tracks pushing through the forest. Now, from my vantage point high above the tracks and signal bridge, I could hear an EB train with its full dynamics passing through the Curve at the same time as the train I missed. Right about then, a horn could be heard blowing for the Brickyard crossing behind the hill I was standing on. Now, this meant that 1.5 miles behind me there was a train approaching me from Altoona and one coming at me from about 2 miles away. Soon, the EB would come by me upgrade spewing its breath out the top of the stacks and if things worked out right, the EB coming through the Curve and this WB would pass right below me through the rock cut. I had the problem of the sun (just getting near noon) sitting right over the tracks that would bring the WB past me up the grade. Again, if I could get just the right position, the smoke coming out of the stacks would look fantastic against the backdrop of the rising sun.
It did work out great. The diesels at the head end of the WB train pulling upgrade out of Altoona slowly came around the bend in the distance. Plumes of backlit exhaust shot skyward from the units struggling with their train. Two pusher SD-40-2s had been tied on to the head end. Following them were an AC4400CW and an SD-60. They thundered below my feet making what looked like a good 10 MPH. They passed under the 239.7 signal bridge and as the power took the next turn out of sight, the head end of the EB came toward the signals. The rocks were rumbling at the heavy freights passing bellow. I turned the camera and caught the head end of the second train arching away into McGarveys Curve as they made the turn toward the Brickyard stretch.
Several minutes while the two crawling trains passed by. Brakeshoes smoking and wheels pinching against the inside of the rails. Soon, the pushers of the WB came into view. Backlighting again made a great show of the exhaust. This was railroading and this was the drama played out over and over on these hills since men first built rails through the Alleghenies.
To be continued...
Michael Hammond
www.282movies.com
My first stop was the Brickyard. Fans of the Altoona area will know the Brickyard grade crossing. It's a great place to sit and watch the trains as they near the bottom of the hill, or as they start their grueling climb westward. The day was still young enough that thick fog lazed through the air. The sun was just peeking over the hills and the autumn trees catching this golden light were starting to radiate their colors. In just a few minutes I saw a couple of trains, but the sun position was all wrong. It was still too low to crest the trees that line the tracks at this location. The trains would not be in full light. I jumped back in the truck and headed upgrade/WB to a spot in the woods where I could park the truck, throw on my 50lbs. of gear, and start hiking.
Pushing uphill through the thick underbrush, it became clear that the decision to wear my long pants was a good one. Pricker bushes all around would have made mincemeat of legs protected only by a pair of cargo shorts. An hour passed before my lenses would capture anything. Then the traffic started. In the space of about twenty minutes 64J (loaded garbage) with pushers, empty coal, a manifest with pushers, and lite pushers went WB up the hill through McGarvey's Curve while 22W (Intermodal), loaded coal, and a manifest train eased downgrade. The brake pads on the manifest were smoking and the pushers on the tail were on full dynamics to hold back the 122-car train.
Scanner chatter alerted to the fact that the WB pushers were headed for MP 245.5 to rescue a train that had stalled for some reason or another on the hill. A white SUV roaring upgrade in the wide space between tracks 1 and 2 was an area trainmaster heading for the same location to lend a hand if needed. I moved myself EB and downgrade just around McGarveys Curve to get a long shot of the Brickyard grade crossing. Filling out the scene was the signal bridge at 238.4. it didn't take long to record another loaded coal train coming down into Altoona, and yet another intermodal starting up the hill and out of town.
The day was turning out to be surprisingly hot and dry. Temps that were supposed to be in the low-70s was becoming closer to the mid-80s as I would later find out. My body was becoming dehydrated quickly and my gallon of water was in my truck about two miles away. I was thirsty with a cracking throat, but there was a spot I wanted to get to before the sun got too high or too badly positioned to get a shot - a neat, tall roI climbed the rock cut overlooking the MP239.7 signal bridge and could hear a train that just passed by 10 minutes ago just blowing its horn for the fans at the Curve park. I hadn't seen this train because I had been away from the tracks pushing through the forest. Now, from my vantage point high above the tracks and signal bridge, I could hear an EB train with its full dynamics passing through the Curve at the same time as the train I missed. Right about then, a horn could be heard blowing for the Brickyard crossing behind the hill I was standing on. Now, this meant that 1.5 miles behind me there was a train approaching me from Altoona and one coming at me from about 2 miles away. Soon, the EB would come by me upgrade spewing its breath out the top of the stacks and if things worked out right, the EB coming through the Curve and this WB would pass right below me through the rock cut. I had the problem of the sun (just getting near noon) sitting right over the tracks that would bring the WB past me up the grade. Again, if I could get just the right position, the smoke coming out of the stacks would look fantastic against the backdrop of the rising sun.
It did work out great. The diesels at the head end of the WB train pulling upgrade out of Altoona slowly came around the bend in the distance. Plumes of backlit exhaust shot skyward from the units struggling with their train. Two pusher SD-40-2s had been tied on to the head end. Following them were an AC4400CW and an SD-60. They thundered below my feet making what looked like a good 10 MPH. They passed under the 239.7 signal bridge and as the power took the next turn out of sight, the head end of the EB came toward the signals. The rocks were rumbling at the heavy freights passing bellow. I turned the camera and caught the head end of the second train arching away into McGarveys Curve as they made the turn toward the Brickyard stretch.
Several minutes while the two crawling trains passed by. Brakeshoes smoking and wheels pinching against the inside of the rails. Soon, the pushers of the WB came into view. Backlighting again made a great show of the exhaust. This was railroading and this was the drama played out over and over on these hills since men first built rails through the Alleghenies.
To be continued...
Michael Hammond
www.282movies.com
Monday, October 22, 2007
The One That Got Away
Talk about bad decisions and bad timing....
I went to the Altoona area for some more shooting. Now based in northern New Jersey, the trip took 5 hours. I made sure I checked the weather several times throughout the day before: Sunny and mid 80's. Sounded good. packed my gear and made sure I had all my important personal items.
Saturday morning - check weather - sunny and mid 80's. Good to go. Hopped in the car and started west toward the railfan mecca of the Eastern US.
Pulled into town around 8:30am. What is that up in the sky, large, fluffy, white and gray? Clouds. Lots of them. Pouring into the heart of the Alleghenies like milk over cereal. Well, I thought is must be a passing disturbance. The weather forecast, after all, said sunny.
Not to be. The clouds hung around all day. On and off, sometimes more numerous than others. I would swear to you though, that the clouds seemed to cast their large dark shadows as soon as a train came into sight. I kid you not. I would be standing in sun for half an hour, hear a train coming up or down the mountain, see a headlight and as the train got closer BAM! cloud shadow.
It took all my willpower to not destroy something, anything, in my possession just to relieve the frustration.
Well, at day's end, the clouds finally broke and the forecast called for all sun on Sunday so I thought I would stick it out til then. In the meantime, I made my way to a favorite spot where the now brilliant setting sun was illuminating a beautiful curve on the steepest part of NS's eastern slope. For a WB train, it would head directly into the sun making an incredible golden light subject. For EB trains heading downgrade towards Altoona, back lighting would really make an amazing shot. By the time the first train, an eastbounder, came downgrade out of Gallitzin the sun had fallen too low to catch a great head on shot. I didn't even have my camera set up for this shot thinking it wouldn't make a very good show. However, I could have trained my camera on the curve to catch the train heading away from me. I should have.
Track one - the eastbound general merchandise slowly inching downgrade out of the Gallitzin off the "Slide". Moments later, coming out of the same sunset, a roadrailer train on track 2. Moments later, struggling upgrade was a unit steel coil train. SD40 in the front in 8th notch with turbos screaming. The noise was deafening, the power in front of me indescribable. I kicked myself over and over as the drama played out in front of me. The trains were all monsters and cleared up in the order they arrived.
This was something not seen every day and, from my perch on a rock ledge, it would have been the catch of the century. I always tell myself "Shoot, shoot, shoot" because you never know what will happen. It doesn't matter whether the shot is perfection or not, whether its the classic coming at you head on shot. Sometimes there's more important things than a perfect, angles, perfect exposure or perfect lighting. Sometimes magic happens right in front of you and you'll get not many chances to see it again. Hopefully, next time I'll remember.
Coming: Part two of the trip...
Michael Hammond
www.282movies.com
I went to the Altoona area for some more shooting. Now based in northern New Jersey, the trip took 5 hours. I made sure I checked the weather several times throughout the day before: Sunny and mid 80's. Sounded good. packed my gear and made sure I had all my important personal items.
Saturday morning - check weather - sunny and mid 80's. Good to go. Hopped in the car and started west toward the railfan mecca of the Eastern US.
Pulled into town around 8:30am. What is that up in the sky, large, fluffy, white and gray? Clouds. Lots of them. Pouring into the heart of the Alleghenies like milk over cereal. Well, I thought is must be a passing disturbance. The weather forecast, after all, said sunny.
Not to be. The clouds hung around all day. On and off, sometimes more numerous than others. I would swear to you though, that the clouds seemed to cast their large dark shadows as soon as a train came into sight. I kid you not. I would be standing in sun for half an hour, hear a train coming up or down the mountain, see a headlight and as the train got closer BAM! cloud shadow.
It took all my willpower to not destroy something, anything, in my possession just to relieve the frustration.
Well, at day's end, the clouds finally broke and the forecast called for all sun on Sunday so I thought I would stick it out til then. In the meantime, I made my way to a favorite spot where the now brilliant setting sun was illuminating a beautiful curve on the steepest part of NS's eastern slope. For a WB train, it would head directly into the sun making an incredible golden light subject. For EB trains heading downgrade towards Altoona, back lighting would really make an amazing shot. By the time the first train, an eastbounder, came downgrade out of Gallitzin the sun had fallen too low to catch a great head on shot. I didn't even have my camera set up for this shot thinking it wouldn't make a very good show. However, I could have trained my camera on the curve to catch the train heading away from me. I should have.
Track one - the eastbound general merchandise slowly inching downgrade out of the Gallitzin off the "Slide". Moments later, coming out of the same sunset, a roadrailer train on track 2. Moments later, struggling upgrade was a unit steel coil train. SD40 in the front in 8th notch with turbos screaming. The noise was deafening, the power in front of me indescribable. I kicked myself over and over as the drama played out in front of me. The trains were all monsters and cleared up in the order they arrived.
This was something not seen every day and, from my perch on a rock ledge, it would have been the catch of the century. I always tell myself "Shoot, shoot, shoot" because you never know what will happen. It doesn't matter whether the shot is perfection or not, whether its the classic coming at you head on shot. Sometimes there's more important things than a perfect, angles, perfect exposure or perfect lighting. Sometimes magic happens right in front of you and you'll get not many chances to see it again. Hopefully, next time I'll remember.
Coming: Part two of the trip...
Michael Hammond
www.282movies.com
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NYS&W DVD featured at Blue Ridge NHRS
The "Operations on the NYS&W" DVD will be the featured program at the Blue Ridge NHRS October meeting. This is a follow-up to the showing of "Q-trains on the Susie Q" DVD over the summer. I hear there were great comments about the CSX/Q-trains video and am hoping that the members like the NYS&W DVD as much. A very special thanks to Ed of the Blue Ridge chapter for choosing to show these films.
A trip is planned for the 2-8-2 cameras to go trackside in Rochester, NY to get some shots around that urban area to finish off the CSX-Rochester Sub and get that off the ground. Rochester is the missing link to my look at that line. I am hoping that post-911 concerns have not shut down the Amtrak station so I can get some shots from the platform.
I'm very excited to get this DVD finished, the packaging completed, and the advertising started back up. I have really missed the business while on hiatus and this will be 2-8-2 Production's re-entrance into the world of railroad video production.
Everyone be well.
Michael Hammond
http://www.282movies.com/
A trip is planned for the 2-8-2 cameras to go trackside in Rochester, NY to get some shots around that urban area to finish off the CSX-Rochester Sub and get that off the ground. Rochester is the missing link to my look at that line. I am hoping that post-911 concerns have not shut down the Amtrak station so I can get some shots from the platform.
I'm very excited to get this DVD finished, the packaging completed, and the advertising started back up. I have really missed the business while on hiatus and this will be 2-8-2 Production's re-entrance into the world of railroad video production.
Everyone be well.
Michael Hammond
http://www.282movies.com/
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Where have I been all this time?
Hi everyone and welcome to the new blog! I have been getting a lot of calls and emails wondering what is up with 2-8-2 Productions. It's great to know that 2-8-2 Productions has so many fans and it's great to be able to say I'm back!
A lot has been going on which made the DVD business sit on the back burner for just a little while. The big thing was going to work for the railroad in a capacity that took up a lot of time and energy and left little time for filming, editing, narrating...all the fun stuff. While my production company has been up and running all this time, I had to let it go on its own for a while. That meant no advertising, no new releases, etc.
The other big thing is that we have relocated. We moved the business (and ourselves) from upstate NY to northern NJ. This means that we have left the hills of New York and the trains of the D&H behind. I admit I'm going to miss the hills and the grades, the viaducts and the chases. On the other hand, we have wonderful new opportunities in New Jersey for brand new railfanning. It's quite a mecca down here with CSX's Riverline, NJT, Conrail Shared Assets Operation, and NS's Lehigh Line. Any railfan can tell you that there's a lot to see around here. So I'm looking forward to exploring while feeling sad about leaving the D&H and all the great rail operations in and around Binghamton.
Here's a little taste of what I'll miss. This is an audio recording of a team of SD-40s nearing the crest of Belden Hill Tunnel. They're pulling hard against the grade with train #253 and 423 axles. You'll hear the crossing gate activation followed by the slow sound of the engines appearing around the bend and finally past our spot. Turn up your subwoofers or put on your headphones for the best listen! (Sound clip will open in a new window)
http://www.282movies.com/EMDs@Belden.mp3
Well, here's where things stand now. A new release is soon to come out. It's one that has been "coming out" for a while now, but because of the 24/7 nature of railroading, I just couldn't get around to doing it. It's a look at CSX's Rochester Sub from Syracuse to Buffalo. It's been a while in the making and there is some snow action as well as Summer stuff. CSX uses all sorts of power up there and you never now what you'll get at the head end.
Here's my first shot of CSX in New Jersey as seen on You Tube. I wasn't expecting to shoot this day, just explore. I was able to get the camera up in the nick of time and get this shot. I met a very nice fellow railfan who clued me in to some of the operations I could expect to see in the area including CSX and the NYS&W. Thanks Eddie! (Video will open in a new window)
CSX at Ridgefield Park, NJ
Enjoy and come back often to see what's going on. Bookmark this blog and check in from time to time. I'll be adding new things as often as possible.
Michael Hammond
http://www.282movies.com
A lot has been going on which made the DVD business sit on the back burner for just a little while. The big thing was going to work for the railroad in a capacity that took up a lot of time and energy and left little time for filming, editing, narrating...all the fun stuff. While my production company has been up and running all this time, I had to let it go on its own for a while. That meant no advertising, no new releases, etc.
The other big thing is that we have relocated. We moved the business (and ourselves) from upstate NY to northern NJ. This means that we have left the hills of New York and the trains of the D&H behind. I admit I'm going to miss the hills and the grades, the viaducts and the chases. On the other hand, we have wonderful new opportunities in New Jersey for brand new railfanning. It's quite a mecca down here with CSX's Riverline, NJT, Conrail Shared Assets Operation, and NS's Lehigh Line. Any railfan can tell you that there's a lot to see around here. So I'm looking forward to exploring while feeling sad about leaving the D&H and all the great rail operations in and around Binghamton.
Here's a little taste of what I'll miss. This is an audio recording of a team of SD-40s nearing the crest of Belden Hill Tunnel. They're pulling hard against the grade with train #253 and 423 axles. You'll hear the crossing gate activation followed by the slow sound of the engines appearing around the bend and finally past our spot. Turn up your subwoofers or put on your headphones for the best listen! (Sound clip will open in a new window)
http://www.282movies.com/EMDs@Belden.mp3
Well, here's where things stand now. A new release is soon to come out. It's one that has been "coming out" for a while now, but because of the 24/7 nature of railroading, I just couldn't get around to doing it. It's a look at CSX's Rochester Sub from Syracuse to Buffalo. It's been a while in the making and there is some snow action as well as Summer stuff. CSX uses all sorts of power up there and you never now what you'll get at the head end.
Here's my first shot of CSX in New Jersey as seen on You Tube. I wasn't expecting to shoot this day, just explore. I was able to get the camera up in the nick of time and get this shot. I met a very nice fellow railfan who clued me in to some of the operations I could expect to see in the area including CSX and the NYS&W. Thanks Eddie! (Video will open in a new window)
CSX at Ridgefield Park, NJ
Enjoy and come back often to see what's going on. Bookmark this blog and check in from time to time. I'll be adding new things as often as possible.
It's great to be back and I thank all of you for your continued support!
Michael Hammond
http://www.282movies.com
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