Often in our drives around Strasburg, I’ve gazed across the field near the Esbenshade farm, as Strasburg Rail Road’s returning excursion was on its last leg to the East Strasburg station—its engine gliding along, firebox a-glow, and a wisp of condensation and smoke trailing from its stack.
A couple of weeks ago, I was 30 seconds ahead of the returning train, and noted there was no traffic behind me. I saw a clean place to pull over, and I thought, ‘now’s my chance!’
My Z7-II was fitted with the ‘big zoom’ (70-200mm), and I lined up my shots just as I’d seen them so my time from the car, carefully aiming to place the locomotive neatly against the background, while timing the turn of the drivers to catch them ‘rods down’.
Soft Spring sunshine helps.
Tracking the Light Explores the Details of Railroad Photography!
Massive double coal trains typically work Norfolk Southern’s Port Road Secondary with two units on the headend and a remote pair mid-train.
We had rolled NS 622 by Riverfront Park in Marietta, Pa., then followed it east to Columbia, where I made this sequence of the train looming out of the darkness and passing the signals at the east end of Cola interlocking.
For the headend, I had my N6-III mounted on a 3Pod tripod, which kept it steady, allowing for the setting to remain sharp despite the relatively inky gloom while the locomotive display a bit of motion blur. When the mid-train DPUs approached, I opted for a hand-held pan sequence which kept the locomotives sharp while the setting blurred. I like the panned photos better.
In May 1985, I was on the last leg of a two-week railroad trip.
I’d used up most of my film making photos of trains at a variety of destinations and stopovers from Atlanta, to Cumberland, Chicago and Toronto.
On this final bright morning, I rolled by the action at Dorval in suburban Montreal.
Although I still had a few frames of 120 black & white film left in my father’s Rolleiflex, along with some Kodachrome 64 loaded in my Leica 3A, I opted to make this image on 35mm black & white film using a spare Leica fitted with an old Elmar lens with antiquated coatings. While sharp, the lens was poorly suited to modern image-making. Complicating matters, I did a poor job processing the film.
My results were flat, grainy, and uninspired. I wish I’d used the tools at hand to make a better photograph of this VIA Rail LRC—an MLW-powered tilting train, the likes of which I’m unlikely ever to see again.
On this day 157 years ago, a ceremonial golden spike marked the joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific at Promontory, Utah.
On this day 134 years ago, as a well crafted publicity stunt, New York Central & Hudson River Railroad No. 999 made its world-famous speed run leading the Empire State Express toward Buffalo. On the long tangent near Corfu, the engine was reported to have reached the preposterous speed of 112.5 mph.
On this day 19 years ago, I marked both events as part of my book, The Railroad Never Sleeps, which involved 37 photographers across North America documenting a single day in railroading. At dawn, I exposed this view of the Water Level Route at Corfu.
CSX’s former New York Central near Corfu, New York on May 10, 2007.
It seems like a world ago now.
Tracking the Light explores railroad photography !
It was late afternoon on a Sunday in May 1984. I’d spent the day with Bob Buck & co., photographing Conrail on the old Boston & Albany.
As the day progressed we worked our way west. Bright sun gave way to dull overcast light.
Conrail was a busy railroad in those days. At Stateline Tunnel near Canaan, N.Y., we caught TV9 (TrailVan 9, Boston-Chicago), which operated on a much later schedule on Sunday’s than on weekdays.
As the train roared by with a new B36-7 in the lead, I made these photos with my old Leica IIIA and f2.0 50mm Summitar Lens.
Owing to the history of the line, Conrail operated a divided alignment at this location. A little more than four years later, Conrail abandoned the old westward main track, leaving just the former eastward main for movements in both directions. The old tunnel portal survives as vestige of the old line.
Tracking the Light Posts Daily about Railroad Photography!
In the gloom of a cloudy night, we pulled into a riverside park along the Susquehanna to listen to the peeper frogs.
Beyond the high-pitched chirps, I could hear a dull roar.
“There’s a big train coming, but it’s still a ways off.”
Minutes ticked by. The chirping remained constant, while the roar gradually grew more pronounced. It was the sound of freight cars on the move—lots of them.
My scanner squawked: “622, clear Shocks . . .”
“Loaded coal train, and getting close.” I grabbed my tripod and N6-III fitted with a 50mm f1.4 lens and in near total darkness, I set up for a photograph. As I fumbled with the level, focus, and other niceties, the headlights illuminated the right-of-way. Before the train entered the scene, I opened the shutter.
I made two photographs to record the train’s passage. The first was exposed for 20 seconds at f2.8, ISO 500. The second was made without the benefit of headlights; this one was exposed for 10 seconds at f2.8 and ISO 6400. Both were processed with DxO PureRAW 5 using DeepPRIME 3 treatment, which minimized noise and lens aberrations.
These are conceptual train photos—ghosts passing over a bridge. I knew I could do better, and soon we were following the rolling roar downriver . . .
We arrived at Gap, Pa., just a few minutes before Amtrak’s Keystone 649 was due to pass westbound.
I’ve been aiming to make dramatic photos showing Amtrak trains ‘topped and tailed’ with ACS-64s on both ends. Although, I’ve achieved nominal success, as evident by the photos in several recent posts, to make the most of this style of operation, it helps to know when to expect engines at both ends.
My anticipation of ‘topped and tailed’ Keystone consists has largely been been ‘luck of the draw.’
At Gap, I drew the long straw.
In these views, I was working with my Nikon Z7-II with f2.8 70-200mm zoom set to its maximum focal length.
Tracking the Light Examines Railroad Photography Daily!
In September 2013, on a trip across southern Belgium, fellow photographer Denis McCabe and I spent an afternoon photographing the immense SNCB bridge that spans the Geul Valley at Moresnet.
I made this view from the village with my Canon EOS7D fitted with a Prime 200mm Canon telephoto.
The hazy overcast weather gave the vast structure an ethereal quality.
After the passage of Amtrak Keystones in both directions. A Norfolk Southern local freight pulled out onto the Harrisburg Main Line to reverse directions and return to Lewis Yard (Dillerville) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
To simplify switching and ease reverse moves such as this one, NS had locomotives at both ends of the short freight.
On the west end was a lovely antique.
When the local stopped to change directions at BP74-1 in Landisville, I made photos from the adjacent Amos Herr Park.
In addition to these digital images exposed with my Nikon Z cameras, I also used the opportunity to expose several 35mm Ektachrome slides using my father’s Leica M4. Evening sun made for nice light on the old locomotives.
Norfolk Southern GP38-3 5608 was built as a GP38AC for Norfolk & Western in 1971; it was rebuilt to its current configuration in 2005.Fifty-five years old and still working for a Class-I railroad. That’s pretty cool!
Tracking the Light Explores Railroad Photography Daily!
I love crisp clear evenings, with bright sun, low humidity and a deep blue sky.
On a whim, I drove to Amos Herr Park in Landisville, Pa., where a trail offers clean views of Amtrak’s electrified Harrisburg Line.
When I arrived, I notice that a Norfolk Southern local freight with engines at both ends, was in the clear of the mainline on an industrial park lead.
Amtrak’s westward Keystone 649 was due, so I set up a view featuring the NS frieght in the distance.
When Amtrak came into view, I made a series of photographs. This set featured ACS-64 electrics at both ends, which has become increasingly common on the Keystone service lately, likely to overcome technical problems with the aged Metroliner Cab Control cars.
This set me thinking pondering other locations to best catch such moves . . . while also wondering if the NS local might pull out on to the main line.
We were driving north on Highway 13 in Virginia when Kris said, “Let’s take a left here.”
“OK.”
So we did, and we drove into the village of Cape Charles, where we found an unlikely railroad museum.
Among other things, it featured a replica ball signal—illustrating the early use of such hardware on the Delmarva Peninsula—a Bay Coast GP10 (an ex–Illinois Central Gulf Paducah rebuild), plus a selection of railcars. All are static displays.
We also discovered the Cape Charles Brewing Company, a beach, and vestiges of the old Pennsylvania Railroad, which at one time operated Chesapeake Bay car floats from the local harbor.
On the downside, we found that, apart from the museum, there’s not much railroad remaining on the Delmarva Peninsula in Virginia.
I made a few slides with my dad’s Leica M4. These are my digital photos as the film is still in the camera.Site of the former Pennsyvlania Railroad yard at Cape Charles, Virginia.
Tracking the Light Posts About Railroads Almost Every Day!
In the early evening, Amtrak Keystone trains 651 and 656 are scheduled to stop at Parkesburg just a few minutes apart.
I’ve been aiming to catch a meet between these trains for more than two years. Often, however, one train runs a little behind schedule, and they pass at different times.
The other evening, the stars aligned. Both trains were delayed. I was in position at Christiana, Pa., and they passed right in front of me.
I made this rapid-fire image sequence using my Nikon Z7 II with a 70–200mm lens.
Catching both trains in the sunlight required strategic use of the camera’s ‘motor drive’.
In May 1990, I was following Southern Pacific Railroad’s MERV-M (Medford, Oregon–Roseville, California manifest) along its sinuous path over the Siskiyou Line.
I made this trailing view near Hilt, California featuring both the head end (right) and mid-train helpers (left) as they roared past in Run 8 on the ascent of Bailey Hill—one of several exceptionally steep grades on this rugged route.
This was one of several intensive trips I made to photograph SP’s Siskiyou Line in the early 1990s, before the route was sold to RailTex short line Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad.
Exposed on Kodachrome 25 slide film using a Nikon F3 SLR fitted with a Nikkor f1.8 105mm lens.
Times have changed since Norfolk & Western Train No. 4 The Pocahontas paused at Roanoke for passengers. My 1946 Norfolk and Western Railway timetable lists a 20-minute station stop, departing east for Norfolk at 10:55 a.m.
On our visit to Roanoke in March, we watched as an Amtrak Siemens Charger reversed its Amfleet consist into the comparatively new station platform. While a far cry from a streamliner hauled by an Norfolk and Western Railway J Class 4-8-4, at least Amtrak now serves Roanoke, following decades without a scheduled passenger train.
This consist departed as Train 66 bound for Washington D.C. and running overnight to Boston.
I made these photos using my Nikon Z6 with a 24–70mm lens.
In early April, I had about 30 minutes to wait trackside along the Port Road Branch near the old Cola Tower in Columbia, Pa.
As the clock ticked down, my scanner had crackled a few times, which was probably an approaching train calling signals. About 28 minutes into my wait, I started the car to head away on my next errand . . . then I heard the radio, “clear signal Cola.” There was a train very close.
Moments later the crossing lights for Walnut Street began to flash. With little time to squander, I grabbed my Nikons and made my way to the tower’s shadow, where a couple of years earlier I exposed some nice photos in the glint light.
Just after 7pm, this Norfolk Southern loaded coal train passed me on its way from the coal fields to Baltimore.
It was a bright and sunny Sunday morning in Staunton, Virginia.
Kris and I paused briefly near the shops of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
This short line has on its property, an unlikely collection of antique locomotives. When I was a teenager, I would have been keen to find such an eclectic array of locomotives in one place.
I suppose I still am! Today, however, what fascinates me are the relative gradients of the trackage in this compact yard.
I made a few photos from the side of the road before heading off again.
Tracking the Light posts daily about railroad photography!
In March, courtesy of my old pal TSH, Kris and I visited the iconic Hotel Roanoke for lunch. I had the Reuben.
The majestic Tudor-style hotel is a relic of railroading’s golden age.
Roanoke was at the very heart of the Norfolk & Western, and for many years this grand hotel was owned and operated by the railroad. It is conveniently situated just a short walk from the former N&W station—now the O. Winston Link Museum (featured in my earlier post).
My father stayed here on one of his visits to Roanoke in the 1950s.
Today, while trains still pass along the main line just a short distance from the grand structure, the Hotel Roanoke is no longer owned or operated by the railroad.
Photosexposed with my Nikon Z6 III with 24-70mm Nikkor lens.
Tracking the Light Examines Railroad Photography Daily!
Standing essentially in the same spot, working with the same camera (Nikon Z7 II with a 70–200mm lens), I photographed Amtrak Keystone 658 catching the evening glint at Jefferson Drive in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In the first photo, I set the zoom lens to 140mm to include the electrical pylon and overhead high-voltage wires.
In the second photo, taken 24 hours and three minutes later, I photographed the same scheduled train. This time, former Metroliner cab control car 9646 was leading, a pickup truck was driving east on Jefferson Drive, I had the lens racked out to 200mm (cropping the pylon and wires), while an extra layer (or two) of air pollution tinted the sunlight more toward the red end of the spectrum.
For a few fleeting days in early April decorative trees blossom along Lancaster’s Jefferson Drive.
It is the third change of seasons that I’ve aimed to capture Amtrak passing the lush Spring trees.
This year, one of Amtrak’sold Metroliner cab cars in the new Phase 7 livery leading a Harrisburg-bound Keystone made for a constrast to earlier views.
Years ago, I studied a beautifully printed Japanese railfan’s magazine that presented compelling compositions of electric trains passing flowering trees.
Photos exposed using my Nikon Z6-III with 24-70mm lens.
I’ve often found that a place appears very different lineside compared to the view from the train.
On a rainy evening, we photographed Amtrak No. 50, the eastward Cardinal, plying the old Chesapeake & Ohio along Old Goose Creek Road between Staunton and Waynesboro, Virginia.
A couple of evenings later we rolled through in the same direction aboard the dome on Virginia Scenic Railway’s Blue Ridge Flyer and I had a complete different impression of this location.
All photos exposed digitally using a Nikon Z6-III with 24-70mm Nikkor Z-series zoom.
Tracking the Light Explores Railroad Photography Daily!
On one of my early tours of the former Boston & Albany west end, Bob Buck chased an eastward freight from Pittsfield up the grade toward Washington Summit, Massachusetts. Near Dalton, Bob, Doug Moore, John Conn, and I piled out of Bob’s Ford van and watched the train crawl up grade.
I can still smell the creosote from the ties on that hot August afternoon.
Doug Moore will undoubtedly remember that later the same day, we were along the former New York Central Hudson Division when an Amtrak Turboliner blitzed by at more than 100 mph. In the heat of the moment, I enthusiastically suggested that Bob chase that train as well.
After all, he’d done so well catching the freight—why not go after the Turbo?
Kodachrome 64 with Leica IIIA and Summitar 50mm lens.
Having enjoyed our journey aboard Virginia Scenic Railway’s Appalachian Special from Staunton to Goshen, we decided to book another adventure—this time traveling east over the Blue Ridge on the Blue Ridge Flyer. (Same train set, different run).
Under clear blue skies, we boarded the Budd Vista Dome Shenandoah, with our seats upstairs in the dome this time.
Before departing Staunton, Kris and I watched Amtrak No. 51, the westbound Cardinal, work up the old Chesapeake & Ohio grade. It had been nearly ten years since I last traveled on Amtrak’s train over the C&O route.
One of the great pleasures of riding in a Vista Dome is the expansive view both forward and aft—especially when meeting opposing traffic.
Approaching the siding at Afton, we got a “white eye”—a lunar white signal aspect. This is a restricting signal.
“We’re in luck! Our train is taking the siding. I’ll bet there’s an empty coming against us.”
Where else on a short line tourist excursion train do you get a signaled meet with a 197-car freight?
At Crozet—named for the 19th-century civil engineer who laid out the route—we paused for the runaround, where our locomotive changed ends. On the return leg, we watched a Blue Ridge sunset from one of Budd’s finest cars.
Joining the main at Staunton.View of C&O’s Staunton station from the dome. It seems quite different than from street level.Meeting coal empties near Afton, Virginia.For me this was the highlight of the trip!Run around at Crozet. Returning to Staunton; the old C&O main climbing west on the right.
Tracking the Light Explores rail photography every day!
The GP38 was introduced the same year as me, which gives me a certain fondness for this EMD classic diesel. Amtrak’s GP38-3s represent an upgrading of old GP38/GP38-2 models to more modern standards.
In March, I was visiting with my friend Doug Scott on the station platform at Newark, Delaware. We heard a distant whistle and after a while and unscheduled train approached Davis interlocking (east of the station) on a secondary track. This was an Amtrak maintenance-of-way move carrying a Loram ballast cleaning train and some freshly shopped Amfleet cars.
The train entered the mainline, pulled up to the station and stopped in front of us to change directions. This was a nice surprise. Leading was Amtrak GP38-3 744 wearing fresh Phase 7 paint. It was the first of this class of locomotives that I’de seen wearing Amtrak’s latest interpretation of its classic livery.
The locomotive, now 54 years old was built new for Penn Central as its 8032 in 1972. Gosh, it is an antique!
In addition to this selection of digital photos, I also exposed a few slides, and in fact finished off the roll of Ektachrome the I’d loaded into my dad’s old Leica M4.
A lot of Amtrak color in this photo; GP38-3 744 holds on the mainline as an eastward (northward) Regional train zips by with ACS-64 642 at the back. This was painted to support America’s Veterans.
Tracking the Light Explores Photography Each and Every Day!
The former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad station in Staunton, Virginia, is a classic structure set in a tight location.
The old C&O main line—now operated by short line Buckingham Branch, which hosts Amtrak, CSX, and the Virginia Scenic Railway—is situated on a sharp curve, pressed against the rocky base of a hill that rises south of town. The street side of the station is bordered by cobblestones and faces a collection of historic buildings characteristic of Staunton’s downtown.
The station was designed by T. J. Collins and built in 1902 to replace an earlier structure.
Using my Nikon Z6-III with a 24–70mm lens, I made this selection of photographs in the late afternoon during the first of several visits to the station in late March. The high-contrast, directional light emphasizes the textures of the brickwork and cobblestones.
I’ve arranged the images below in the order in which they were exposed.
At 9am, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, my third railroad photography class of the Spring season convened at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pa.
I had enthusiastic participants. Following a brief introduction, by Museum Director Pat Morrison, I gave a concise 15 minute slide presentation, and we adjourned to the Museum to make photographs.
To make use of the fine Spring weather, initially we all went outside into the yard to photograph the locomotives and rolling stock on exhibit there, and to observe construction of the new roundhouse that is being built toward the west end of the Museum’s grounds.
Afterward, we returned inside, where Pat and I spoke with participants. I answered questions and made a variety of photos.
Among the benefits of the class is that we can take down some of the steel barriers to allow for unobstructed photography of key exhibits. In addition, Pat opened up several locomotives for exploration, photography and for use as viewing platforms.
I discussed photography, cameras and technique with many of the participants, while exposing dozens of photos using my Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras.
Among the lenses I worked with was my old Nikkor f2.0 135mm ‘defocus’ prime telephoto.
Although I’ve made dozens of visits to the Museum, everytime I go, I make different photos, and that is one of the points of the classes: ‘learning to see.’
Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.Roundhouse construction.Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.E44 detail.Museum Director Pat Morrison with GG1 4935. Exposed with Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens.Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.Exposed with Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens.
We boarded Virginia Scenic Railway’s former Western Pacific California Zephyr Budd Vista-Dome at Staunton. Kris had booked us tickets for Adults-Only Dining, so we were seated at a table in the lower level of the art deco–style classic passenger car.
This trip was aboard VSRy’s “Alleghany Special,” which operates west over the former Chesapeake & Ohio. We departed as advertised and made a reverse move up to the C&O station before heading west.
Our car-hosts, Mike and Liz, took great care of us. I sampled some of the local craft beer, including The 6th Lord from Basic City Beer Company, as I made notes on lineside locations.
This journey was completed in just three hours.
I noted portions of the former right-of-way before the railroad was relocated in the 1950s to improve curvature and gradient.
Our meals were served on the westward leg of the trip.
At Goshen, Virginia the locomotive ran around the train, and we reversed direction on the main line.
Among the scenic highlights was an 1890-vintage truss bridge along a parallel road. A couple of days later, we returned by road to inspect the bridge.
Upon arrival back in Staunton, we spent a couple of hours wandering around town.
What a neat way to experience Virginia! We were so impressed that we booked tickets for another VSRy journey while still on the train. More on our second trip in an upcoming Tracking the Light post.
I spent the day working my way west from Rochester, New York following the former New York Central ‘Water Level Route’.
By early afternoon I’d made it all the way to Erie, Pa.
Among the photos I exposed in Erie was this panned view of a Conrail Trail Van trailer rolling across the diamond with the former Pennsylvania Railroad. If you look carefully, you can see in the distance Norfolk Southern’s former Nickle Plate Road bridge over the PRR line.
After exposing my photos, I drove all the way back to Rochester.
Leica M2 with 50mm f2.0 Summicron lens; Kodachrome 25 slide film.
Tracking the Light Explores Conrail on the 50th Anniversary of its commencement of operations!
My photo of former Conrail GP30 2233 appears on the cover of the April 2026 Friends of the Railroad Museum Milepost, a glossy publication published by and for the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
This image is timely, since April 1st marked the 50th anniversary of Conrail assuming operations of bankrupt Northeastern railroads (Penn Central, Erie Lackawanna, Reading, Lehigh Valley etc).
This also nicely coincides with the topic of my next Railroad Photography class at the Museum, which will focus on equipment displays relating to Conrail and its precursors.
The advertisement for the class reads:
“Railroad Photography: PRR to Penn Central to Conrail with Brian Solomon” will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 9 AM to 11 AM, at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The cost is only $25.00 per person. The class size is limited to 25 individuals and is designed for beginning photographers ages 18 and over.”
August 9, 1988: Boston Line milepost 81, east of Palmer, Massachusetts.
On this day, I spent the afternoon with a Conrail maintenance-of-way gang as they were undercutting the old Boston & Albany mainline where Route 20 crossed the line.
They were working with a large undercutting machine called the ‘Dirt Devil’ which used a chain-driven excavator to remove material from below the tracks. This was necessary to allow to improve vertical clearances for double-stacks and covered tri-level auto racks.
Exposed on Kodak Tri-X black & white film using my father’s Rolleiflex Model T.
Someone might ask, ‘why didn’t you make color photos?’
Who said I didn’t?
I made both Kodachrome and Tri-X photos of the Dirt Devil crew. All have withstood the test of time.
Tracking the Light Looks Back on Conrail on the railroad’s 50th Anniversary!
Kris booked our Virginia Scenic Railway tickets online days before we arrived in Staunton, Virginia.
As previously covered on Tracking the Light, we visited the Virginia Scenic Railway’s new Staunton station on the evening before our trip.
On the morning of our trip, we arrived with plenty of time to spare, giving me an opportunity to photograph both the equipment and the surroundings using my Nikon Z6 III and my father’s old Leica M4 (loaded with Ektachrome 100). We visited the gift shop, located in one of the restored 50ft boxcars and I bought a beer glass.
While we waited, a Buckingham Branch local freight worked up-grade on the former Chesapeake & Ohio main line. Before long, our train would reverse out of the station and follow the freight up-grade.
More on our train ride in the coming days!
Tracking the Light visits the Virginia Scenic Railway!
We arrived in Staunton, Virginia, under sunny skies.
On our list of things to do was a trip on the Virginia Scenic Railway, the passenger excursion affiliate of the Buckingham Branch Railroad, which operates this portion of the former Chesapeake & Ohio main line.
Shortly after arriving, we visited the VSR’s new station facilities, located a short distance west of the old Chesapeake & Ohio station. Here, we found VSR’s “pocket streamliner,” as well as a freshly painted Buckingham Branch display train that serves as the gift shop and public restrooms for passengers.
I took the opportunity to make a variety of images of the Buckingham Branch GP16 diesel on display, along with photographs of the other equipment.
The next morning, we returned for our VSR excursion over the former C&O. We were not disappointed…stay tuned!
Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.Exposed using my Nikon Z6-III.
Tracking the Light explores the old Chesapeake & Ohio!
May 13, 1984: I was four weeks away from graduating high school. On that day I traveled with Bob Buck and met friends on the ‘B&A West End’ (Conrail’s former Boston & Albany climb over Washington Hill).
At Middlefield, Massachusetts the deep chug of big General Electric diesels alerted us to a westward freight.
Working with my Leica IIIA fitted with my dad’s 21mm Super Anglon, I exposed this series of black & white photos.
The Super Angulon was a favorite lens, but best used judiciously. Another key to the success of these photos was my film choice : Kodak’s Panatomic-X.
Rated at ISO 32, this super fine grain black & white emulsion offered super sharp images and wonderful tonality. The difficulty was its slow speed. It was really only practical on very bright days.
Looking back at my many photos made in the early 1980s, I wish I’d used Panatomic-X more often, rather than my preferred film of time: Kodak Tri-X (rated at ISO 400). If I’d had the resources, I sould have had multiple cameras with different types of film in each. Oh wait . . . I think I had another camera that day . . . and it was loaded with Kodak Ektachrome 200.
Those slides are for another post on another day.
Conrail had just ten GE C30-7s, locomotives 6600-6609, and in the the 1980s these were often assigned to the Boston Line. In mid-1984, the railroad began receiving its order for fifty C30-7As. Where the C30-7s had 16 cylinder engine that feature a louder heavier sound, the C30-7As, used a 12-cyldiner engine, and I believe were fitted with more effective sound emissions controls, which muted the sounds of their exhaust. The three C30-7s working this heavy westbound shook the earth at Middlefield that morning nearly 42 years ago!
