Ok, how about then and when? (click on the link to Brian Solomon’s Tracking the Light to see the modern view).
These photos were exposed 28 years apart from essentially the same place in West Warren, Massachusetts.
One view was made of an eastward Conrail freight in March of 1984; the other of an CSX freight at almost the same spot on November 15, 2012.
In both situations I opted to leave the train in the distance and take in the scene.
Over the years I’ve worked this vantage point with a variety of lenses, but I’ve chosen to display these two images to show how the scene has changed over the years.
In the 1984 view notice the code lines (the ‘telegraph poles’) to the left of the train and the scruffy trees between the railroad and the road. Also in 1984, the line was 251-territory (directional double track).
The shutter speed comment was intended for the Acela at speed posting the following day – confusion after being away from home for a few days.
I once had an old mechanical Minolta that claimed to have 1/1000th and 1/2000th speeds. In the 60s and 70s, I doubt if I ever I ever used either option.
I’d prefer 1984 – much more old style railroad clutter.