In November 2017, I returned to this location in advance of the approaching northward Housatonic freight NX-12 that featured two early 1960s-era GP35s in the lead followed by 32 cars (28 loads, 4 empties) and another GP35 at the back.
I find the railroad setting here fascinating. The combination of the traditional line with wooden ties and jointed rail in a setting of old factories, freight house and passenger station makes for a rustic scene out of another era.
Working with a Nikon F3 with 50mm lens I made a series of black & white photos on Kodak Tri-X. And, I also exposed a sequence of digital color photos using my FujiFilm X-T1.
Freight house at Housatonic, Massachusetts. Exposed on Tri-X with a Nikon F3 fitted with a 50mm Nikkor lens. Film processed in Kodak D76 1-1 with water for 7 minutes 20 seconds at 68F.Freight house and factories, looking north from the westside of the tracks. In today’s railroad world, this scene is decidedly rustic. Digital color photo exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1. RAW File processed in Lightroom with contrast adjustment to improve shadows and highlights.Tri-X black & white photo of Housatonic Railroad freight NX-12 working northward.Digital color photo exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1. RAW File processed in Lightroom with contrast adjustment to lighten shadows and control highlights.Tri-X photo with 50mm lens.Digital color photo exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1. Fuji Velvia color profile; camera Jpg scaled for Internet.Digital color photo exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1. Fuji Velvia color profile; camera Jpg scaled for Internet.
4 comments on “Housatonic at Housatonic—Revisited!”
Connie Daniel on said:
I would like to see the train coming out of the tunnell!!
Michael Walsh on said:
What an extraordinary place! Those first two images, without the train, could be from Trains Magazine in the 50s.
Michael Gardner on said:
Those black & whites are great!
Bill Marsh on said:
Nice to see that in our world of digital photography and post processing, it’s still possible to produce compelling images with good ol’ Tri-X and a standard 50mm lens. Thanks!
I would like to see the train coming out of the tunnell!!
What an extraordinary place! Those first two images, without the train, could be from Trains Magazine in the 50s.
Those black & whites are great!
Nice to see that in our world of digital photography and post processing, it’s still possible to produce compelling images with good ol’ Tri-X and a standard 50mm lens. Thanks!