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Squeeling through the Curve at Jefferson Drive.

Well timed: I arrived at the little pond off Jefferson Drive in Lancaster, Pa., about a minute ahead of Norfolk Southern’s H28 local freight that was working east on the New Holland Branch.

The brush and grass around the pond are lower in the winter than other times of the year, and the water in the pond is still, which make for optimal conditions for photography.

On this morning, NS ‘Crescent Cab’ SD60E 6933 and a SD40E led the short freight. This eased through the curve approaching the Jefferson Drive grade crossing as the locomotive’s wheel flanges squeeled against the rail.

Lead locomotive 6933 makes for a nice reflection in the pond off Jefferson Drive in Lancaster, Pa.,
Over the shoulder morning sun made for optimum conditions for traditional railroad photography.
I set the lens on my Nikon Z6 to 24mm for this wideangle view. A moment later, I framed up a view to be expose on slide film.

In addition to a few digital images, I also worked with my father’s old Leica M4 rangefinder to made a few Ektachrome slides. We will have to wait to see those, as I still have another 30 or so slides left to expose. Back in the old days that amount of film wouldn’t get me through the morning, but these days it might last for more than a month.

Tracking the Light explores railroad photography daily!