My author’s advance copy of the January 2020 Trains Magazine arrived the other day.
This features my latest column titled ‘Observations from Across the Pond’
This begin with one journey and ends up some place altogether.
Tracking the Light is Brian Solomon’s DAILY Railway Photography Blog.
Yesterday, August 19, 2019, I received my author’s advance copy of the October Trains Magazine that features my column titled ‘Getting on board with rail transit.’
Is it ironic that today I’m scheduled to get new tires for my automobile?
To illustrate my column, I selected a digital photo that I exposed in May 2010 using my old Lumix LX3—my first digital camera.
To view the image that I chose, you will need to obtain a copy of the magazine. However, here I’ve included a few of the other railroad images exposed at the same essential location that same evening.
At the time a volcanic eruption in Iceland had filled northern skies with fine layers of ash. While this brought havoc to European air travel (I was waiting in Stockholm for a friend to arrive from Addis Abiba who had been delayed by more than 24 hours because of the ash cloud), the ash produced some stunning sunsets owing to the greater high altitude light refraction.
I was just learning to make use of digital photography. Luckily, my Lumix LX3 had a superb lens and lent itself to making great low light photographs.
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
Tuesday’s Conway Daily Sun featured a short story about my books to highlight my book signing event tomorrow afternoon, Friday 9, 2019 at the Conway Scenic Railroad.
Although short, this article covered some of the highlights of my published work including my European Railway Guide, columns in Trains Magazine, and photos in the Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society!
Conway Scenic’s Susan Logan gave me a copy of the article, which I read while traveling on the 6 pm dinner train in preparation for a video/photo shoot this weekend.
When it rains it pours, and it did!
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
Pages of 16 and 17 of the March 2019 Trains Magazine features my column titled ‘Silver Lining for Silver Splendor’ and discusses my experiences traveling cross country by Budd Vista Dome.
Brian Solomon’s Tracking the Light Posts Every Day!
At 730 pm this coming Wednesday, January 9, 2019, I’ll be presenting a slide show on Conrail to the Amherst Railway Society in Palmer, Massachusetts.
Amherst Railway Society meetings are open to the public.
The year 2019 marks the 20thanniversary of the divide of Conrail operations between CSX and Norfolk Southern so I thought this would be a good time to reflect on Conrail’s operations.
The program will feature some of my finest vintage slides; Kodachrome and otherwise.
Amherst Railway Society’s Clubhouse is located in the old Palmer Grange Hall on the south side of South Main Street near the intersection with Route 32, a stone’s throw from the old Tennyville Bridge over CSX’s former Conrail—Boston & Albany—mainline. Ample parking is available.
See Amherst Railway Society’s page for details:
http://www.amherstrail.org/ARS/meeting-Jan2019.php
Tracking the Light Posts Every Day.
At 615pm on Monday July 16, 2018, I’ll be giving a slide presentation on European Railway Travel followed by a book signing for my new Railway Guide to Europe (published this year by Kalmbach Books).
This will be a real slide show with real 35mm color slides picturing more than 20 years of travel across Europe.
The Springfield City Library 16 Acres Branch Library is located at 1187 Parker Street in the 16 Acres area of Springfield, Massachusetts.
For details on the library see: http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/about/sixteen-acres-branch/
Details on Library events see:
http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/s/sprngfld/ek.cfm?&curKey1=sixteen%20acres
Questions call: Reggie Wilson 413-263-6858
Click here for details on: Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe.
Upon arrival from Köln, Germany On this day, 25 May 1996, my father and I made photographs in the rain at Brussels Midi.
I’ve since returned to Brussels on many occasions when the weather has been more hospitable.
Brussels is among the cities profiles in my new book Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe, now available from Kalmbach Books/Kalmbach Hobby Store.
Classic Chrome: On this day, 24 May 1996 Views along the Rhein.
On this day in 1996, my father and I made a circle trip along the Rhein from Köln to Koblenz, traveling south via the Right Bank and north via the Left Bank lines.
Working with two cameras, I exposed these views on Kodachrome and Fujichrome slide film.
Looking back, its amazing to see how much has changed on German railways in the last 22 years.
The scenic Mittelrhein are among the great railway trips profiled in my new book Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe, now available from Kalmbach Books/Kalmbach Hobby Store.
Bill Hough has posted a excellent review of my new book, Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe on Trn.trains.com
Thanks Bill!
http://trn.trains.com/railroads/2018/05/book-review-brian-solomons-railway-guide-to-europe
Click the link above to read the review.
Tonight—May 15, 2018 at 6pm: I’ll be giving a slide show (with real 35mm color SLIDES) and lecture in Monson, Massachusetts at the Monson Free Library.
This is in conjunction with the recent release of my Railway Guide to Europe published by Kalmbach Books.
This book is a culmination of more than 20 years of wandering around exploring Europe by rail while seeking places to make photographs.
And yes, copies of the book are available for purchase!
On May 15, 2018 at 6pm: I’ll be giving a slide show (with real 35mm color SLIDES) and lecture in Monson, Massachusetts at the Monson Free Library (on High Street in town).
This is in conjunction with a book signing for my recently released Railway Guide to Europe, published by Kalmbach Books.
And yes, copies of the book are available for purchase!
https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/book/01304?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SA000_HBS_180413_P32543_RailwayGuide_TRN-CTR-MRR-CTT-GRW-HBS_Final&utm_content=&spMailingID=33826038&spUserID=MTE2ODA0MTQ4MzIzS0&spJobID=1261196352&spReportId=MTI2MTE5NjM1MgS2
Yesterday I was thrilled to receive my Author’s advance copy of my Railway Guide to Europe.
This represents a culmination of more than 20 years of wandering around exploring Europe by rail, while seeking places to make photographs.
This is aimed at helping you plan your trips around Europe by offering experience, suggestions and thoughts on where to go, how to get there, how to buy the best tickets, while hinting at what to avoid.
This is illustrated with hundreds of my best European photographs.
It goes beyond the railways and suggests myriad interesting places to visit with detailed sections on London, Paris, Vienna and Rome among other European cities.
This should be available at the end of May.
You may pre-order it from Kalmbach Books: https://kalmbachhobbystore.com
I was pleased to learn the my wintery photo of Amtrak ACS-64 611 was selected for the cover of the March 2018 issue of Trains Magazine.
Using my Canon EOS 7D and a telephoto lens, I exposed this view on a visit to Branford, Connecticut with Patrick Yough just over three years ago.
In July 2017 TRAINS, I look back at the effects and consequences of the Beeching Era on British Railways. Take a look on pages 16-17!
I’ve illustrated this discussion with a photo I made on the preserved Great Central Railway in 2004. This was part of a sequence exposed on Fujichrome Sensia II (ISO100) color slide film (Tracking the Light tie-in).
It was a pleasant surprise for me this morning when I checked Facebook and learned that Trains Magazine’s Brian Schmidt has nominated me as Mr. Railroad in the magazine’s on-line blog Train of Thought.
See: http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/staff/archive/2017/02/20/and-mr-railroad-is.aspx
This is a real honor and thought I’d pass it on to Tracking the Light’s readers. I guess all those hours scouring libraries and making observations trackside has finally caught a bit of notice.
Tonight, Friday January 27, 2017, the Valley Photo Center in Springfield is hosting a reception for my Silver & Steel exhibit between 5:30 and 8:00pm. I plan to present a live slide show (with real 35mm color slides!).
The gallery is in the Tower Square mall at 1500 Main St. in Springfield.
In addition to large framed prints and canvas renditions, I also have a selection silver gelatin black and white prints, as well as giclee prints available for purchase. In addition, I plan to have examples of my books for sale.
For more information: valleyphotocenterma@gmail.com
My photographic exhibition at Valley Photo Center in Springfield, Massachusetts is on-going through January 28th. The gallery is in the Tower Square mall at 1500 Main St. in Springfield.
This Friday (January 27, 2017) I’ll be at the gallery for a reception between 5:30 and 8:00pm. I plan to present a live slide show (with real 35mm color slides!). This event is scheduled to coincide with the Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield (just across the Connecticut River).
My exhibit features photographs spanning two decades from the late 1980s to 2008, and depicts trains in a variety of settings including the American West, Pennsylvania, New England and Europe.
In addition to large framed prints and canvas renditions, I also have a selection silver gelatin black and white prints, as well as giclee prints available for purchase. In addition, I plan to have examples of my books for sale.
Tracking the Light Posts Daily
During January 2017, I’ll have an exhibit of railway photography at the Valley Photo Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. The show will run from January 3 to January 28th in the Tower Square mall (formerly Bay State West) in downtown Springfield. The address is: 1500 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103, USA
The exhibit will feature photographs spanning two decades from the late 1980s to 2008, and depict trains in a variety of settings.
Among my underlying themes are scale and environment. Consider the contrast between the view of a light rail tram crossing the Danube in Budapest and the very large print of a freight car wheel in West Virginia.
Highlights include a Conrail stack train crossing Pennsylvania’s Starrucca Viaduct, and Union Pacific freight rolling through California’s Feather River Canyon at the North Fork Bridge.
This is a rare opportunity to buy my framed photography. All prints displayed are available for purchase.
A reception will be held on the evening of Friday, January 27, 2017 between 5:30 and 8:00pm. I’ll be there to give a live slide show (with real 35mm color slides!) Refreshments will be served.
This reception is scheduled to coincide with the Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, just across the Connecticut River.
For more information: valleyphotocenterma@gmail.com
Beginning with the February 2017 issue (expected toward the end of December), I’ll be featured in a regular opinion column for Trains Magazine.
This is a new and exciting opportunity for me. With it I hope to explore a range of topics over the coming months
The idea for a regular Brian Solomon column came about as result of my conversations with Editor Jim Wrinn and Assistant Editor Brian Schmidt who were intrigued by my comparisons between European and North American railroading.
Unlike Tracking the Light, which is focused largely on photography, my Trains columns will be aimed at the railroad industry, its operations and practices.
I’ll be writing narratives that draw from my knowledge of history and technology. My hope to is to both entertain and inform, while also offering unusual perspectives on railroads.
Tracking the Light will continue to post everyday!
Robert S. McGonigal has reviewed my book Streamliners—Locomotives and Trains in the Age of Speed and Style in the current issue (Spring 2016) of Classic Trains.
I’m flattered to read that he considers me, ‘the most prolific book author of our era.’
Don’t wait! Pick up the magazine (always filled with great articles and fascinating photographs), and don’t forget to order your copy of Streamliners today.
The book is available from Voyageur Press and on sale at Amazon as well as local outlets!
http://www.amazon.com/Streamliners-Locomotives-Trains-Speed-Style/dp/0760347476
This latest effort is a window into many lands. I’ve dedicated the book to the members of the Irish Railway Record Society. It features the work of a variety of accomplished travelers.
It is the product of John Beaufoy Publishing.
It is available on Amazon among other popular outlets.
Get a copy today!
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
Tracking the Light posts new material everyday!
Daily Posts are typically available by about 3am Eastern Standard Time (specific posting times vary). Extra posts may be sent out at any time. Many posts feature two or more photos.
In addition there are feeds to Brian Solomon Publishing on Facebook, and also to Tumbler, Google Plus, and Twitter.
Subscribers should receive an alert by Email.
If you do not receive a new post alert you can always check the Tracking the Light home page at: http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/
Please share: Tracking the Light!
The talk is titled: Ireland in Colour, Bo-Bo’s, Rail Freight and Signal Cabins.
The program will be given at the IRRS premises at Heuston Station in Dublin (opposite the entrance to the car park) and will begin at 7:30pm.
This will feature a variety of original colour slides projected in the traditional manner (that is, using a good ol’ fashioned slide projector!)
Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.
Please share Tracking the Light!
http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/
Tomorrow: Breakneck Ridge Revisited.
The Jerry Puffer Show Interviews Brian Solomon.
Radio host, Jerry Puffer at KSEN 1150 AM (Shelby, Montana) will broadcast the interview on Wednesday June 18, 2014 in the 4:30 pm slot (4:30 pm Mountain Time/6:30pm standard time/11:30pm in Dublin and London). You can tune in via the internet.
On the KSEN webpage use the ‘Listen Live’ feature. See: http://ksenam.com/jerry-puffer/
or ksenam.com.
Brian spoke with Jerry for about 25 minutes, and discussed railroads, photography and Ireland, as well as his new book The Twilight of Steam, and Tracking the Light!
For anyone who wants to tune in, Jerry said that Brian will probably come on at about 4:36 pm mountain time (after introductory commentary, and other events).
Check it out!
Don’t forget, 6:30pm Eastern Standard Time Wednesday June 18th, Brian Solomon will be speaking on the Jerry Puffer Show KSEN 1150 AM!
Brian’s book, The Twilight of Steam was published by Voyageur Press.
Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.
Please share Tracking the Light!
http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/
A Celebration of Steam from the Steam Era.
Russell Buck, son of late photographer Robert A. Buck, holds a preview copy of Brian Solomon’s The Twilight of Steam. This book features photography and stories from some of the great steam photographers.
The book can be viewed at Palmer Hobbies on 1428 Main Street in Palmer, Massachusetts. Phone: 413-436-5318. Open Tuesday to Saturday.
The Twilight of Steam is available from Voyageur Press. Click here for details.
I’ll be revealing more about the book over the next few days! Stay tuned.
Tracking the Light posts new material every morning.
Please share Tracking the Light!
http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/
There’s a front page write up about my Irish photography and my Ebook for Apple iPad Dublin Unconquered in today’s Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican’s Metro East section. Pretty neat! I wasn’t expecting that!
