Amtrak Siemens-built ACS-64 ‘Cities Sprinters’ are the standard electric locomotives for Regional and Long Distance services operating on the Northeast Corridor.
I made this view of Amtrak 160 blasting through the station at Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
For my raw and unmodified composition I gave the camera a slight tilt that makes for a more dynamic image of the fast electric in action.
My original composition features a slight angle intended to better convey speed and motion.
Purists might flinch at my altering of the level, so I’ve ‘corrected’ the photo in post processing and offer the more ‘normal’ view as well.
Here’s the revised image, ‘corrected’ in post processing.
Amtrak ‘Cities Sprinter’ ACS-64 number 633 tows one of its sister electrics with train 163 as it arrives at Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, December 2, 2017.
I exposed this view using my Lumix LX-7.
Amtrak’s line at Providence is charmless, but functional. Heavy electrification in an urban environment is rarely picturesque. To make a satisfactory image of a moving train takes patience, skill or both.
This is a routine view of American passenger rails in action, nothing sexy, and nothing complicated or tricky photographically.
Lumix LX-7 digital photo exposed at 12:19pm on December 2, 2017; ISO 80, f4.0 at 1/400th of a second, handheld with adjustable camera zoom lens set to the functional equivalent of a 65mm focal lens on tradition 35mm film camera.Here’s a screen shot of the photo with a window showing the EXIF data stored with the digital file.
Does my cross-lit midday view of a Siemens electric with 1970s-era Amfleet passenger cars work for you?
I arrived at Branford, Connecticut the other morning in time for a flurry of westward trains.
In the mix was brand new Amtrak ACS-64 Cities Sprinter 660 on test train with a pair of old Amfleet cars.
Amtrak 660 rolls west at Branford, Connecticut. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1; file enhanced with Lightroom.Amtrak 660 rolls west at Branford, Connecticut. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1; file enhanced with Lightroom.
It’s always cool to get an unexpected bonus when trackside. It’s like finding a prize in the cereal box!
Yesterday (February 7, 2014), after several months of testing, Amtrak’s new ACS-64 Siemens built ‘Cities Sprinter’ locomotive 600 made its first revenue run on Amtrak train 171 (Boston to Washington).
My dad and I went to Milford, Connecticut on the North East Corridor to catch the new electric. Pop made some B&W photos with his Leica M3 from the east end of the platform. I worked the curve at the west end with my Canons.
I popped off a couple of slides with the EOS 3 with a 100mm telephoto, and exposed two bursts of digital images using the Canon 7D with 20mm lens.
Brand new Amtrak electric 600 leads train 171 (Boston to Washington) at Milford, Connecticut at 10:56am February 7, 2014. Canon 7D with 20mm lens. f4.5 1/2000th second, ISO 200.Canon EOS 7D with 20mm lens. Amtrak ACS 64 number 600.Canon EOS 7D with 20mm lens. Amtrak ACS 64 number 600.
Canon EOS 7D with 20mm lens. Amtrak ACS 64 number 600.
By the way the 20mm on the 7D has a field of view equal to about a 35mm lens on a traditional 35mm film camera.
The new electric sure looked nice! I’ll be keen to see the B&W photos and slides when they are processed.
After 171 passed, I made a few photos of a Metro-North local, then Pop and I went over to inspect the recently opened Metro-North station at West Haven, where we made a few photos of passing trains.
Today Amtrak number 600 worked train 171 from Boston.
Brand new Amtrak electric 600 leads train 171 (Boston to Washington) at Milford, Connecticut at 10:56am February 7, 2014. Canon 7D with 20mm lens. f4.5 1/2000th second, ISO 200.
