In between errands, I had a few minutes to spare. It was a little before two and Amtrak’s Pennsylvanians were due. So I repaid a visit to the Conestoga River bridge in Lancaster, Pa., and scored both east and westward trains just a few minutes apart.
I had just enough time to relocate between trains. The nice thing about the P42 hauled consists is the tell-tale chug of their GE FDL prime movers that gives a few seconds notice before the train rolls into view.
My intent was to make use of the reflection of the bridge and train in the river.
Both images were made using my Nikon Z6 with 24-70mm zoom.
Tracking the Light investigates railroad photography!
Not far from our Lancaster apartment, Amtrak’s former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line to Harrisburg crosses the Conestoga River on an impressive multiple-span stone arch bridge.
Fellow author and photographer, Dan Cupper had shown me how to reach this bridge before Kris and I relocated. Since our move last Spring I’ve paid several visits to the western bank of the river, but I hadn’t caught Amtrak’s diesel-hauled Pennsylvanian here until the afternoon of Halloween Day.
The combination of late-season foliage, polarized sun and relatively clear autumn air, made this an ideal time to picture the train on the bridge. I checked various angles along the riverbank before deciding upon this place to make my images.
Amtrak train 42, the eastward Pennsylvania crosses the Conestoga on October 31, 2023.
Photos exposed using a Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.
