Tag Archives: #Safe Harbor

Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Nocturnal Musings and Bridge Shadows

I didn’t think we could do it, but we did!

In recent months, we often rolled by nocturnal freights at Columbia or Washington Boro, Pa. Likewise, I’ve made numerous trips to the bridges at Safe Harbor, but rarely caught a train on the move.

If only we could just chase a train and beat it to the bridges.

After I made my exposures of Norfolk Southern unit coal train 632, we decided to follow it. It had a good roll-on and was making a steady 30 mph. By the park in Washington Boro, we were even with the locomotives, and with a clear road ahead of us, I zipped southward to Safe Harbor.

We arrived in time for me to set up my tripod, expose a few test photos and set my camera to catch NS 632 framed up beneath the enormous trestle that once carried Pennsylvania Railroad’s Atgen & Susquehanna Branch—a busy double track freight route in its heyday.

To stop the train, I set my Z6-III to ISO 64000, and adjusted my ‘Fast Fifty’ to its widest aperature (f1.4).

Afterwards, I processed the NEF Raw using PureRaw to minimize image noise. For point of comparison, I’ve displayed both the unprocessed NEF RAW file (with detail enlargement) and the post processed image (with enlargement).

I’m 89 percent satisfied with my results, but will need to try this again!

My next class at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania covers night photography techniques. This will be held at the museum in Strasburg, Pa., on Wednesday, Feb 4 from 5 pm to 7 pm EST. See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-photography-at-the-museum-with-brian-solomon-tickets-1980583252825?aff=erelexpmlt

NEF RAW file before processing, displaying the effects of high-noise which is a function of using high-iso settings. (ISO 64000, f1.4 and 1/100 second shutter speed)
Greatly enlarged portion of the unmodified NEF RAW image.
NEF RAW file following processing with PureRaw to minimize noise and with Lightroom to adjust contrast, exposure and color.
Enlarged version of the image following post-processing

Tracking the Light works by night!

Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Quiet Visit to Safe Harbor

Rain was predicted last Sunday.

I awoke early to find the sun shining.

So I drove the short distance to Safe Harbor with hopes of catching wheels turning on former PRR rails.

I hiked up to the large bridge on the old Low Grade. I walked the trail and inspected the views.

A bird spotter came along and told me stories about eagles and falcons.

I noted dark clouds rolling in from the West.

“Looks like rain.”

Before I reached the car drops were falling.

No trains passed during my visit. Not this time.

Tracking the Light Posts thoughts on railroad photography.

Announcements, photography, Rail transit marathon, Tips and Technique

Revisiting the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridges at Safe Harbor

Kris and I paid another visit to the former Pennsylvania Railroad bridges along the Susquehanna River at Safe Harbor, PA.

We have stopped here a couple of times before, but on this visit I wanted to take a look at the upper level bridge which now hosts the Enola Low Grade Trail.

A connecting trail has been built here to reach the high level trestle.

My challenge will be returning here at an appropriate time to catch a Norfolk Southern freight. Owing to a curfew on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor with which the NS line connects, most of its freight moves through here during the hours of darkness.

The bridges are very impressive and offer a great view of the Susquehanna and the Safe Harbor Dam. See the link below the photos for information the Low Grade Trail

The high level trestle at Safe Harbor was last used by Conrail in 1988. It now hosts the Enola Low Grade Trail. The line on the lower level is the old PRR Port Deposit route used by Norfolk Southern.

Photos exposed using my Nikon Z7-II.

My technique for getting a sunburst and retaining definition in the sky is using a very small aperture (in this case f22) and exposing manually for the sky.
It has been more than 40 years since Conrail discontinued electrified operations and yet the catenary masts remain as a legacy to Pennsylvania Railroad’s high voltage electric operations on these lines.
Afternoon view of the Safe Harbor dam powerhouse from the Enola Low Grade Trail.

To learn more about the trail, click on the link below.

Enola Low Grade Rail Trail

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Pennsylvania Viaducts: Safe Harbor

Over the last few days, Kris and I visited several famous bridges and impressive viaducts in Pennsylvania.

Here are a few views of the former Pennsylvania Railroad bridges over Conestoga Creek at Safe Harbor along the Susquehanna River.

I exposed these using my Nikon Z6 with 70-200mm lens.

The top bridge once hosted PRR’s Enola Low Grade freight cutoff, but no longer carries tracks and is now a trail.

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