{"id":11402,"date":"2015-06-17T03:21:02","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T07:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=11402"},"modified":"2015-06-18T11:05:50","modified_gmt":"2015-06-18T15:05:50","slug":"tracking-the-light-presents-a-clear-morning-waiting-for-amtraks-autotrain-seven-photographs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/tracking-the-light-presents-a-clear-morning-waiting-for-amtraks-autotrain-seven-photographs\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking The Light Presents: a Clear Morning waiting for Amtrak\u2019s Autotrain\u2014Seven Photographs."},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Amtrak\u2019s Autotrain (trains 52\/53) is one of America\u2019s most unusual daily services. This runs non-stop between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida and is designed as a passenger\/auto ferry.<\/p>\n

It is Amtrak\u2019s longest and heaviest train. It is one of the only trains that is regularly scheduled to use the older 800-series General Electric Genesis diesel-electrics (model P40).<\/p>\n

Because of its length and unusual motive power, it makes for an interesting subject, provided you can find a place to photograph it that conveys these attributes.<\/p>\n

On Monday, June 8, 2015, Doug Riddell met Pat Yough and me\u00a0at Ashland, Virginia. Among our goals for the day were to photograph Amtrak 52 (the northward Autotrain).<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The old passenger station at Ashland, Virginia at dawn on June 8, 2015, looking south. Fujifilm X-T1 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The old passenger station at Ashland, Virginia at dawn on June 8, 2015, looking north. Fujifilm X-T1 photo. (White balance set to ‘daylight’ rather than ‘auto’ to enhance the effect of sunrise).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Doug<\/a>
Doug elaborates on his book Virginia’s Legendary Santa Trains. Lumix LX7 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based on our experience a few days earlier (see: Tracking the Light visits Ashland, Virginia\u2014June 4, 2015<\/a>) where we\u2019d photographed the southward Autotrain in the rain, I\u2019d suggested Ashland because of the long tangent and accessibility. Doug concurred and suggested a favorite spot near Patrick Street.<\/p>\n

\"Amtrak<\/a>
Amtrak number 53, the northward Autotrain, led by locomotives 831 and 816 at Ashland, Virginia. This train was running a on a ‘limited clear’ aspect behind a northward CSX intermodal freight. Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-135mm lens set to 135mm (telephoto). Notice the unusual grade crossing signal with the bracket arm at right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Amtrak<\/a>
Amtrak number 53 is the longest passenger train consist in America, Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1 with 18-135mm lens set to 34mm . Notice the unusual grade crossing signal with the bracket arm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And so we waited. Good things come to those who wait! The morning was clear, and although 52 fell down a bit (it was running behind schedule), its delay benefited us greatly. Not only were we treated to a steady parade of northward trains with soft June sunlight, but the light gradually improved.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Auto_Train_autorackDSCF0009\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Auto_train_Reservations_DSCF0011\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tracking the Light\u00a0posts\u00a0new\u00a0material\u00a0every\u00a0morning.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Please share\u00a0Tracking the Light<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Amtrak\u2019s Autotrain (trains 52\/53) is one of America\u2019s most unusual daily services. This runs non-stop between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida and is designed as a passenger\/auto ferry. It is Amtrak\u2019s longest and heaviest train. It is one of the only trains that is regularly scheduled to use the older 800-series General Electric Genesis … Continue reading Tracking The Light Presents: a Clear Morning waiting for Amtrak\u2019s Autotrain\u2014Seven Photographs.<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[10],"tags":[31,2759,2781,2695,2692],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Amtrak_53_Auto_train_at_Ashland_VA_tele_DSCF9990.jpg?fit=720%2C480","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2BVuC-2XU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11402"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11402"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11435,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11402\/revisions\/11435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}