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Model Forum / General / Railroads / February 2009Modelling The Recession/Depression.
Business is way down on the railroads, but it was brought home to me just *how far* down when I drove past Union Pacific's West Colton Yards on my way into L.A. this AM. Parked along one of the tracks were 124 dead-lined diesel units coupled nose-to-tail; 121 of them U.P. units ranging from old and beat- up to reasonably new and clean, plus three of the old grey and scarlet S.P. units that U.P. somehow never quite got around to painting yellow. All told; well over a mile's worth of dead locos. Wonderful modelling opportunity for a locomotive collector who models the Union Pacific, but sort of depressing when you realise that all of those units were hard at work as little as a year ago. ~Pete On 2/24/2009 2:29 PM Twibil spake thus: > Business is way down on the railroads, but it was brought home to me > just *how far* down when I drove past Union Pacific's West Colton [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > S.P. units that U.P. somehow never quite got around to painting > yellow. All told; well over a mile's worth of dead locos. Pictures, pleeze? (I know--you were on your bike, didn't have your camera, etc. Maybe next time?)  SignaturePersonally, I like Vista, but I probably won't use it. I like it because it generates considerable business for me in consulting and upgrades. As long as there is hardware and software out there that doesn't work, I stay in business. Incidentally, my company motto is "If this stuff worked, you wouldn't need me". - lifted from sci.electronics.repair > On 2/24/2009 2:29 PM Twibil spake thus: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Pictures, pleeze? (I know--you were on your bike, didn't have your > camera, etc. Maybe next time?) (Grin.) Actually, I was in my cage (biker slang for any enclosed vehicle) on a business jaunt, but no, I didn't have a camera with me, nor am I sure it would have done you much good if I had. I mean, how in the heck *does one* take a still picture of a mile-long diesel lash-up, anyway? Perhaps a *really* long telephoto lens looking down the length of the tracks? In any case, my U.P. info source claims that they're going to be parked there until business either picks up or U.P. decides to junk 'em and take the tax writeoff, so they'll probably be there for a while yet. (He also told me that there are similar deadlines at U.P. yards in at least two other locations in addition to West Colton. This does not bode well.) ~Pete > > On 2/24/2009 2:29 PM Twibil spake thus: > > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > diesel lash-up, anyway? Perhaps a *really* long telephoto lens > looking down the length of the tracks? You many take successive pictures and mosaic them together. Or maybe just a 'sample' set of pictures. Eg a bit of photographic selective compression... > In any case, my U.P. info source claims that they're going to be > parked there until business either picks up or U.P. decides to junk [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > ~Pete > SignatureRobert Heller -- 978-544-6933 Deepwoods Software -- Download the Model Railroad System http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Binaries for Linux and MS-Windows heller@deepsoft.com -- http://www.deepsoft.com/ModelRailroadSystem/ > > I mean, how in the heck *does one* take a still picture of a mile-long > > diesel lash-up, anyway? Perhaps a *really* long telephoto lens [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > a 'sample' set of pictures. Eg a bit of photographic selective > compression... Difficult. There's a line of large trees between the freeway and the yards, and the locos are blocked from view by railroad cars from the other side. Maybe rent an airplane? ~Pete >>> I mean, how in the heck *does one* take a still picture of a mile-long >>> diesel lash-up, anyway? Perhaps a *really* long telephoto lens [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Maybe rent an airplane? The Colton yard is spanned in 3 or 4 places by road overpasses. Surely one of those is close enough to the "mile long string of engines" to get some reasonably decent shots, especially with a long focus lens. Of course, since we're still living under the pathological fear of terrorists cultivated by the Busheviks, you gotta watch out for who might be watching you. And who watches the Watchmen? SignatureRick Jones Remove the Extra Dot to e-mail me The Lake Erie & Oregon Railroad http://www.geocities.com/seventysixinchesoffun/ "I don't belong in the kitchen, Marcy. I'm a woman, damn it!" -Peggy Bundy, "Married With Children" > The Colton yard is spanned in 3 or 4 places by road overpasses. > Surely one of those is close enough to the "mile long string of engines" > to get some reasonably decent shots, especially with a long focus lens. Yes and no. The string of engines is parked just east of the Sierra Ave overcrossing and extends most of the way east to the Cedar overcrossing, so pics from the Sierra bridge are possible. But. There's some question in my mind as to whether or not it's possible to get enough side-angle on the string of locos to actually show how long it is before the trees next to the freeeway get in the way. > Of course, since we're still living under the pathological fear of > terrorists cultivated by the Busheviks, you gotta watch out for who > might be watching you. This is in south Fontana. Ever spent any time in south Fontana? It's a tough and dirty burnt-out steel-mill town that went downhill steeply after Kaiser closed the mill, and has never come back. In short, seeing a cop in south Fontana is something to celebrate, not to worry about; even if he's hasselling you -which is unlikely, as they don't like getting out of their cars. What you worry about are the ever-prolific gangs and the druggies who are always alert for opportunities to profit by relieving others of their belongings, and, on occasion, their lives. > And who watches the Watchmen? Last time I looked, *WE* do. If I get any spare time tomorrow I may repair out there anyway with a 200mm lens and my new Nikon D-60 DSLR and see if I can frame a shot or two before someone frames *me*. ~Pete P.S. Just checked on Google Earth: the sat-pics are too old to show the string of locos, but do give you a good idea of where they're located: just south of I-10, east of Sierra, and west of Cedar. >> The Colton yard is spanned in 3 or 4 places by road overpasses. >> Surely one of those is close enough to the "mile long string of engines" [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > tough and dirty burnt-out steel-mill town that went downhill steeply > after Kaiser closed the mill, and has never come back. Yes, I have. I grew up in Anaheim and lived all around Orange County in the following decades. I lived in Ontario from '94 until '02 when I moved here to the Houston area. I worked at California Steel nee Kaiser for a short period in '01 before I moved out of the area. That's why I know of the roads offering photo op possibilities over the Colton yard. SignatureRick Jones The Lake Erie & Oregon Railroad http://www.geocities.com/seventysixinchesoffun/ "I'm caught on the horns of an enema!" -Kelly Bundy, "Married With Children" On 2/24/2009 4:49 PM Twibil spake thus: >> On 2/24/2009 2:29 PM Twibil spake thus: >> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > yards in at least two other locations in addition to West Colton. This > does not bode well.) Seriously, this needs to be documented. (Meaning, "I really wanna see this!") Someone needs to go out there with some serious gear. f.ck digital. I'm talking about a large-format film camera with the right lens and a smart photog behind it who knows where to position themselves to get a spectacular shot. This could be one of the seminal images of the Great Depression II. SignaturePersonally, I like Vista, but I probably won't use it. I like it because it generates considerable business for me in consulting and upgrades. As long as there is hardware and software out there that doesn't work, I stay in business. Incidentally, my company motto is "If this stuff worked, you wouldn't need me". - lifted from sci.electronics.repair |
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