TEXAS STATE RAILROAD

on saturday 4/27 i took a morning flight from jfk to dallas, and then drive 138 miles south east to palestine texas, for a 2 day Lerro productions photo charter on the texas state railroad, a 25 mile long line from palestine to rusk. i also got off interstate 45 at ennis for a short loop around one of the bluebonnet trails, although i was a few days past peak
leading off with some bluebonnets and some indian paintbrushes

 

and a teaser shot, the star of our show, 1917 baldwin 2-8-2 mikado # 30, formerly # 400 converted to an oil burner, i am leaving wednesday morning for salt lake city utah for the national railroad historical society convention, including much hoopla and ceremony about the 150th anniversary of the golden spike, with an appearance by the union pacific restored big boy. so i doubt i will get back to this trip report until next week



and a b&w conversion

 

Oh, sure, tease us and then head off to some historical event out West. Have a nice trip!

 

texas two step, ok i have my 2nd photo accepted to railpictures.net, i only need 23 more accepted and my name will be added to the official photographer database, this is a screened acceptance site, although it seems that the more acceptances you get, the easier it gets to get a submission accepted, both of the below shots were submitted, on successive days, one was accepted one rejected, i am curious which fellow pixel maniacs think is which and what was the rejection reason. i was very surprised, not at the rejection, they are sometimes notoriously fickle, but at the reason given.

#1

#2

 

#2 is the original uncropped, and accepted, #1 was rejected for leaning to much to the left???

 

here we are shooting from down below this bridge, on the property of the train robber ranch





home of these nice folks, family photos were the price of admission to their ranch. they rent out barn and pasture facilities to folks who come there to ride onto the 3000 acres of state land adjoining their ranch



some of their facilities

 

back at the palestine depot in late afternoon on sunday. a few runways from both sides of the tracks



and the other side



and this locomotive is sort of a problem child, the company that owns texas state supposedly will not let it go, to a rich person who can restore it, even if the railroad restores this, it is too heavy for their rail, shameful, as it would be nice to see this machine restored to running

 

Me likes the middle one, @gary

 

It is leaning to the left. Always level using a vertical element in the middle of the frame. Make sure the vertical element is actually vertical and not a crooked telephone pole or a leaning box car, etc.

Fortunately, "Horizon Unlevel" is a survivable rejection.

 

Oh, you have no idea... There is or was a screener who rejected anything that wasn't a 3/4 wedgie in full sun for "Poor Aesthetic Quality" which is their handy dandy, all purpose, "I don't like this shot so I'm not accepting it" rejection.

 

I like the middle one. Too heavy for their rail? I don’t know anything about trains, but I always thought, tracks/rails were all the same? Thanks for sharing

 

Rail comes in multiple sizes, designated in weight per yard. 100lb rail weights 100lbs per yard for example. Rail for modern freight main lines is typically 132lb rail. Transit lines usually use 115lb rail due to the lighter equipment. In older railroads or short lines you may find lighter rail like 85lb or 90lb. Original rail on some of the historic narrow gauge lines may be lighter than that.

Relative to Disney, I think I read somewhere that the Main Street Trolley rail was 20lb or 30lb. I forget the exact number but it was very light.

 

Thank you for the explanation. I never knew there was such a difference in weights for rails.

 

so here we are on day 2, a shot location that came with a snake warning, as in "be careful guys, the railroad crew killed 7 snakes here clearing out this open spot last week, rattlers, water moccasins and copperheads. and of course charter participant andrew spotted and photographed a beautiful good sized water moccasin.



and there were a lot of locations lost or altered due to flooding, the original photo line was supposed to be out by that tree on the left. and its always a little different with the oil burners, that flame under the firebox



here we are in the yard in rusk, #28 has a cracked rod, but is due to be repaired this upcoming winter, and pete plans to return when they have both running for a doubleheader charter, i will be there. i think this crew was the happiest i have ever seen running a charter, the road superintendent came out both days and kept asking us are you having fun, would like to come back??



28 & 30 posed together

 

Awesome stuff Gary!!!!

 

You made great subjects better with your processing! Kudos!

 

Nice work Gary!

 

thanks everyone, but i have to give credit where due, these are processed using that bundle i got from serge ramelli, these are some of the best lightroom presets i have ever purchased, and he is always running sales specials. ( shameless plug for serge), i am a very satisfied customer, most of these were processed using presets in the natural everyday set. daylight circular linear if i remember