Top Ten of 2008

[John Ryan]

Now that 2008 is rapidly drawing to a close, it's time to look back over the year and see what we've accomplished. Let's see your top ten favorite shots from 2008.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that I shot at least 70 different railroads this year in travels that took me to every state except Nevada, California, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. These are my ten favorite shots from 2007 from the selection on railpictures. I have several shots that would probably also make the list, but they are not online. Yet.

Looking back at the year, I can confidently say that both the greater Pittsburgh area and Montana offered me some of the best photographic opportunities. I also enjoyed a cloudless week in the pacific northwest, and a fascinating ride on VIA Rail’s trains 185/186. I also enjoyed productive trips along the Northeast Corridor and down the Hudson River valley. And based on what I didn’t do in 2008, I’m planning forays into California and the Deep South for spring 2009.

I’d also like to thank Ron Cady, Neil Plagens, Paul Duda, Brad Morocco, John Ireland, Ryan Parent, Jerry Bronson, Paul & Sherry Duesing, Nick Benson, the railpictures.net crew, Martin Burwash, Mike Bjork, Steve Carter, Chris Crook, Gary & Cheri Sample, and countless others for their help with locations, travel, and advice. Truly, the best aspect of this website and hobby is the community it fosters.

PhotoID: 243336 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 234380 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 228136 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 240481 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 253798 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 242780 Photograph © John Ryan

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[Christopher Muller]

I took several personal favorites this year...

#1 Finally nailed a good snow shot.

PhotoID: 230591 Photograph © Christopher Muller

#2, Taken on the same day of above but a different train

PhotoID: 257999 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#3 & 4, which several of this trip would rate up here, but I'll only post two.

PhotoID: 255400 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

PhotoID: 255397 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#5 I've watned to get to this spot for years.

PhotoID: 236116 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#6 I've always wanted to shoot a tunnel.

PhotoID: 242883 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#7 Metra has always fascinated me, after three days I had enough... but will shoot on my next trip to Chicagoland.

PhotoID: 248623 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#8 By pure luck happened to be in town the same time as these...

PhotoID: 248153 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#9 Nearly committed suicide getting this shot on the roads.

PhotoID: 263555 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

#10 My best night shot of '08... kinda quit doing night shots for some reason.

PhotoID: 259484 Photograph © christophersmuller.com

[JimThias]

Originally Posted by John Ryan

Now that 2008 is rapidly drawing to a close, it's time to look back over the year and see what we've accomplished. Let's see your top ten favorite shots from 2008.

Year's not over yet and I've still got a few to upload. I'll wait until this year is in the books before I compile my Top 10.

[Christopher Muller]

Originally Posted by JimThias

Year's not over yet and I've still got a few to upload. I'll wait until this year is in the books before I compile my Top 10.

I should've waited to as I have one more trip planned for this year, subject to change with the weather.

[Save The Wave]

Since I can't post anything nearly that good, I'll just say: Very nice shots guys!

[bigbassloyd]

John, if you consider Southern WV on your deep south tour, please let me know!

I had a great year in 2008.

Here's my top 10, in no particular order:

PhotoID: 231656 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 256479 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 254042 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 262709 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 232191 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 249964 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 250875 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

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PhotoID: 260030 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 256911 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

My goal this year... PCA, Screeners Choice, or POTW.

Loyd L.

[Frederick]

I have basically been on hiatus for the past 9 months, with the exception of a road trip and a couple days here and there. I hope to get more spare time. Pathetically, I only put a couple shots on RP this year. Hopefully 2009 will be a bigger year for railfanning.

However, I did take two marvelous trips abroad this year - 2 weeks in Tanzania in January, and then another 2 weeks in Italy in July.

[F40PH271]

Here we go...in the order they were taken:

PhotoID: 237677 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 239173 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 240747 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 242592 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 255399 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 256280 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 259588 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 260488 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 261806 Photograph © Paul Duda

PhotoID: 263536 Photograph © Paul Duda

Well, that was one sorry year. Hope 2009 is better.

[trainboysd40]

2008 was a pretty damn amazing year for me. I went from shooting a K-1000, 50mm f/2.8 and 28mm f/2.8 to a full DSLR kit with L glass. I don't think the pictures really even matter, just that I've improved SO MUCH since February!

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by trainboysd40

2008 was a pretty damn amazing year for me. I went from shooting a K-1000, 50mm f/2.8 and 28mm f/2.8 to a full DSLR kit with L glass. I don't think the pictures really even matter, just that I've improved SO MUCH since February!

After reading some of your older threads and posts, you certainly have improved. However, anyone who lives in such a scenic area should improve drastically in their first years. If not, then the person should just quit because if you can't figure out the fundamentals with scenery, you likely never will.

I only uploaded 15 photos from 2008 so I guess there isn't a whole to choose from unless I open up my hard drive.

[ottergoose]

2008 was an awesome year for me with regards to train photography. I got my DSLR for Christmas last year, and made good use of it, bagging photos in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Kudos to everyone who helped with input on the forums, with feedback on RailfanAtlas, and put up with me on AIM (specifically my wife Emily, John Ryan, Chris Kilroy, Travis DeWitz, Jim Thias, Andrew Ryan, et. al. - the rest of you know who you are, and will be getting Christmas cards eventually).

My First PoTW:

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My First PCA:

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Second PCA:

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After randomly running into John Ryan and a 100% Retro Belle in the snow (what are the odds of that happening? ):

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100th accepted shot (67 made it in this year):

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An apparently new angle at Hoffman/Dayton's Bluff:

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Classiest Holiday Train of 2008:

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MN Challenger Chase:

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Last great train watching expedition in Oklahoma (graduated from OU this spring):

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First shot in the DB of the Progressive Rail Faribault job:

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[MichaelJ]

First Great Western HST along the seaside at Dawlish Warren

PhotoID: 225082 Photograph © Michael James

Some joggers cross XCountry Voyager on the sea wall at Dawlish Warren

PhotoID: 225129 Photograph © Michael James

A TGV crosses a cement bridge near Tours

PhotoID: 226321 Photograph © Michael James

QRNational Intermodal rolls through the green Australian countryside

PhotoID: 244663 Photograph © Michael James

A MAT64 waits for the departure signal from the ornate station of Hertogenbosch

PhotoID: 226043 Photograph © Michael James

In the very early morning, 3 x SMU 260 sit under the lights in Maryborough Yard

PhotoID: 244844 Photograph © Michael James

#Y243 streaks through Bald Hills Station with two new 3800 Class and some QRNational VCAL/VCAS Coal Wagons

PhotoID: 244778 Photograph © Michael James

Christmas special double-header Steam Train Sunday in December approaches Roma Street

PhotoID: 262653 Photograph © Michael James

An ARHS-Qld Steam Tour emerges from a typical tunnel whilst decending the Great Dividing Range

PhotoID: 252533 Photograph © Michael James

An EMU waits patiently at the semi-rural (and very typical Queensland) station of Rosewood

PhotoID: 260705 Photograph © Michael James

[Joe the Photog]

Aside from South Carolina, I've been to two staes this year. North Carolina once or twice and Georgia three times, Augusta once, Savannah onc and Lavonia/Tocco once or twice. I've probably shot five railroads aside from CSX and NS. That was when money was tight before I got laid off. It's possible I shot trains in fewer counties than many of you did states.

These are a few of my favorite shots that made it into the database, but none really blew my skirt up --

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Joe

[Tgranville]

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[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by Tgranville

That's a nice shot, but it would have benefited greatly if you had used a ladder. If that B40-8 was leading that would have been nice too.

[Flowing]

PhotoID: 263629 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 259489 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 257620 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 250965 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 242959 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 238646 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 237014 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 228859 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 227839 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 217561 Photograph © John Higginson

[JRMDC]

Wow, John, your SC doesn't even make your personal top 10!

[JRMDC]

Slow year for me, only 15 shots from the current year; like Joe, none of mine really got me excited, but here are a few.

A nice snow shot, my first fresh snow shot in a long time

PhotoID: 219921 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

An unusual angle and detail that (just starts to) conveys a sense of the location

PhotoID: 242491 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

Skyscraper/catenary detail

PhotoID: 257667 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

[Flowing]

Haha yeah, I was pleased with the composition and mood of this shot but I'm obsessive about lighting and sun angles and usually am most proud of my well-lit, bright and colorful images. Having said that, the angle in this image is never well-lit (the sun never swings around this far on the bridge), so an evenly-lit cloudy scene was optimal.

PhotoID: 263918 Photograph © John Higginson

[Mark Rosnick]

Slow year for me as well. Too busy at work to get out much.

PhotoID: 259741 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

PhotoID: 264400 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

PhotoID: 244709 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

PhotoID: 234933 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

PhotoID: 218297 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

Most views of any of my shots for 2008...and I don't know why

PhotoID: 227726 Photograph © Mark Rosnick

Hopefully things will lighten up at work (I'm not counting on it though) and i'll get out more in '09

Mark

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by Mark Rosnick

Most views of any of my shots for 2008...and I don't know why

Because men (ahem, boys) love Tonka trucks!

[Mark Rosnick]

Originally Posted by JRMDC

Because men (ahem, boys) love Tonka trucks!

Well said J

[Watain]

It's been a good first year on here for me, I started submitting in January of last year and didn't get anything accepted until April of this year. Ive made it up to 61 since then.

My first fog shot turned out to be one of my favorite shots of my own.

PhotoID: 257381 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

My first RP shot from back in April deserves some spotlight.

PhotoID: 231095 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

Something not many people try, and succeed at is the going away shot, I have 2 and they both turned out good imo. One of them happens to be my second shot on here.

PhotoID: 233967 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

PhotoID: 249088 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

This shot was of a rare move in evening light, from highly photographed location. The Tuscan red NS 34 and research car went along good with the lighting.

PhotoID: 259194 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

A recent image of mine makes it here at number 6, taken with the new VR glass as well.

PhotoID: 264396 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

One of my first of 10 shots of the CSX Santa Train is also my favorite. 2008 seems to be a year of first's for a lot of things, since this is the first year Ive chased this train.

PhotoID: 260989 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

I have always been fond of this picture, since it went from camera, to photoshop and here on RP all in a 25 minute period.

PhotoID: 256940 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

The angle I shot this at, and the clouds happen to work out very nicely.

PhotoID: 260863 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

One of my first shots with the fancy new glass comes in at number 10. The sun had just dropped behind the mountains, shot at 1/40th.

PhotoID: 262515 Photograph © Wayne Stumbo

I dont know what goals I have set for 2009, except maybe getting 100. I dont think my shooting days for 08 are over yet either.

[Northern Limits]

Hey Nick B. you have some great people interest pictures in your collection as well.
My submissions improved after my wife got me a G9 for Christmas last year. I know, I'm just a lowly P&S contributor
Here are my top 10
And this one even has a top viewed P&S video with it.

PhotoID: 236997 Photograph © Jim Dorst

One of my favorites

PhotoID: 217481 Photograph © Jim Dorst

PhotoID: 217774 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Taken in 2007 with a borrowed Sony P&S

PhotoID: 240515 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Sitting at #5 is a pan shot, showing off what I learned from these forums.

PhotoID: 237775 Photograph © Jim Dorst

#6 is a Tim Stevens wanna be

PhotoID: 220339 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Can't figure why this one got all the views

PhotoID: 233620 Photograph © Jim Dorst

#8

PhotoID: 237506 Photograph © Jim Dorst

#9

PhotoID: 217482 Photograph © Jim Dorst

Edit
Moved into the #10 spot since the original post - and moving up.

PhotoID: 260208 Photograph © Jim Dorst

[cblaz]

While on photo charters or when railfanning together, one of RP.net's more notable contributors, Mitch Goldman, is notorious for checking out my photos on my camera during lulls in the action. He always complains that I don't put most of my best stuff on RP. I took over 30,000 shots in 2008, and only posted 169 (so far). I guess he might be right. (Speaking of Mitch, hopefully he'll post on this thread as well.)

Anyway, here are my 10:

10)

PhotoID: 264938 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

I love the Duluth, MN area and the Missabe. After doing some brush cutting for Lerro Productions' Milwaukee Road 261 charter, we had a free day, so we raced up to northern MN with visions of solid maroon and gold consists in our head. We were rewarded with 2 T-birds that we were able to chase still in Missabe colors. Can't wait til the NRHS convention next year.

9)

PhotoID: 246282 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

A planned day off and an NS OCS trip from Buffalo to Binghamton meant one thing - getting the shot in Letchworth State Park. The early morning sun disappeared by the time he got there, but you can't win them all.

PhotoID: 241073 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

Helping out a charter operator has its benefits. After chasing Milwaukee Road 261 west from Glencoe to Buffalo Lake, AB2 and I were able to ride in the cab as the big Northern backed eastward to Glencoe. No matter how many cab rides you've had, it's still an awesome experience.

7)

PhotoID: 242598 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

PhotoID: 250498 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

I'm gonna cheat and put two shots here because 2008 marked the return of R&N 425, a personal favorite engine of mine. Having a big engine performing mainline trips so close to home meant we were able to get out and chase it five different times in all sorts of weather, ranging from beautiful blue skies to clouds to two of the worst rainstorms the Northeast received all year.

6)

PhotoID: 259715 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

The joys of a steam charter: Steam locomotive, check. Snow, check. Barn, check. Howling dog, pure luck. Year taken, who knows?

5)

PhotoID: 254462 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

If the coal train at left was three cars longer, it would have totally blocked the view of 3985. Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good.

4)

PhotoID: 261230 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

By the end of 2009, NS is saying that all blue Conrail units will be painted black. Holding a special affinity for the SD80MACs, I wanted to catch the last 2 blue ones during our trip to PA in November. As we pulled into Cresson and checked out the helper terminal, there they were, hooked up together as a hole in the clouds appeared. Again, lady luck shines upon us.

3)

PhotoID: 246286 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

During a trip to Binghamton, we found this Susquehanna train parked, and while doing night shots, the local baseball team finished their game and started setting off fireworks. Again, right place, right time.

2)

PhotoID: 257516 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

During 3985's tour of the Midwest, a rest day in Boone allowed us to head north and railfan the shortlines around Mason City, including the Iowa Traction. We arrived during a thunderstorm, found a perfectly parked electric and waited for the light show to begin.

1)

PhotoID: 218837 Photograph © Christopher Blaszczyk

Probably my favorite photo of 2008 was taken only six days into the year. I shot a broadside of Mount Washington Cog 10 leaving the Base Station and turned to take a going-away shot. I caught it at the perfect moment as the fireman opened the smokebox door and shoveled in another load of coal. Once again, lucky, not good.

- Chris