Top Ten of 2007

[John Ryan]

Now that 2007 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 ten favorite shots from 2007.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that I shot at least 75 different railroads this year in travels that took me to every state east of the Mississippi River. These are my ten favorite shots from 2007, or at least those accepted by railpix.

PhotoID: 191154 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 191497 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 190026 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 191152 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 192692 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 195268 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 196659 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 198241 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 215305 Photograph © John Ryan

PhotoID: 213299 Photograph © John Ryan

[CG_F45]

I was hoping someone would start a thread like this! I really like that fall NS shot, John.

I had a fun 2007. Here are my 10 ten favorites...

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EDIT- Hmmm, thats 11...oh, well.

[bigbassloyd]

Here's my ten!

PhotoID: 208076 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 207391 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 216513 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 199063 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 194887 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 210692 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 210799 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 207576 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: 205375 Photograph © Loyd Lowry

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Loyd L.

[Joe the Photog]

feel like Rick Dees, counting down the hits...

The only L&C train I shot this calendar year. I was hoping against hope that a car -- or a UPS truck -- would not be in front of the power for this angle.

10.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

The first time steam has run in South Carolina since the NS ended their program in the 90s.

9.

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I'd been wanting to get to Crab Orchard for a long time. I was hpoing for a longer train and one that actually went out on the road. But if this was all I could get, I left satisfied.

8.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Railroading is, of course, more than running trains. You got to keep the track in good condition. I also like the B&W backligting.

7.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

We were coming down to land in the nearby airport in thestation helicopter where I grabbed this shot of a lone NS loco sitting in their yard. The framing of the two CSX coal trains was what I called "a happy accident."

6.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

I had been lucky enough to catch the F units on their way to Augusta. Lucky in more than one way as the morning had been grey and dreary. As I was walking away, something caught my eye and I tried my hand at a more creative mode of framing, something I haven't been doing enough.

5.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

My first time catching a train running down Broad Street in Augusta.

4.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

More thinking outside of the box I normally reside in. This was one of those shots that I didn't kow whether it would get in the database or not.

3.

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I love this shot, cloud cover and all. Truthfully, if it had been a sunny day when I took this one, we'd be looking at a box with a red X in it. The sun would have been directly above and tothe left of the highway sign on the bridge up there.

2.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

Probably the best all around shot I've taken and certainly my favorite one.

1.

PhotoID: Photograph ©

[EMTRailfan]

1st 3 are my top 3. The rest are in random order.

PhotoID: 215575 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 205430 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 203204 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 193819 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 190350 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 190293 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 188916 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 196214 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 205124 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

PhotoID: 207908 Photograph © Kevin Ashbaugh

[JRMDC]

It will take FOREVER to go through everyone's shots! A happy way to spend holiday time, catching up, especially on shots I missed during the year.

Here goes, some shots I am happy with, some I just like:

for color:

PhotoID: 171153 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

different take on a spot I visit regularly

PhotoID: 193779 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

pleased with the depth, and a remembrance of a tower gone (shell still standing?)

PhotoID: 196575 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

trying something new

PhotoID: 204352 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

standard shot, but I just like it

PhotoID: 173929 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

hey, I can do this stuff too!

PhotoID: 211648 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

combines two interests: detail shot and shallow depth of field

PhotoID: 211808 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

a snippet of rail life

PhotoID: 212657 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

a classic scene, love the red

PhotoID: 213533 Photograph © Janusz Mrozek

I could pile in more of the steam stuff, a great photo charter for me, but I'll stop there.

[travsirocz]

Here are my top ten in no particular order.

I like the reflection in the water on this one.

PhotoID: 207916 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

I like the upclose sharp view and the color.

PhotoID: 210173 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

I can feel the speed (63 mph) of this train by looking at this photo.

PhotoID: 209267 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

I like how it breaks into the light with the river in the background.

PhotoID: 209045 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

I love how the train fades into the snow storm.

PhotoID: 214114 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

With the faded warbonnet and old mill, this image just looks kinda dated.

PhotoID: 213504 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

This spot is close to home, all I need is to get a little better light.

PhotoID: 216565 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

Love the early morning sun lighting up the crew.

PhotoID: 216240 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

The fisherman in the river makes this scene interesting

PhotoID: 214423 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

What are the chances I drive to Duluth and this museum piece is just sitting in CN's yard.

PhotoID: 215008 Photograph © Travis Dewitz

[Chicago Railfan]

I know I am new, but I have more than ten photo's, so here are mine.

This is my number one shot because it kind of looks like it is coming out of a forrest and into urbanization.

PhotoID: 209012 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

I chose this picture, because not only was it my first BNSF pic on the site, but it shows you that the train is running parallel with the forrest.

PhotoID: 201575 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

My first picture

PhotoID: 200740 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

I like the crossing setup in West Chicago

PhotoID: 216661 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

Parked in the snow has a nice affect.

PhotoID: 216966 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

You can see the slowness of it moving out of the yard and onto the mainline.

PhotoID: 209948 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

This picture shows you the dinky, slong with a few miles down the racetrack.

PhotoID: 209784 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

It is not every day that you see a bright orange and a bright blue sky touch.

PhotoID: 209945 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

The darkness of the trees and the boldness of the dirty engine make for a cool picture here

PhotoID: 207431 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

And last but not least, the dual CNW's with the ACe in the middle. Nice angle, nice paint scheme, nice lighting, this is nice...

PhotoID: 205026 Photograph © Chicago Railfan

[WembYard]

Ok here goes......in date order

One of my rare outings purely for photography in the UK this year and a visit to a favourite location of many years.

PhotoID: 179712 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

My local railway, took several visits to get this shot

PhotoID: 182881 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

We went to Lincoln to take pictures of the semaphore signals before they all go, this was just a grab shot but I really like the way it turned out

PhotoID: 188502 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

A visit to Spain and a couple of days touring with these two immaculately restored locos. Got loads of photos, but this was my favourite

PhotoID: 189692 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

My first foray across the English Channel a few years ago was to Belgium and I still have a soft spot for the railways there and their 50 year old electric locos

PhotoID: 194277 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

Austria is a great country to visit, this year we did rather a lot of miles behind 2050 class diesels (GM powered ).

PhotoID: 199262 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

A photo charter in Germany provided some brilliant weather and loads of photo opportunities, this is my favourite scene out of all of them

PhotoID: 199264 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

Love Portugal and October was just the right time to visit, stunning weather and not too hot. Again loads of photos, but I did like this one with the pretty station as a backdrop.

PhotoID: 205743 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

Back to the UK and a surprise on the way home from work.

PhotoID: 207086 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

And finally, a day spent earlier this month chasing this wonderful old lady on London Underground's Metropolitan line

PhotoID: 214969 Photograph © Janet Cottrell

Some statistics;

2007 photos in database = 66
UK = 20, Portugal = 12, Germany = 9, Switzerland = 7, Austria = 6, Spain = 6, Netherlands = 4, Belgium = 2.

[SteveGiebink]

Here are mine. I only have 12 shots so I'll leave out the bad ones...

10.

PhotoID: 211453 Photograph © SteveGiebink

9.

PhotoID: 213303 Photograph © SteveGiebink

8.

PhotoID: 216867 Photograph © SteveGiebink

7.

PhotoID: 215316 Photograph © SteveGiebink

6.

PhotoID: 215321 Photograph © SteveGiebink

5.

PhotoID: 192828 Photograph © SteveGiebink

4.

PhotoID: 195182 Photograph © SteveGiebink

3.

PhotoID: 214268 Photograph © SteveGiebink

2.

PhotoID: 211146 Photograph © SteveGiebink

1.

PhotoID: 199022 Photograph © SteveGiebink

Good Year Everyone!!!

Steve

[LSRC Railfan]

I don't have ten best from this year, nor do I have a lot accepted, but here are a few of my favorites from this year (that were accepted by RP).
-found my first active turntable this year.

PhotoID: 184234 Photograph © LSRC

-finally got a decent photo of a train going around death curve.

PhotoID: 190093 Photograph © LSRC

-I caught the last run of S1 646 across the Huron Sub.

PhotoID: 194386 Photograph © LSRC

-I found a neat stash of old engines at Northtown.

PhotoID: 214273 Photograph © LSRC

-I had a really nice March morning at the yard, the 3563 was really smoking.

PhotoID: 184936 Photograph © LSRC

PhotoID: 178321 Photograph © LSRC

-I did have a rare sunny day in February where I decided to get off my butt and get down to the yard.

PhotoID: 177505 Photograph © LSRC

-And while it's not the best quality picture, I did manage to shoot outside of the normal wedgie for a few shots.

PhotoID: 214054 Photograph © LSRC

These are only the highlight of my year that was accepted to RP.
LSRC Railfan

[Slopes09]

My top ten tend to lean toward my shots taken since August. This is mostly because that's when I got my new camera, and the image quality of the previous shots simply pales in comparison. However, there were a couple I couldn't ignore.

My most recent favorite, but one I think is a pretty cool shot that turned out well.

PhotoID: 216877 Photograph © Mike W.

Not my favorite type of railroad (I'm not much of a light rail fan) but I love how this shot turned out, with the clouds and buildings.

PhotoID: 202999 Photograph © Mike W.

I love the location of this shot, I've never seen a house this close to the tracks, and to think that once streamliners came down this very line!

PhotoID: 197519 Photograph © Mike W.

How many people actually get a chance to ride a theater car with the railroad's president? Probably not that many.

PhotoID: 196154 Photograph © Mike W.

I really like the way the field looks in this shot. The pattern, along with the way the grass appears, makes this shot look like an ocean or something.

PhotoID: 178536 Photograph © Mike W.

Another recent one. Street running is probably one of my all time favorite things to see. This shot, in my mind, captures the feel of the area and the line.

PhotoID: 217008 Photograph © Mike W.

One that I was frankly surprised made it in. No trains are in the shot, and it's just a picture of two volunteers doing work on their steam engine. I think it's a wonderful human interest shot that worked very well in B&W.

PhotoID: 204252 Photograph © Mike W.

I don't know why, but for some reason, I like this shot. Maybe it's because I managed to take a decently interesting shot when there appeared to be almost no opportunities of interest.

PhotoID: 210520 Photograph © Mike W.

I finally managed to get a sunset/rise shot into the database!

PhotoID: 213265 Photograph © Mike W.

Most overhyped bridge opening...ever.

PhotoID: 199666 Photograph © Mike W.

[Warren]

Here are my top ten for 07 and I had tons of fun getting them!

PhotoID: 206945 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 189866 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 185809 Photograph © Warren Underwood

PhotoID: 197955 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 175935 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 189480 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 191214 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 198011 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 189345 Photograph © Warren

PhotoID: 181861 Photograph © Warren

[mw25]

What a great idea for a thread. I lurk here more than I post, so I hope you don't mind me interjecting with my top 10 (actually top 11) shots of 2007.

10. There's nothing real special about the train or the composition in this picture, but I had wanted a shot of a train passing the station sign in this small town east of Bismarck, ND ever since I learned about its dual identity.

PhotoID: 194061 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

9. I wanted to try a different sort of shot in the Red River Valley, so I stopped at a rest area along Interstate 29 to wait for a manifest led by 3 four-axle locomotives to come through. As I waited, the clear sky suddenly started to turn cloudy. By the time the train arrived, the clouds had almost fully taken over the sun, but there was still just enough sunlight to illuminate the train for about 5 seconds.

PhotoID: 214580 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

8. 2007 was my third year seeing Canadian Pacific's wonderful Holiday Train. Out of all the pictures of the train's stop in Elbow Lake, MN I took, this one was my favorite.

PhotoID: 215818 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

7. Although enclosed by a chain-link fence, the sidewalk on the west side of the Columbia Road overpass in Grand Forks, ND offers a great view of the western edge of the BNSF yard. Since the tracks point almost exactly due west, I figured that, if there were cirrus clouds and a moving train around dusk, I could get a dramatic backlit sunset shot around either of the equinoxes. After a few unsuccessful attempts earlier in the month, all of the prerequisites came together perfectly on March 27.

PhotoID: 181873 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

6. Despite the graffiti, getting a shot of a train going over the Mississippi River bridge in my hometown of Brainerd, MN had long been on my "to do" list, so I was pleased when I ended up getting this picture on June 4.

PhotoID: 189360 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

5. While at one of the best places (in my opinion) for train photography in ND in July, a couple of thunderstorms passed overhead. In each case, the evening sun came out after the storm passed over, causing the clouds of the passing storm to be dramatically lit. There was even a beautiful rainbow at one point. The busy Dickinson Sub delivered a few trains while the sun was shining, and here's the one picture of the scene you'll find on RP.net.

PhotoID: 194199 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

4. I use B&W real sparingly, but this scene from the badlands of western ND was one where I couldn't resist taking out the color and seeing how it looked. Needless to say, I was very pleased with the results.

PhotoID: 194362 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

3. It's a good thing my favorite season is winter and that I love spending time outside when the temperature is below freezing because in early February, as Grand Forks, ND was deep in the midst of a cold spell where the temperature stayed below 0°F for 5 days straight, I went to the same overpass pictured in photo #7 to get a picture of a coal train coming into the yard below the University of North Dakota's water tower. I always enjoy pointing out that, with a fairly significant yard adjacent to the university, UND is a great place for railfans to go to school.

PhotoID: 174556 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

2. In September, I took a weekend to travel around NE ND and extensively explore branch lines in the area. I did so mainly because ND is an amazing place to explore and because branch lines in the state are kind of a dying breed. There's seemingly no guarantee of how long they'll continue to be in operation, particularly the ones belonging to BNSF. You also see quite a few of ND's famed ghost towns or towns stuck in time along the branch lines, especially the towns where the only way in or out is by way of a dirt road or a paved road that probably hasn't been upgraded in over 50 years.

Anyway, the pictures below depict the locals that serve two of the BNSF branches in the area. I felt really lucky catching the trains in operation, since I had no idea that they'd be out there and since they only make movements on the lines, at most, once or twice per week.

PhotoID: 204914 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

PhotoID: 205234 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

For anybody interested, I placed the full set of pictures from my little trip on my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwahlst...57602223807672.

1. All right, enough babbling - here's my number 1 shot of 2007. This photo was three years in the making, since I got skunked by either the sun or MOW workers the first two years I visited eastern MT. Even though I had to wait an agonizing hour while the sun kept getting higher and higher in the sky, I finally hit the jackpot in 2007. I even got a nice horn salute from the engineer and wave from the conductor after I snapped my picture.

PhotoID: 194892 Photograph © Mitch Wahlsten

[ssw9662]

I had 27 photos from 2007 accepted, which isn't much compared to most of you guys. Either way, here are my favorites:

10:

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9:

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8:

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7:

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6:

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5:

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4:

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3:

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2:

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1:

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[chris crook]

I uploaded 16 pictures to RP this year, but not all of them were from '07. All of them were the OC though, which is the only railroad I shot this year, just about. But since I don't have 10 I am in love with, here are my almost 10.

PhotoID: 213064 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213067 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213699 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213702 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213923 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213925 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 213927 Photograph © Chris Crook

PhotoID: 214618 Photograph © Chris Crook

[Cyclonetrain]

Here's 10 of mine, in no order.

PhotoID: 171614 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 183375 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 190441 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 199676 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 205052 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 205811 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 216864 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 216866 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 197575 Photograph © Glenn Davis

PhotoID: 177090 Photograph © Glenn Davis

[Crusader]

Well, only had 18 accepted this year, but for me that's pretty good. So here's my top 10, most fave at the top...

PhotoID: 213968 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 205090 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 200866 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 204080 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 195804 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 203132 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 206056 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 214140 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 203499 Photograph © Charlie O

PhotoID: 180959 Photograph © Charlie O

[JRMDC]

Originally Posted by Cyclonetrain

Here's 10 of mine, in no order.

Hey Glenn, you were there with Mike, cool!

PhotoID: 216877 Photograph © Mike W.

[Kilroy1313]

Joining RP this year really made me change my picturing of trains and also to go finally to places I always wanted to go to.
My preferred RP 2007 pic's (± in order of most liked from 1 to 10):
My #1: Result of some solid forum interactive work

PhotoID: 188839 Photograph © Kilroy1313

When I looked at these north american landscapes I never could picture around here I first thought about a place I knew since childhood, only 20 miles away from home, so I felt I had to showing you this in counterpart:

PhotoID: 212829 Photograph © Kilroy1313

The electric double-header with massive iron blocks loaded on heavy weight flat cars

PhotoID: 199502 Photograph © Kilroy1313

Catching a rare moment of weather mood in heavy fog

PhotoID: 205335 Photograph © Kilroy1313

PhotoID: 206617 Photograph © Kilroy1313

Discovering amazing landscapes really nearby

PhotoID: 196493 Photograph © Kilroy1313

PhotoID: 190363 Photograph © Kilroy1313

Re-discovering places I thought already to know

PhotoID: 190371 Photograph © Kilroy1313

PhotoID: 206221 Photograph © Kilroy1313

The old american style switcher in action

PhotoID: 187448 Photograph © Kilroy1313

[goremirebob]

OK here are my 10

The year started well with a Springtime trip to China with Michael Rhodes, Vernon Murphy, Adrian Roberts and Nick Dodson.. My 2nd, and almost certainly last, visit. The primitive mining method in use at the remote Huangcun mine were a bit of a culture shock....

PhotoID: 183112 Photograph © Bob Avery

This one amazed me with its success on RP, but I suppose it is a tad unusual. It also re-inforces my view that railway photography is an aspect of travel photography and does not - for me anyway - have to include a locomotive.

PhotoID: 183119 Photograph © Bob Avery

A group of locals passing the time of day - with a steam loco thrown in - a real one, that is - is irresistible camera bait.

PhotoID: 184465 Photograph © Bob Avery

Back home now -This one shows how even on a routine journey you should carry a camera and have it primed ready for action - you never know when a photo will present itself..

PhotoID: 188654 Photograph © Bob Avery

Just a few minutes drive from home, on a sunny June evening, the Spirit of Mr Ed lives on.. (You're showing your age if you can remember 'Mr ED' on TV - or is it still broadcast somewhere?)

PhotoID: 189584 Photograph © Bob Avery

A little further from home - but not much - presented this unsual visitor...

PhotoID: 195906 Photograph © Bob Avery

In September the lure of a 3-cylinder K4 on Scotland's West Highland Line was too much to resist, as a genuine West Highland loco with appropriate coaches. And it wasn't raining for once, though a little more sunlight would have been nice..

PhotoID: 204589 Photograph © Bob Avery

Later in the month a diesel treat in the shape of three 'English Electric' thoroughbreds on one train...

PhotoID: 205554 Photograph © Bob Avery

And finally, two from Dave Rodgers superb Austrian trip in October, which included one day in the Czech Republic - new ground for me. All I can say is a bit of backlighting never hurt anybody!

PhotoID: 214158 Photograph © Bob Avery

Probably my favourite shot of the trip, if not the year, though a little disappointed it hasn't attracted more hits...

PhotoID: 212814 Photograph © Bob Avery

May all RP members have a healthy happy and prosperous 2008, with good weather. Keep taking the pictures!

Bob

[Andrew Blaszczyk (2)]

Oh geez, I have to get working on my year-in-review that I've one every December, but here are a look at my favorite or newsworthy 10 photos. This harder than it seems (said while looking through shots)!

10. I got to shoot my favorite diesel locomotive in my "hometown" yard while on a coffee run for my friend, her co-workers, and myself as the Dunkin Donuts is across the street. Love the SD45-2s!

PhotoID: 187062 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

9. A special photo (to me) of my cousin holding his son, Zachary, watching narrow gauge roll by in the distance. To me it doesn't really get better than this!

PhotoID: 206157 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

8. I have to work on adding the story behind this photo which will explain why I did and what it means.

PhotoID: 209706 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

7. I was really glad I could share some of the local RR history of the towns around me with the world. I would probably take railroads and railfanning for granted if I were to see trains day after day on this line and didn't think of the history behind it and that is still out there to find.

PhotoID: 212168 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

6. After never shooting steam in snow before February, 2007 has been very fruitful and 2008 is already shaping up to be EVEN BETTER!

PhotoID: 216248 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

5 & 4. One of my favorite trips of the year (which will be a separate thread) was the overnight chase of the NS F-units from Central PA to Western NJ. Yielding these two photos.

PhotoID: 191291 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

PhotoID: 191481 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

3. I was lucky enough to be allowed access to RR property to chase the ferry move of #142 from PA back to NJ over some interesting trackage on the Bel-Del.

PhotoID: 188480 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

2. I learned a 'new' trick, the zoom-out-pan, while at New Hope & Ivyland's Railfan weekend 'charter'. I've tried numerous more times but have only been happy with the results three or four times. I was also honored to hear how many other photogs went out and tried to do this themselves or who plan on it.

PhotoID: 204218 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

1. I took my all-time favorite photo (and obviously one of John West's...LOL) on the Pere Marquette 1225 photo charter in April.

PhotoID: 185266 Photograph © Andrew Blaszczyk (2)

That was darn near impossible! Here's to an even better '08!

[Flowing]

In no particular order:

PhotoID: 172035 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 196623 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 207882 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 185813 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 199180 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 190294 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 210485 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 190191 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 174228 Photograph © John Higginson

PhotoID: 178503 Photograph © John Higginson

Looking back through my 2007 photos, I realized that I did not get to shoot much steam this year. Hopefully this will be rectified in 2008.

[Darryl Rule]

Good evening everyone,

I didn't get out as much in 2007 as I'd like due to a new work assignment, but didn't have too bad a year when I did. I had a chance to shoot my favorite diesels 2 times this year (the PRR E8s), a chance to return to Chicago for a week and finished it off with Steamtown's Railfest. I am looking forward to 2008 and a return of R&N 4 & quarter. As Andrew mentioned, she was one of the first "big" steamers I remember as a kid, and am very happy to see her return to service. So here are my 10 favorites from the year, and best wishes to everyone for a safe and happy 2008!

10) On my first trip of 2007, I caught the plow at the Rt. 53 Bridge just East of Cresson, PA:

PhotoID: 176374 Photograph © Darryl Rule

9) Thanks to a tip from Gary Pancavage, I was able to catch the Amtrak History Channel Acela set:

PhotoID: 213304 Photograph © Darryl Rule

8 ) The restored Erie E8 833 passes the former Lackawanna Station at Cresco on a beautiful fall morning:

PhotoID: 211312 Photograph © Darryl Rule

7) A Westbound NS stack train seen from high above at Dornick's Point:

PhotoID: 190874 Photograph © Darryl Rule

6) Thanks to fellow RP member Tony Kimmel, I was able to catch the US Open special's return trip at Conemaugh at about 8:30 p.m.:

PhotoID: 190557 Photograph © Darryl Rule

5) An Eastbound NS mixed freight attempts to outrun a very nasty storm through Chesteron, IN which included hail and tornados:

PhotoID: 193185 Photograph © Darryl Rule

4) Union Pacific's United Way SD40-2 leads an Eastbound train past the "Red Barn" at Geneva, IL:

PhotoID: 193183 Photograph © Darryl Rule

3) This shot was almost a throw away, because the sun hadn't been out the whole time we waited for the train. As soon as 3254 rounded the curve, the sun came out, and 3254 put on quite a show as she made a valiant attempt to make the hill. About a 1/2 mile past here, she would lose the fight and need to be rescued by the Alcos:

PhotoID: 210064 Photograph © Darryl Rule

2) My favorite diesels at one of my favorite photo locations:

PhotoID: 209868 Photograph © Darryl Rule

1) Thanks to Pete Lerro and his crew, the PRR engines came to life as part of a memorable night:

PhotoID: 210318 Photograph © Darryl Rule

[transit383]

Its hard to pick just ten!

10. Engine change at Washington's Union Station, this was from my trip to Atlanta:

PhotoID: 179163 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

9. A filthy train set speeds past the restored Berlin Station, built in 1867:

PhotoID: 209235 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

8. Although no rail traffic uses this crossing anymore, someone painted a CNJ logo on the crossing to preserve the history of the "Big Little Railroad":

PhotoID: 213940 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

7. NJ Transit's sleek, new multilevel coaches at Edison:

PhotoID: 200402 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

6. Gone but not forgotten, several CNJ artifacts still rest at Jersey City Terminal:

PhotoID: 173087 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

5. Catching a train on the Amboy Secondary passing Helmetta's famous Snuff Mill has always been something I wanted to do:

PhotoID: 214650 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

4. Doubleheaded diesel trains are rare enough on NJ Transit. Finding one with the lead unit long nose forward is next to impossible:

PhotoID: 206652 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

3. The PRR E8s crossing from Easton to Phillipsburg on a special journey under crystal clear skies:

PhotoID: 209748 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

2. A lucky catch, the sun broke through the clouds just enough to illuminate this train passing under Main Street in former PRR electrified territory:

PhotoID: 204370 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto

1. Although not high in view counts, this one is my all time favorite photo. I love the trail of mist and snow that kicks up when a train is moving at speed. Here, a Coast Line train speeds south the morning after a snowstorm:

PhotoID: 173576 Photograph © Gerald Oliveto