OK, I went out train hunting today. But first, here's a shot from a couple weeks ago of Amtrak #11 just south of Salinas. I cut this one a little close, as I reached the tracks barely two minutes before the train came by. (The tracks are 30 minutes away from home.) 
As for today (Sunday OCT 6), I went out to north Monterey County to capture the southbound Starlight from an overpass. I'm getting pretty good at predicting when the train will be where. I only had to wait about 15 minutes. Today's train was about two and a half hours late.
The train only had three coaches. Usually it has at least four, and often as many as six. On the rear were these two private cars. They look like UP colors, but since I was looking through my viewfinder and was looking into the sun when I saw them, I couldn't tell for sure.
There is a detector right around the corner, It recorded 64 axles and a speed of 47 MPH.
After seeing those I thought I might try to meet the train in Salinas and see them up close. I doubted I could make it, but it was not entirely impossible, so I gave it a shot. When I arrived at the station I realized I had missed it by just a few minutes. But a UP freight was not far behind.
Rather than shoot a straight on "oh, here comes a freight train" shot, I decided to try a different angle. There was good sun on the station so I thought I'd photograph the front of the locomotive framed by the building.
It was a good effort, but the result was a little boring. So I got a little creative with some effects in the computer....
Looks like an old time postcard. Much more interesting, don't you think?
Incidentally, as the freight train was approaching a drunk decided to amble across cross the tracks right in front of me. He completely ignored my advice. He made it but I was afraid I was going to be calling 911 on my cell phone instead of getting photos.
In fact, all sorts of people were walking around the rail yard there, right down the tracks in some cases. Evidently they have no fear of the legendary UP police, or the trains. I guess Salinas isn't very well patrolled.
All in all, it was a fun day.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
The Del Monte Club Car
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 10-07-2002).]
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