Southern Steam in the Clouds and Rain

[Ptrainman]

Two weeks ago I made my first trip to TN to shoot some steam. I wasn't able to get out and shoot much this year due to an excessive work schedule and lack of vacation, so I was gonna get one last trip in. After looking at the weather and much debating, I decided to go for it and hope for the best and Im glad I did. Weather turned out to be fairly close to what was predicted, not very good, but I think we did ok given the conditions. I got to see EM and Carmon again for the first time in over a year and met a lot of new people.

And now on to the pictures, all the full size shots can be seen here: http://southernrailsphotography.smugmug.com/Trains/Southern-630-Knoxville-to/34312189_4Tq4Tn

Saturday morning dawned cold and cloudy and the crowed started to gather at the bridge at Strawberry Plains, TN. I met EM and the gang here and we waited.

We then headed for CP Coulter just south of Morristown, TN. When the train rounded the corner something was definitely different than when we shot them at Strawberry Plains, you couldn't hear the diesels. The conversation that followed on the radio indicated that the slug set was dead and 630 was doing it all. The old girl sounded mighty fine as she drug 12 cars and 550,000lbs of dead weight under us.

Here is the only sunlit shot of the day, rods to the ground and whistle blowing as the old girl works hard carrying the train on her own at Del Rio, TN.


The slug set ended up giving them trouble all the way to Asheville and even after they got there. After getting our last shot we doubled back to Marshall, NC to wait. The slug set kept giving them trouble and ended up causing the train leave Asheville  over 2 hours late which meant it wouldn't get to us till the sun was gone. We all hung around and got what we could. Considering the lighting it didn't turn out half bad.

On Sunday, I left Knoxville and chased the train back to Asheville before heading home. I thought I was the only one out but then I met Evan (csx6900) and his fiancé. I get soaking wet for one last shot as the train pulled out of Asheville on time headed back west.


Paul

[thpbears]

Pretty nice

[MotoLinz]

Nice stuff! Evan was in front of (and then behind) us on Sunday morning on our way to Newmarket.

(And good choice with Smugmug. Its founder is a motorcycle friend of mine and a standup guy.)

[Ptrainman]

You were right on that being him that turned off at Strawberry Plains. I didn't get to talk to him till Coulter because I was down on the river and he stayed on higher ground.


Paul

[chipallen16]

Tons of great shots there!

-Chip 

[Ptrainman]

Thanks Chip.


Paul

[Ponce de Leon]

Pretty nice

I would say VERY nice!!! Love these shots. Some of the best 630 stuff I've seen yet. Crummy weather is always better for train photography, particularly steam.

[Ptrainman]

Thanks Ron.


Paul

[Matt L]

Pretty nice

I would say VERY nice!!! Love these shots. Some of the best 630 stuff I've seen yet. Crummy weather is always better for train photography, particularly steam.

Agreed. I've shot steam on sunny and rainy days... the latter seem to look better.

[csx6900]

Great shots Paul!  Alexa and I had a ball that day and I think she finally realized that my "disease" is not all that unusual!    It was good to meet you in person.  Hopefully we'll cross paths again soon!  And I'm sorry I missed you and the kids Lindsay, but I'm sure we'll meet somewhere down the road. 

-Evan

[Ptrainman]

Thanks Evan. It was nice meeting you and Alexa too. She seem to really be taking an interest in this. I would love to see what she came way with. And Im sure we will meet again before to long.


Paul