N&W 611 pulls into the station on the final morning of her 2017 Excursion Season. Hopefully this sight will return in the future.
Through The Lens 128 – N&W 611 Roanoke Mornings
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Tag Archives: History
Through The Lens 126 – Glade Creek Grist Mill
The Glade Creek Grist Mill is a popular photo location in Babcock State Park in West Virginia. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area.
Through The Lens 125 – N&W 611 Spring Flowers
Last year about this time was the second weekend I chased N&W 611. The flowers in the foreground made this one of my favorite images from the trip.
Through The Lens 124 – Governor’s Palace Spring
One from the archives. This one was taken on a rare spring trip to Colonial Williamsburg. I need to get down there in the spring again to photograph more of the gardens in full bloom. Maybe next year.
Through The Lens 123 – N&W 611 Brown’s Summit
As a child I watched a video tape of the National Geographic program, ‘Love Those Trains’, until I wore it out. N&W 611 was featured in the opening sequence and I always wanted to see her run in person.
Last year, my friend Kevin invited me to chase the J with him and a couple other friends. I immediately took him up on the offer and ended up chasing three of the four weekends that 611 ran in 2017.
The image above of N&W 611 charging up grade through the rain at Brown’s Summit, NC was taken about this time last year on the first of the three weekends I chased.
Through The Lens 122 – Thomas Jefferson
I’m still chipping away at the photos from the New Year’s trip to Williamsburg and thought I’d share this one of Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Barker has been portraying Thomas Jefferson for many years. I’m always impressed with his ability to respond to any question or situation in character. If you visit Colonial Williamsburg, make sure to find him on the schedule and make a point to see one of his public audiences. You won’t regret it.
Through The Lens 120 – Reflections
I remember the mirror-like stillness of the water on the floor at Scranton Lace stopped my in my tracks. It took me a few minutes to find a composition I liked, but the end image was worth the time spend to find it.
Through The Lens 118 – Man and Machine
On a photo charter in February 2016, Christopher Brang assesses the situation while working on a stuck brake that has halted progress down the hill.
One of my goals for the year is to photograph the people involved in the operations of these historic machines more than I have in the past rather than simply focusing on the trains. Fortunately I have a couple opportunities to practice this year.
Through The Lens 117- A Chair
One of the things I find fascinating during the abandoned building workshop’s I’ve attended is chairs. Photographers move the chairs around the buildings to create scenes. Sometimes it’s an industrial chair sitting by a table suggesting the presence of a worker who stepped away for a minute. Other times it’s an arm chair (like the one above) that was originally part of an office suite placed in the middle of a warehouse or manufacturing area. You never know what you’ll find, but there’s usually an interesting vignette to be photographed.
Trip Report – Railfest 2017
Last fall, I attended Steamtown National Historic Site’s annual Railfest. The highlight of the event was a night photo session that included scenes at the Sand Tower, Mattes Street Tower and the Roundhouse. I arrived in time for the night session Saturday night and then stayed over to see the event Sunday. Special events included demonstrations in the machine shop, tours of the Office and Stores Building, and of course train rides pulled by Baldwin Locomotive Works #26.
Sand Tower:
Mattes Street Tower:
Roundhouse:
Machine Shop Demonstration:
Ring of Fire:
Singing the Theme Song:
