Life and Times of a urban railfan

          This week began on this past Saturday, trains  have been thin this week but I had the chance to get some great photo opportunities. One of the best pictures I feel in my opinion never even had a train in it. On a way to a friends house I cross the same set of tracks they bring the stone train in on. (for more on the rock train read A blues brothers morning ) while on the way I began to notice how the sunset was taking shape and when I arrived at the crossing the sky was perfect.  The Sunset Saturday I stopped and got my camera out, using my large 55-250mm lens in manual mode I was able within a few minutes capture the shot. Mind you I was pressed for time but made it on time to my destination with a few minutes to spare. As Saturday evening came to a close I reflected on the just what I had taken a picture of.  Sunday afternoon had it's own challenges after church while I was out scoping shot opportunities on ...

                 A few things rival the comradery of railfans for the most part we all get along, but there are special moments this is such one.              It was the last Friday in August 2014  I was sitting in my usual spot before I go into work and the CSX was quieter than a church mouse on a Sunday night, that is until I heard on the radio the Z642 coming into summit street on the W&LE with the local stone train and being happy to hear a train I grab my bag and hop on my bike and scoot down the four blocks to the other set of tracks. That is when I bump into my good friend Fred.  Now Fred is one of the good guys always Humble and willing to listen and offer wisdom to keep peace and to live a happy life. Now this morning really began to get good when I looked over to the West behold my eyes feasted on a pair of EMD SD40-2's still in the GM paint of...

    This week has been fun but yet not yet so fun for the most part this blog is going to be short as I don't have much activity train wise this week. Sunday began with my departure from my Volunteer position at my church it was more or less a mutual decision I was not going to give up my life as a railfan just to prove dedication to a group of people whom do not appreciate it, but that is another story for another time. Monday I get up at my usual time of 4:30 get my coffee camera and all the fun things packed and halfway up the street I get a text work is cancelled so I turned around an went home so much for the trackside morning before work. While Tuesday rolled around I rinse and repeat the following day but I had to work so I made it down to the spot I sit and the snow was too deep I did not feel like freezing my feet so that's when I decided to head up on the mill street bridge when I hear the horn of Q216 blowing for the dual crossings about 2 miles away I ride ...

January 2015 has been a Journey already for the first part of this year I did not do much until the second week due to other projects. So Wed the 7th I decided to go trackside for the morning and get away from the insanity I call my life. As usual it was quiet my radio wasn't even squawking then the Signals at 130.5 lit up, hmmmm maybe I missed a call for a westbound but I didn't it was our local belt-line with the 1502 tugging three cars behind it creating a rolling blizzard   As soon as they Cleared up into their yard at Barberton I heard Q253 calling the Signal before 130.5 Called AY I knew where I wanted to be for the shot, as I saw the signals light up I positioned myself for what was to come a rolling snow storm that would rival any lake effect squall that would come upon me that day. Within five minutes I saw 253's headlights and him kicking up snow as I got set to take the pic As he Blew by me I got baptized in the white stuff coming off his auto carr...