Since 1985. The Leader in Vintage Rail Video HERRON RAIL VIDEO Step Back In Tyme With Your Camera


EVER SINCE 1829 when a little steam loco- motive named the Stourbridge Lion first chuffed down the spindly rails of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. in Pennsyl- vania, steam locomotives whistling their way across America have excited photogra- phers and caused even casual passers-by to stop and watch in awe. Who cannot appreci- ate a dramatic photo of a steam locomotive blasting around a curve, plumes of white steam and black smoke roiling skyward? The water tank;


the roundhouse; the


turntable; the coaling dock; the railway sta- tion with its waiting benches and luggage carts beside the tracks; the distant lonesome moaning wail of a steam whistle . . . All have become nostalgic icons of Americana. As a railfan photographer, you may have looked longingly at these old photos of steam trains and wished that you, too, could take similar photos. But those halcyon days of steam are long gone. For although there are over 100 steam locomotives in the U.S. and Canada operating on tourist railroads (go to www.nostalgicphotos.com/3steamlist.html for a listing), modern buildings, automobiles, or signs not authentic to the time period, as well as the passengers in non-authentic look- ing passenger cars (such as converted open gondolas,


open cars


with canopy roofs, or cars with other non-au- thentic looking modifi- cations) make it hard to get a compelling steam train photo. Of course, photo ex- cursion trains that offer steam trains of authen- tic equipment with pho- to runbys devoid of modern


are one way to obtain photos


that


surroundings look


au-


thentic to earlier time periods. But these spe- cial events happen only a few times each year, and may not be conven- ient or be too expensive for you to attend. I first stepped back in time with my camera in June 1980 when, in- spired by a photo I saw in a Rail Classics magazine, I first visited the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad’s 99-year old steam rail yard in Durango, Colo. It was tru- ly like stepping back in time with my cam- era! Everything from the roundhouse to the oily yard dirt was 100 per cent authentic. And I soon found other Colorado steam rail- road operations where I could “step back in time” (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic, which was also part of the original D&RGW system, Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge, Georgetown Loop Railroad, and the Colorado


Photographing the locomotive by itselfas it is serviced before or after the day’s runs is a good way to emulate the look of an old tyme steam train photo. Including a trainman in your composition adds more interest. Here, the brakeman has just thrown the switch as ex-Chicago & North Western 1907 Alco 4-6-0 No. 1385 of the Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society in North Freedom, Wis., performs a blow down to clear the boiler of sludge.


necessary to let you “step back in time with your camera.” Here are a few techniques you can use: • First, buy a ticket and take a ride. This will allow you to take photos of the locomo- tive up ahead as it leans into a curve, while letting you see locations where modern sur- roundings do not intrude that you can re- turn to for photos. And you will be helping support the railroad’s continued operation. • Hide the passenger cars: Some opera- tions use authentic clerestory-roofed pas- senger cars. But for others, compose the pho-


Railroad Museum which operates steam trains). And soon I was expanding my search for steam tourist lines and museums into other states. Usually as part of a vacation trip or to visit relatives, I would allow time to visit any steam operations near my route. But although most of these steam tourist


lines were early 1900s authentic “old tyme” or nearly so, even the best had nearby mod- ern surroundings or equipment that might ruin for me the very compelling nature of this vintage subject matter. I began to devise ways to work around this, to make all my photos look as if they were actually taken back in the 1950s or earlier. With practice I found that regardless of where the line was or what type of passenger cars it used, whether it operated out of an authentic rail yard with authentic structures or modern, as long as the locomotive was genuine, with care you can overcome the modern obstacles presented on steam tourist railroads and take dramatic, compelling photos of steam trains that can look truly historic. All it takes is a little pre-planning to do what is


L&NVol.2


022.2-D $39.95


L&N events 1947-1990's plus Special Bonus: Frankfort & Cincinnati RR 1940's-1960. Watch with or without narration. GM Train of Tomorrow, E unit cab ride, New M1's at Lima, Humming Bird, SLS Skip Track, M1 Excursion, L&N Centennial revisited, Sparta Ky meet, Owensboro Ky passenger extra, yard, Louisville area including Union Station, MN Tower and A Street tower, more; Bowling Green interlude; Radnor L&NHS visit and South Louisville Farewell. Chapters. (not a DVD-R). 90 minutes.


C&OVol.1


052-D $39.95


C&O Steam and diesel passenger and freight trains from Louisville, Lexington and


Subdivision steam at Peach Creek, and Logan, WV in 1955. Several classes of steam power in actual service. Lots of rare film in this with maps of locations. About 75% color. Narrated or un-narrat- ed viewing. Sound added. Chapters. (not a DVD-R). 76 minutes.


Quality the difference is on the screen.


Add $6.00 p&h for 1 item, $1.00 for each additional. FL residents add 7.00% tax.


Visa/MC orders call


1 (800) 783-3886 Send check or money order: Dept R, Herron Rail Video


2016 N. Village Ave., Tampa, FL 33612 Many More at


www.herronrail.com 13 Ashland, Ky 1940's-71. Logan Reflections of the


Two New DVDs in Stock! Reflections of the


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70