Railroad yard work in a blizzard

[J T]

We've had some intense wind and snowfall over the last couple of days, due to the arctic air coming down out of Canada and crossing over the warm waters of Lake Michigan. The ice cold air combined with the warm water makes for a LOT of moisture being sucked up into the atmosphere, and any where within 50-100 miles of the lakeshore means a pretty healthy dumping of snow. My location is about 30 miles from the shoreline, and we've picked up about 18" of snow since Friday night. Despite the wicked weather, work must continue in the railroad yards.

1. A CP intermodal train sits quietly waiting for a new crew to arrive.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/CP8519-6328.jpg



2. Meanwhile, a couple of remote controlled locos move some cars around the yard.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/CSX2573-6334.jpg



3. After pulling a load off one track, they pass back by pushing the load onto another set of tracks. During normal visibility, the entrance to the yard is open and a sign warns of remote controlled equipment. However, with the visibility down to zero at times, the entrance to the yard was closed with the appropriate warning sign.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/CSX2573-6337.jpg



4. Forty three seconds later, the CSX engines disappear into a "white out."

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/CSX2573-6339.jpg



5. From the blowing snow emerges a maintenance crew clearing out the switches with backpack leaf blowers.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/BlowingSwitches-6340.jpg



6. A closeup gives you an idea of just how harsh the conditions were.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Trains/BlowingSwitches-6343.jpg

[sugarzebra]

As always, very well done JT.....we're glad you take your gear out in the bad weather too :D

[jungle]

It had to be as tough on the shooter as it was on the rail crew. Looks like your hard work made for great results.

[J T]

Thanks. Fortunately for most of the shots in this series I was able to remain in my car. The first one with the CP train was actually shot outside in front of my car to get a better angle down the tracks. Thank goodness for long lens hoods! I DID have to wipe off my lens before I continued to shoot. :D

Just remembered...first two shots were outside and the rest were from inside my car with the window rolled down half way.

[shaunknee]

Cold air out of Canada ?? I always thought the cold air came down from Alaska.

Great shots

[slcr1]

Very well done.. Looks a lil chilly..:)

[tellysurv]

More great work JT!

[andrewhuxman]

Very cool shots like being there well done !!!!!!!

[Razor524]

Real nice shots!

[ilovemycamera]

man it looks like a snow globe out there... hope you are stayin warm!

The first one is my pick, and i would like to see a cropped version of that one that has the red signs cropped out. it would look really neat to just crop the bottom third off and leave it looking like a pano or something... JMO
The reason i'm saying this is bc when i opened the thread to view it, the bottom of my screen kinda had it cut off due to the smaller size of my screen, and it looked really good!

[AHDL247]

I totally love shot number one. Has fabulous depth. Just for grins, take a piece of paper and cover everthing from the top of the red sign down. Looks more like a powerful shot out of a widescreen movie.
Nice work,
Roy

[Woolburr]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....nice day to be sitting in the cab staying warm.

[theflyingkiwi]

I am not really a train fan. but those look good.

however it's a tad cold by the looks of it.

[PhotosGuy]

Nice! You're a better man than I am. I took some frost shots yesterday...

...from inside! :D

"Winter Falcon III" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=273147)

[AB8ND]

Great shots JT

Down off Market Street?

Jack

[J T]

Cold air out of Canada ?? I always thought the cold air came down from Alaska.

Great shots

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/jimthias/Smilies/thinking.gif

Thanks, but I can't tell if you're joking or not with that comment. Hmmm...

Very well done.. Looks a lil chilly..:)
More great work JT!
Very cool shots like being there well done !!!!!!!
Real nice shots!
I am not really a train fan. but those look good. however it's a tad cold by the looks of it.

Thanks, Josh, telly, Andrew, Ray and Mark. Yes, it was quite cold...about 10 degrees F.


The first one is my pick, and i would like to see a cropped version of that one that has the red signs cropped out. it would look really neat to just crop the bottom third off and leave it looking like a pano or something... JMO The reason i'm saying this is bc when i opened the thread to view it, the bottom of my screen kinda had it cut off due to the smaller size of my screen, and it looked really good!

Yeah, I see what you mean. Nothing is ever final, so any crop is always possible. :D

I totally love shot number one. Has fabulous depth. Just for grins, take a piece of paper and cover everthing from the top of the red sign down. Looks more like a powerful shot out of a widescreen movie.
Nice work,
Roy

Thanks, Roy. Actually, I can just scroll to isolate the area above the red switch signal. I'll definitely consider a cropped version if I ever feel inspired to print that.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....nice day to be sitting in the cab staying warm.

Dan, I think the arctic air is coming your way. Better be ready for it!! :D

Nice! You're a better man than I am. I took some frost shots yesterday...
...from inside! :D
"Winter Falcon III" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=273147)

I doubt that, Frank. Perhaps a little crazier than you? ;) Nice frost! I need to get a macro lens so I can get some shots like that.

Great shots JT
Down off Market Street?
Jack

Thanks, Jack. Nope, that's at the end of Judd St off of Chicago Dr.

[Woolburr]

Dan, I think the arctic air is coming your way. Better be ready for it!! :D


It is here....This is the longest spell of sub-freezing weather here in 20+ years...and no snow to speak of. At least the snow would cover up all the garbage by the tracks and make the shots pop a bit more.:cool:

But you can keep the white outs!

[JWright]

Seeing all these pictures of trains in snow reminds me why I live here...

[Hedoniste]

Awesome shots!

Ludo.

[J T]

It is here....This is the longest spell of sub-freezing weather here in 20+ years...and no snow to speak of. At least the snow would cover up all the garbage by the tracks and make the shots pop a bit more.:cool:

But you can keep the white outs!

:lol: Gotta love the global warming myth, eh? :rolleyes:

Seeing all these pictures of trains in snow reminds me why I live here...

I visited San Diego once and I must say, you're quite lucky to have the weather that you do.

Awesome shots!

Ludo.

Cheers, Ludo. :D

[Trackside]

Burrr! I bet it's safer working the yard at night then a slippy limited visibility day like that.