Substantially "Different" Rail shots - BNSF

I was a Locomotive Engineer for the old ATSF Ry. Co. until it was swallowed by the BN and the two became the BNSF Ry. Co.. My career spanned 34 years, 26 of which I ran locomotives in various capacities for them. In the end I was a long haul engineer running from Needles, Ca. to Winslow, Az.. I only got interested in taking pictures OF and FROM locomotives in 1997 or so. The pictures I will post in this thread are MY pictures and some are quite low res and possibly out of focus - but it isn't easy to always run an 80 to 110 THOUSAND TON train and take pictures at the same time.

We as rails called people that would doggedly chase trains trying (and succeeding most of the time!) to get photographs "Foamers" because we always figured they were foaming at the mouth from all that chasing! LOL!! No disrespect was ever meant but it was funny.

You got the feeling sometimes that you were a celebrity. Most especially if you had a "Special" train that was well advertised and known to be noteworthy. Foamers would be everywhere - and reappear time after time flashes flashing and really leaning into their shots!

We (the crews) inside those cabs were sometimes awed by the foamers. Other times they scared the living crap out of us with the dangerous positions they would try just for one stupid picture!

I personally worked a LOT of 6 to 6 trips. Start from Needles at 6 P.M. and end in Winslow 295 miles away at 6 A.M.. I have seen probably 1000 sunrises on a moving locomotive.

Sounds dreamy and photogenic.
See the 1st uploaded picture.
The train is AT a block signal - and it is moving - what COLOR is the signal on OUR side?? LOL!!

I took a couple of pictures of Foamers FROM the inside looking out. Most did NOT like having THEIR picture taken which we as crew thought to be hilarious!
See the second uploaded picture.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

OOPS!! I did no read the picture posting rules!! LOL!! Oh well - did now!! LOL!!

If you would like to see more pictures taken from INSIDE a locomotive (I promise they are better! LOL!!) then go here:

http://www.bakehead.co​m/Rail_Pics.html

Thanks,

Hillbille

Interesting collection. That's one tenacious barrel cactus! The view from your side is worth checking out.

Yes I saw that bad boy grow over several years. What a set of roots! LOL!! I just thought some people might like to see what the view is like on the inside looking out.


Hillbille

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks rjevang24 and PhotosGuy.

I took the pictures using a p and s (early ones were taken with a Casio) Canon from the engineer's seat. I'll updat the photo page if I find more pictures that will interest outsiders. A LOT of the pictures I took while on the road were of fellow workers. We shared them on our more or less private site and I do not have any waivers. Not really important to me to post others pictures anyway.

Hillbille

That secons shot looks like a sweet location with a nice clean look to shoot. And it looks like a model railroad to a small degree.

Sweet perspectives!

Have you seen the movie Unstoppable? I'm sure you have.. I was curious.. does it matter whether or not the locomotive is traveling "backwards", in terms of speed of travel? They seemed to have emphasized it more than once during the movie.

I have not seen that movie. No it really does not matter the direction a locomotive travels. Tractive effort will be constant regardless or direction. I have found Hollywood's depiction extremely FAR from the truth and reality of actually doing the job. Sorry.


Hillbille

ATF wrote in post #11345351
I was curious.. does it matter whether or not the locomotive is traveling "backwards", in terms of speed of travel? They seemed to have emphasized it more than once during the movie.

I think because when it travels backwards with "long nose forward" that trying to determine distance to the car they wanted to couple to was going to be more difficult.

Plus how else do they add drama to the movie?

That was my assumption the whole time. Especially after seeing many locomotives being hooked up backwards, or some passenger lines where they don't have the luxury of turning the whole train around.

They seemed to have insinuated that traveling at a high rate of speed going "backwards" was unheard of. So my only concern was perhaps some kind of weight distribution would make this a bit more dangerous.

All my friends just gave me a look when I argued this. Oh well.

Thanks for posting these. Looks like a face on the large rock in the second photo.

tomd wrote in post #11345609
Thanks for posting these. Looks like a face on the large rock in the second photo.

This particular place is just outside of Kingman, AZ. and yes you might see several images in the rock formations! There are several other locations with rock formations that bear a resemblance to indians. A Chief in full headdress and a warrior on horseback may be seen entering a place known as Crozier Canyon. They are always there but only a few can actually "see" them and they are difficult to capture on "film" on in a picture.

Hillbille

Really enjoyed these images from the "driver's" seat. Great narrative too. I think we would all like to see many more. Nicely done, and thanks for sharing them.