Why wait for another train when the weather turns bad? Well, because every once and a while you just get lucky. Like in Ancy-sur-Moselle on April 17, 2024, at 16:12. One hole in the massive rain clouds lit the tracks at the exact right time. Continue reading One hole is all you need
Last Saturday, we got some spectacular weather conditions in Flanders. Huge rainclouds, alternated by blue sky. Much possibilities for the light to be not that great, so I had to hope for good timing. Fortunately, there was more freight traffic than usual near my home town due to detours, increasing my chances. The first photo I made was bang on. I had to hold on … Continue reading The sunny escape
Backlight is perfect for the last shots of the day, with low sun. Like the day before, we ended up standing above a viaduct, with the sun in front of us. The hike up here and the view were how I like them best: steep and scenic. The bench made for a comfortable wait. Continue reading Backlight on a bridge 2
In our search of sunlight and snow, we ended back up on the north side of the Gotthard pass. The viaduct at Amsteg would get some of the latest winter light. It is located high above the small town. When the train exits a tunnel it enters the bridge immediately. Check out this alternative view: it shows it more clearly, from the other side. For … Continue reading High up there
Still waiting for the next Eurocity, we ended up in Baranzy. I had seen photos at this location before, from the other direction. It turned out to be nice for northbound trains as well. My little secret: at the Delhaize grocery store closeby, you’re likely to find full crates of Orval beer 😉 Continue reading Grocery shopping
For our final shots, we crossed the Truckee River and climbed up a slope on the other side of the valley. The slope was close to a golf terrain: we found balls all over the place. So, hoping not to be hit by a lost golf ball, we set up our gear, hoping to see one more train before heading back home. We were lucky: … Continue reading Lost golf balls
A view on Palisade Canyon. On the right of the Humboldt river the eastbound train from the previous shot can still be seen, while a westbound, loaded, coal train is approaching Palisade ghost town. Continue reading The canyon
Up to the next memorable photo moments. After a doughnut stop close to Salt Lake City, we headed towards the Great Salt Lake. The last part of the journey was a more than 20km long road straight through the dry wilderness. We met no living soul on the road and silence was extraordinary. Continue reading Straight to the Great Salt Lake
We spent the night at a shabby motel in Helper, Utah – it’s good location was the selling argument. On the morning of june 2nd, we only needed a short ride up Price River Canyon to Colton to witness the sunrise. We underestimated the temperature at this altitude though: shorts are not the recommended clothing when it’s -literally- freezing outside! We knew a passenger train … Continue reading Standing the cold
After the unvoluntary chase we agreed to call the evening a success. And still it wasn’t over. The coal train had taken so much time climbing up the hill, that another train was following right behind. Moments like this are a strong contrast to those days where nothing seems to work. I guess you need some of both, although I prefer when things do work … Continue reading Not over yet
Railscapes 