The 600 with Rob Dennis

Rarely do “special dimensional” moves live up to expectations at night. For one thing, they usually run in daylight! LOL! Train 600 had been advertised for quite a while, amid the starts and cancellations of scheduling. High/wide moves are not unusual in the Albany area with the Port right there and GE nearby, but this train 600 was routed up the D&H North End! Very unusual. With the North End recently cleared of obstructions to operate all sizes of double stack containers, this special dimensional consist would not be a concern. But, the train kept being cancelled. Thursday night, it finally happened! And............ it operated at night behind a pair of SD 40-2s! Having made prior arrangements with Port Henrys Justice of the Peace, Brain Venne to open up the station in order to turn on the lights inside, I called Brian to inquire of my chances of getting this done tonight. Brian, to his credit, answered my request at 23:00.............”When will you be there?” I replied, one o’clock, and he said “okay”! Not only did this short conversation set in motion the treat of shooting the photogenic station with a working, active look to it, Brian himself also presented the opportunity to add the human element to the night photo, as he agreed to pose for me! Rarely, do night photos go as smoothly as tonights would. Arriving early at the station, I set up the lights outside while Brian turned them on inside! Finished with my lighting, I was checking out the views from the running boards of the RS-18 exhibited trackside while talking with Brian when the detector thirteen miles away to our south at Fort Ticonderoga went off, after its message of no defects, the crew acknowledged, identifying themselves as CP 600! I picked out my spot to shoot from on board the RS-18, then the lighting system attempted to entertain by two light stands collapsing on their own! It was a sound I was familiar with and visited the offenders to make adjustments, hoping at the same time this was not some “spirits” we had driven from the now lit up station interior idea of a joke! Quiet returned thankfully, and several minutes later we heard the faint air horn to our south announcing CP 600 at Burdicks Crossing. Still, we both were deceived as the pair of SD 40-2s drifted along the lakeside trackage into Port Henry! Knowing better than to wander away from the camera, I identified the low rumble, and Brian asked where I wanted him in the photo as the crossing signals went off just south of us confirming it was “train time” again! After a couple zig zags, Brian was good, and headlights were spotted through the trees! An awareness flash is fired off for the crew. Life is grand at moments such as this. Climbing up around the curve and past the station into position came a newly painted CP 5690 trailed by 5677 and the unique consist! I click away shooting the entire train as it passes. Not until after the dust settles, so to speak, do I notice the conductor Rob Dennis, returning Brians wave! Very nice! And the consist, check out those unique eight axle flat cars, with their springs depressed? Yes, I would say those modules are some heavy! The station, with its interior lit up compliments the passing train and Brian waving. Brain can be credited with playing a major role in obtaining the RS-18 1800 from CP to display here, then painted it! Shot in Port Henry, NY on March 30, 2012 at 01:57 with the 5D and Zeiss ZF 28/2 lens set at f2. Special thanks of course to the Honorable Brian Venne for his help! Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2012;

Gary Knapp