BNSF at Plattsburgh!

Tonight marked the return of the BNSF pair on train 930 and I knew of course, where I wanted to shoot them.............passing the photogenic ex-D&H station in Plattsburgh, NY! Tonight I arrive on location with lots of time to spare, and end up waiting within the warm car, confident I will hear CN 528 calling for permission on the Rouses Point delivery track. This will allow me plenty of time to set-up the lighting as running time down to Plattsburgh is forty five min. after U.S. Customs scans the train. Amid much anticipation, 528s conductor calls for permission finally around 02:30 and I happily get to work setting up the lighting. The slip-on “ice grabbers” I mentioned previously which fit like “galoshes” over my winter boots are the only reason I can move around in here, as the snow is actually a hardened sheet of thick ice with powder underneath! Nothing I want to stroll around on without the help of “ice grabbers”. Once the lights are working, it’s back into the warm car for me as I listen for the departing 930 passing one of two detectors north of my location here. Around 03:45 930 is heard passing the first detector, then the second one north of Plattsburgh signals me I have seven minutes before I can expect them to be in front of the camera! With the stepladder all positioned this is plenty of time to get set, the opposite of the previous night where I had seconds of time to get the image before me! The detector reports a temp of ten above, kinda warm! lol! Silently, magically, it starts snowing! Even better, large flakes that will show up in the photo! Catching snow against the black sky adds a lot of my winter photos! Regardless of conditions, I’m a happy night train photographer listening to 930 whistling over grade crossings coming toward me through the city! Finally headlights are in sight, and engineer Robert Dennis with conductor Chris Walsh come around the curve and past the station! BNSF power at Plattsburgh! What a combination! The flash units light the pair of colorful visitors up for a moment, then they are advancing towards me to pass on my left as I give the cab a wave. Nice run-by guys! Thanks for being here with 930! Only 92 axles at the scanner! So I was grateful CN found some cars to operate the train with! lol! Minutes after the passing of 930, I'm standing around admiring the location when I realize.........the large flakes of snow......they've stopped. I don’t know, someone was looking out for me tonight providing this snow! Shot on February 4, 2014 at 04:27! Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

 

All The Best in 2014;

Gary Knapp