Railfan Technology > What Do You Bring Trackside?

Just thought this would be a nice thread to start and see what everyone brings to go railfanning. Here is my list of things...

Sony HDR CX220
Magnus VT 3000 Fluid Head Tripod
Canon T2i with additional lenses
Phone to stream ATCS from my house
Yaesu FT-270R
Smiley 5/8 Wave antenna tuned to 160 MHz
Mag Mount antenna when sitting in the car tuned to 160 MHz

That is all for me, would like to see what you guys bring too.

Mark

Some Nikon (D200 or more often D600) and a lens or two; usually zooms; the 80-200 f2.8 is the cat's meow, the 28-70 f2.8 for close work, and the 24-120 f3.5-5.6 if I'm feeling lazy and lucky ;-) The D200 is a fine camera in bright light and iso 200-400. A polarizing filter begins to sap its quality due to the necessary bump in iso to keep shutter speeds reasonable.

Manfrotto 681B monopod, and less likely Manfrotto tripod and head; the monopod usually does it for me; I've used a stabilizing platform for over 50 years.

7x10 nikon field glasses

Icom IC-V82

More patience than Job.

John.

I usually bring

Canon Vixia HF R500 camcorder
Canon 6D DSLR with 24-105 lens
Tripod for camcorder
Baofeng UV5R+ radio
Any snacks/drinks that will get me through the day
And my phone to help keep track of anything special that may be coming

My Nikon D7000 with 18-105mm or my 55-300mm lens.
Icom 5061 F3161 or Yaesu FT-250
Snacks water and my phone

Too much crap....

- Nikon D700 w/ 24-70mm f2.8 ED lens, and a 28-300 f3.5.
- 22 PocketWizard radios (mix of Plus II's, Plus III's and a Multimax)
- 17 Lumopro Flashes (mix of 160's and 180's)
- ZIPLOC Freezer bags to protect lighting from rain
- 20 light stands
- Yaesu FT-270R
- LED headlamps
- A 12 foot collapsible stepladder

That's all the stuff that comes to mind right now, I'm sure there's other stuff that escapes my present recollection.

Interesting thread!

An axe, shovel and bucket, longtime USFS requirements for back roads travel. Stay hydrated as well.

Then there are common camera, scanner and smart phone devices.

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

Besides the required cameras, scanners? Coffee and an assortment of Little Debbie snacks! Oatmeal cream pies preferably.

in addition to railfan supplies, a good book........

66

Obviously a good guardrail fanning day will require one set of supplies, but a day fanning in remote or less densely populated areas do require a differing approach to what to bring. But for the average area with fast food options, I'll stick with something less than full blown provisions. Your mileage may vary.

Has any one mentioned a sickle? A simple garden backyard tool that along with that small handsaw makes a good location even better. Grab one if you ever see one at a garage sale or estate sale.

Bug spray? It's that time of the year and pre-treating ankles with repellent like Off keeps not only Mosquitos away but chiggers too. You really don't want chigger bites.

An AC inverter for the car? You know to keep the devices and batteries charged? Add the power strip too.

Field support? Who do you know that's in the know about movements or equipment such that your c phone is a link to getting info your decides or other intel hasn't revealed? Just because your best fanning pals aren't with you doesn't mean you are in the dark other than what your local intel tells (or fails to tell)l.let me know your whereabouts and enlist their help..

Chico

following are in the car all the time:
D800E and D600, 80-400 for the D800E, 24-120 for the D600
50 mm f1.8, 85 mm f1.4, 1.8 tele converter
Gitzo monopod
Gitzo tripod, with a Gitzo head for cameras, and a fluid head for video
machette
tree limb pruner
mobile HAM radio, handi-talkie ham radio
laptop for ATCS (powered by inverter)
iPad for web and games
cell phone
Sprint hotspot
various clothing items, hats, jackets, sweatshirts depending on season
44oz Sheetz plastic mug (normally filled with 50% McD sweet tea).

on special occasions, also carried are:
24 volt electric mower (for use at Shen)
Echo gas line trimmer w/ .155 line (too large for cutting grass, but hell on weeds)
3-step ladder
various flash units, light stands and pocket wizards (for flash D800E is used w/ 24-120).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/14 19:53 by ddavies.

One constant for almost 50 years, my dog whenever I can.

Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/14 20:18 by robj.

It varies but, if using a car...
Nikon D5000 with a fixed 35mm lens and a 55-200mm lens.
Yaesu 150 Scanner.
Tripod, I usually buy cheap tripods.
Delorme Atlas for whatever states I'm in.
Map for any unknown city.
Copied pages of Employee Timetables if I have them for the railway I'm looking at.
These sometimes
Steam Powered Video Atlas if I have one for the state I am in.
Cooler with water or juice and sometimes sandwiches.

If using public transit the camera stuff stays the same. If needed I have a smaller tripod that fits into the canvas shopping bag that I keep my camera stuff in. I may take some maps but leave the big Delormes at home.

I do not have or use a smart phone of any kind for railfanning but sometimes I do take the laptop if I am using the car.

Jim

Just me. I keep it simple.

I agree with ATSF above. When in the States, I keep it simple.
One camera.
Two lenses.
One tripod.
One scanner.
Appropriate DeLorme atlases.

Some of these guys seem to have a mobile Radio Shack on wheels -
what happened to the days of simply taking a photo with a camera??
chris uk.

According to my Wife ---- EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink!

Depending on the anticipated duration of the trip -------
Sony a99, Tamron 28-300, Tamron 28-75 f 2.8, Sony 70-400"G"
Sony a700, Tamron 17-270
Bogen tripod & a Bogen mono-pod
Spare batteries and charger, DC to AC power inverter (I have 2)
A big camera bag with all kinds of stuff in it
Two-way GMRS radios (if I'm railfanning with someone else)
FT-270R, remote speaker/mic and tuned Diamond "rubber duckie" and mag mount on the roof
Sweatshirt, long sleeve shirt and a jacket.
Water (lots!) juices, small gas grill and disposable foil pans, canned chilli, soup, beans etc. 2 steaks, refried beans & tortillas and adult beverages (sometimes) Spam, canned fruit, jerky, sandwiches, crackers & squirt cheese, condiments (Daddy always told me not to leave the house without condiments but I never could figure out how to put a bottle of Ketchup in my wallet!) (this is way more stuff than I need, I usually bring home more than I eat on the trip)
plastic throw-way plates, bowls, silverware
Maps (DeLorme Atlases), copies of RR employee TTs, railfan TTs, handheld GPS, laptop with GPS receiver, tablet, cellphone, binoculars
A 3-ring binder with train pictures to show curious law enforcement officers

I think that I'm forgetting something, I'm old, I forget s**t! I tell my Wife that I take everything that is important to me in case I come home & find out that She has changed the locks!!

Old Bob out in Lost Wages



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/14 16:41 by chuchubobnv.

I don't railfan nearly as much as I did in my single days, but when I do railfan, first item I take is my almost 5yr old son. He would be SUPER upset with me if I went off "looking for trains" without him. He's a good railfan and traveller, thankfully.
Aside from that, it's all just stuff, and I try really hard to keep it light. I pixelate with an ancient Cannon Rebel xt. Lensed with a 19-35mm superwide lens or a 100-300 tele lenses are enough for me. Manfrotto Tripod hangs out in the back of the car but Usually don't get it out, along with a large array of delorme atlases. I suppose I could use a Garmin, but I"m a luddite that enjoys map reading. Finally, I bring my railroad handheld radio, a Kenwood NX-200. It's been a great railfan radio, but they're not that great if you are an actual railroader...not as rugged as Motorola's...but anyhow, the Kenwood's got amazing battery life.
What I've discovered along the way is that for me railfanning with my son is less about the trains, and more about those moments spent with him.
I've also learned that any run-of-the-mill boring GE on another boring manifest is still worthy of my son screaming "TRAIN" as soon as he hears it...It's perspective changing, that's for sure...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/14 17:22 by DrLoco.

Canon XL2 with two lenses
Scanner
iPad streaming ATCS from
Home
Extra tape
Money
Hydrating fluids and
Someone to play with during
Those none train times.

Posted from iPhone

You guys seemed to forget the major essential, Toilet Paper!!!!!!!!!

tchowee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You guys seemed to forget the major essential,
> Toilet Paper!!!!!!!!!

And a 5 gallon bucket!!!!

If you carry one of those US Army entrenchment tools you don't need the bucket and can leave the biologicals and TP in recycle mode when you go.

I think I saw your rig on the 4014 chase near Caliente, NV you have room for the full port a potty in the back end.

Would have stopped to introduce myself but we were sort of moving different directions.


chuchubobnv Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tchowee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You guys seemed to forget the major essential,
> > Toilet Paper!!!!!!!!!
>
> And a 5 gallon bucket!!!!

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7