Western Railroad Discussion > Rain, snow, fog, flood, Oh my! Weather contest entries

1. A westbound CP train follows the mainline along the north shore of Lake Superior during an all day rain. The steady rain has created impromtu waterfalls along the rock cuts which pour down next to the tracks.

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2. DM&IR 164 is seen working on the Wisconsin Central. Over Christmas the train layed over at the end of the L'Anse Sub and by the time they returned the day after there was a new 1-2 feet of snow on the line.

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3. Exempt crossings along the now gone Kettle Moraine Railway in Wisconsin meant flagging each one no matter what the weather dished out. The flagman on this day worked amidst a steady rain in a classic pose with a backdrop of classic equipment.

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4. The BNSF local working north out of LaCrosse kicks up a ground blizzard as it speeds along westward near Winona Jct., WI.

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5. A few months later and a few miles down the line the scene has completely changed. The snow has turned to water and the nearby Mississippi has left its banks. The conductor keeps watch as the engineer eases the 8020 west along flooded rails at Fountain City.

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6. A winters evening decends as WC 3017 approaches Ishpeming, MI from the east. Good snow cover can extend a short winter day of photography by a couple minutes if you're into the "moody" stuff.

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7. The days weather accumulates on the window of a U30C.

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8. Soo 6013 east emerges from a late winter squall of heavy wet snow along the ex-Milwaukee Road mainline west of Wisconsin Dells, WI. Thanks to approach lit signals for this one otherwise I'd never seen nor heard him coming.

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9. With cool air and relatively warm water in Lake Superior the fog was rolling off the big lake in waves this day. Here is an eastbound CP mainfest finding its way.

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10. During the slow season of winter, WC's Algoma Fs would travel into the US and haul freight. At Cooks, MI 1754, another F and an SDL39 make track speed through the snow going east toward Sault Ste. Marie, MI/ONT.

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11. One more. Bow waves are not normally associated with locomotives but on occaision... with train brakes applied, the power in run 3, and traction motor blowers in full roar this westbound is literally plowing river water under the watchful eye of a trainmaster parked on the eastbound track. Yes they did make it with no problems and got up to about 10mph through here once the locomotives reached higher ground.

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A very imaginative set of pictures taken under difficult waether conditions which ably demonstrates you dont always need sun to make a good picture, just cpntrast in the lighting of the subject.

John Turner

This series of photos is definitely the best I've seen here. The photos themselves are great but they tell even better stories. Great work!
-Alex

jalang Wrote:
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> This series of photos is definitely the best I've
> seen here. The photos themselves are great but
> they tell even better stories. Great work!
> -Alex


I'll second the motion.
Real nice.

-Mitch

Echo. This is good stuff.

I'll be the fourth or fifth to say this is the best set of photos I have seen in this contest to date. If there isn't a first place winner in there, I'll be shocked.

Very nice stuff.

Paul Birkholz
http://www.mtnwestrail.com

St.Croix334 Wrote:
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> 6. A winters evening decends as WC 3017 approaches
> Ishpeming, MI from the east. Good snow cover can
> extend a short winter day of photography by a
> couple minutes if you're into the "moody" stuff.

TRUE! Glad someone else noticed the snow effect on light! Can you tell I love snow?

Great stuff as always!

Dean, I live in northern MN and I was wondering if you had a more exact location where that first picture was taken. I wasn't aware that CP ran any trains along the north shore, or did you mean south shore?

Craig

Craig,
The two CP pictures were taken in Ontario Canada east of Thunder Bay. The CP mainline follows the extreme northern shore of the lake all the way to just beyond Marathon, Ont. From Thunder Bay going west the mainline goes away from the lake and remains in Canada. Sorry for any confusion.

cpn Wrote:
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> Dean, I live in northern MN and I was wondering if
> you had a more exact location where that first
> picture was taken. I wasn't aware that CP ran any
> trains along the north shore, or did you mean
> south shore?
>
> Craig

My fault, I just assumed you meant what we always call the "North Shore" around here, which is actually the northwest shore. I didn't even think it could have been in Canada. Thanks for the info.