Western Railroad Discussion > As Golden as it Gets

I was watching some of my videos on YouTube when I came up on a video that I shot when I went to the Friday of Railfest in 2012. Since Railfest is coming up here in a few weeks, I figured I'd post some of the pictures of the video and shortly after.

I was a senior at Hastings College in Hastings, NE, and our new president was being inaugurated the Friday afternoon of Railfest, meaning there would be no classes and no sports activities after 11:00 AM. I had classes on Fridays at 9, 11, and 1, so I was done at 10:00. With TO member "rugbytown" over from England (along with a friend, both of whom I had met before), I decided that was worth it to make the 2-hour trip for the afternoon, as I wouldn't be able to either of the other days.

After getting dinner at Whiskey Creek Wood Fired Grill (recommended for those going to Railfest this year!), we headed to a dirt crossing just east of Hershey. We saw several trains before they took off for Cheyenne to do Sherman Hill the next day. Meanwhile, I stayed.

Picture 1: Less than 10 minutes after they left, I saw a westbound stack train leaving Bailey Yard. I set up for it as it went roaring by. Power was UP 7377, UP 5103, and UP 4335.
Picture 2: The WB went blasting by me, then came to a dead stop. I could hear an eastbound coming, and it turned out to be a stack train as well! Power for this one was UP 7904, UP 3977, and UP 9621.
Picture 3: The WB had started pulling shortly before I took picture #2, and the DPUs nearly passed right in front of me. On the westbound was UP 7680, and on the eastbound was UP 8422.
~wko

I don't have the video file that I uploaded to YouTube, as I did it on a school computer and forgot to transfer it home before graduating, so I can't post it directly here. To view it, go to YouTube and search for "UP action near sunset - Hershey, NE"



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/14 22:35 by kwo.

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After it quieted down, the sunset just continued to get better and better! Unfortunately for me, nothing showed up! ARGH! However, it still made for some dramatic photos, including #5, which is one of my favorite shots I've ever taken.
~wko - can you see why I wanted a train?

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I waited until sunset for a train, then decided to head into town for the free movie in the park that was offered ("The Lorax" for anyone wondering). As I was packing everything into my car, I could hear an eastbound blowing for Hershey! I got everything back out and was able to get it going by. It was a coal load with UP 6821 and another AC4400 on the front and another AC4400 as the DPU. I'm uploading 2 shots because to this day I still can't determine which one I like better! The fog had even started rolling in from the South Platter River, about 1/2 mile south of here.

Anywho, that was how my Railfest Friday ended. Sure is a good way to end a day! To anybody going to Railfest this year, I highly recommend doing something at sunset if weather permits! If nothing else, you'll get to enjoy a nice evening outside.

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed!
~wko
http://kotrains.wordpress.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/31/14 22:41 by kwo.

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Nice! Better light than what I had this evening.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

It just goes to show you don't always need a train to make a great shot! You have 8 knock-out images here, most of which are IOTD candidates! To my eye your shots #4 & #5 are perfect without trains. (Of course, we sure wouldn't turn down shooting a train, would we... ;^)

A+ all the way around!!!

Lance

Nice shots!

All of those are fantastic photos. While you didn't get a train in #5, it is still amazing. And I really like #2.

Nathan

Outstanding.
JB

GREAT pics!!! Thanks for sharing.

Loved the photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the kind words, all!

santafe199 Wrote:
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> <SNIP> To my eye
> your shots #4 & #5 are perfect without trains. <SNIP>

I agree, a good scene is a good scene, with or without a train! Just need to drop a train in to give us that rush!
~wko

wonderful shots and story. thx for sharing. Cool how the fog came in and added that extra something to an already very special scene. Terrific.

Gorgeous pictures.
John

The meet is nice, but for me the grand topper is the last one! Great shots all.

John.

Great series and congrats on IOTD, thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

Sick shots Kirk!

Wow!!
Jim