Steam & Excursion > The challenge of Phantom Curve on the C&TS

Phantom Curve on the C&TS is one of the most scenic spots on the railroad and also one of the most challenging to photograph well.  The rock formations just cry out for early morning or late afternoon shadows.  But it is isolated, difficult to reach by other than train, the trains are rarely there when the light is good, and even if sun is in the right place the clouds often get in the way.  But it is a place where ingenuity and patience might just get rewarded with a gangbusters image of steam railroading in a wonderful western America setting. I'm not there yet, but here are three of my images, mostly with the light not quite right.

JBWX

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They all look fine....

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> They all look fine....

Especially #1. I  don't know how you could possibly get better light than that!  

Bob

Excellent!
Bob

Looks like you had a good time in the Rockies snapping the action.  Great shots.

2 is certainly a keeper on its own.

Great work, thank you John

Thanks for the kind remarks.  The first image has good light, but shooting a westbound at that location doesn't really show off the rock formations.  I think the better spot is for an eastbound as shown in the second two pix.....but in the posted pix the afternoon clounds muddied the shadows and colors so getting what I got took some Photoshop work to brighten up.  This fourth image is my favorite since a hole in the clouds provided some reasonably bright sun on the rocks, but still left the train in the shadows.  The gangbusters image would be something like this with really good late afternoon sun.  But getting a train there at the right time, and getting  Mother Nature to cooperate is tough. I admit, I'm a bit obsessed by this.

JBWX   

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/26 23:15 by jbwest.

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I think that somewhere between photo number three and this one might be better - like with the pilot just at or slightly past the evergreen on the left. 

Gorgeous country and volcanic rock formations--a geologist's dream!

they run geologic special train once a year and dark sky special too once a year

Congratulations on #1 for IOTD.  Well deserved.
My preference is #3.  In that scene, the locomotive was the #1 priority, and the scenery was second (but excellent at the same time).

 

What you really need is a thunderstorm. 

Awesome photos all.  I take it this was a photography excursion (on/off, multiple run bys, etc?) If so may I ask when and with who.  Thanks. (Just awesome photos again...)
 

I can see where a chainsaw would make things a bit easier to photograph. Good effort so far. I have a laundry list of places I want to get back for photos in better conditions, but that list seems to keep growing instead of shrinking.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

a drone could help if you think a chainsaw is  needed

funnelfan Wrote:
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> I can see where a chainsaw would make things a bit
> easier to photograph. 

This is what it might look like after the chainsaw, from the Denver Public Library.

JBWX



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/26 10:22 by jbwest.

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Awesome stuff!

Posted from iPhone

Very nice..!!