Canadian Railroads > CP 8454

(Photographer unknown) CP 8454 is in Toronto, Ontario on January 25, 1969.
Bob

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Nice shot of a genuine antique !

Every time I see images of old engines like that they always seem to have so much
character and individuality.  One has to wonder if we'll feel the same way about the
current crop of engines in 50 years time?

I have only taken only a few train pics in the last few years because, to me at least,
all the new engines look the same and sound the same.  They're uninteresting, dull
and rather soulless in my opinion,,,

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC

Still looks sharp, and the mixed trucks would be a neat modelling touch. Leased B&LE F in the background, too!
Fred

LKeithR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Every time I see images of old engines like that
> they always seem to have so much
> character and individuality.  One has to wonder
> if we'll feel the same way about the
> current crop of engines in 50 years time?
>
> I have only taken only a few train pics in the
> last few years because, to me at least,
> all the new engines look the same and sound the
> same.  They're uninteresting, dull
> and rather soulless in my opinion,,,

I don't disagree, but a different perspective could be this - unlike the days when you'd be worried that setting up for an unusual angle would cost you a good shot of interesting power, you're now free to be as unconventional as you like. There are still a few oddities around, like 'Heritage' schemes, but otherwise, have at it. I found this to be true shooting GO trains in the late 70s. There were no surprises in the power, so I took some risks on some photos I really like, as I look back on them.
Fred

feclark Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't disagree, but a different perspective
> could be this - unlike the days when you'd be
> worried that setting up for an unusual angle would
> cost you a good shot of interesting power, you're
> now free to be as unconventional as you like.
> There are still a few oddities around, like
> 'Heritage' schemes, but otherwise, have at it. I
> found this to be true shooting GO trains in the
> late 70s. There were no surprises in the power, so
> I took some risks on some photos I really like, as
> I look back on them.
> Fred

A valid point.  Fortunately (I guess)  I was never constrained by the need to have a perfect
roster shot of every locomotive.  I always thought that catching trains in slightly unusual poses
or shooting them in dirty grungy locations with wires and other junk intruding on the image
was more interesting than just plain roster shots.  I'm not a "collector" in the sense that I don't
keep track of what I have and haven't shot; I just like interesting pictures of engines and trains
in all sorts of locations.

I enjoy trainwathing now just as much as I ever did but I spend a lot more time just "watching"
and a lot less time taking pictures.  With the internet so prevalent these days I never worry
about missing something because I know that images and videos will show up (often within
hours) of anything special that happens to be on the move.

As I mentioned in my original post it will be interesting to see what people think of the current
motive power in years to come.  I can remember a time when a lot of us got pretty bored with
SD40-2s...LOL

Keith Robertson
Langley, BC

LKeithR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> feclark Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't disagree, but a different perspective
> > could be this - unlike the days when you'd be
> > worried that setting up for an unusual angle
> would
> > cost you a good shot of interesting power,
> you're
> > now free to be as unconventional as you like.
> > There are still a few oddities around, like
> > 'Heritage' schemes, but otherwise, have at it.
> I
> > found this to be true shooting GO trains in the
> > late 70s. There were no surprises in the power,
> so
> > I took some risks on some photos I really like,
> as
> > I look back on them.
> > Fred
>
> A valid point.  Fortunately (I guess)  I was
> never constrained by the need to have a perfect
> roster shot of every locomotive.  I always
> thought that catching trains in slightly unusual
> poses
> or shooting them in dirty grungy locations with
> wires and other junk intruding on the image
> was more interesting than just plain roster
> shots.  I'm not a "collector" in the sense that I
> don't
> keep track of what I have and haven't shot; I just
> like interesting pictures of engines and trains
> in all sorts of locations.
>
> I enjoy trainwathing now just as much as I ever
> did but I spend a lot more time just "watching"
> and a lot less time taking pictures.  With the
> internet so prevalent these days I never worry
> about missing something because I know that images
> and videos will show up (often within
> hours) of anything special that happens to be on
> the move.
>
> As I mentioned in my original post it will be
> interesting to see what people think of the
> current
> motive power in years to come.  I can remember a
> time when a lot of us got pretty bored with
> SD40-2s...LOL

Your point about the internet is a great one. Someone has shot it and everyone who cares to can see it. I used to shoot spare slides, mostly roster shots, for trading, but that's long gone (not just the K64, but the trading aspect). I may be tired of seeing the GEs, but I must say the sound of them hauling a coal train around Notch Hill the first time I was there was awesome, same for a loaded stack train passing under the TCH between the Spiral Tunnels. We love trains, right, however we choose to indulge our passion.
Fred