Passenger Trains > Amtrak AEM-7 #935 backlit at Marcus Hook, PA

After catching up with W&W's 4-4-0 #98, I figured I'd try to
catch a few Amtrak Corridor trains on the way back home.

I've always enjoyed shooting at Marcus Hook, PA using the
refineries as a backdrop. Well - typical Saturday traffic,
I watched the sun go pretty much from one side of the track
to another almost free of trains accept for AEM-7 #935 which
charged east at 5 PM.

Interesting note - a refinery that I had used as a backdrop 3
years ago (second image) is no longer - just a flat plot of
dirt.

/Mitch

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That second shot looks like a company advertisement. Nice work!

PQM

I'm still amazed at the "before and after" with the refinery. When I was there
with you and you showed me this, it was, and still stunning. Very nice images.

JWR

And the steel mill just a mile or 2 south is silent too. Nice work for a blah day.

Tominde Wrote:
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> And the steel mill just a mile or 2 south is
> silent too. Nice work for a blah day.


Actually, this was Saturday and it was a pretty
nice day. There were lots of other shots to be
had when the sun was both to the right and left
of the tracks but Amtrak's Saturday schedule is
quite sparse.

Here's a shot where the refinery stood as seen
last week for comparison.

John - you might take the chance to add the
photos you took of the switchers from that
closed steel plant!

/Mitch

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I really like that first shot, good catch.
JB

In the spring of 1979 I had an occasion to shoot on the NEC. I was on a 3-day visit to the NYC area and I spent a whole afternoon at Elizabeth, NJ, with visits to a couple of other random spots. I made another trip east in 1980 to South Carolina, an during the transit to & fro I got some shooting time in at both Washington DC & Wilmington, DE. After those 2 visits I was utterly fascinated by the electric aspect of railroading on the NEC, from both sheer historical & down-to-earth hardware aspects. For lack of proper electric terminology I'll just call it "the wires". But I was also a little frustrated at not being able to get more creative with action photography. I came home with the feeling of awe at what I had [finally] seen in person, but I was secretly glad I didn't have to put up with "the wires" on a regular basis. I've never been afraid to point my camera in any direction at any time, night or day. But those dern "wires" would have been a great nemesis to me.

And here you come with 2 MORE killer shots, using my 'nemesis' to full advantage. I couldn't wait to download your images, and add them to a small army of some of your past images. You have a great eye & a great talent in turning an adverse photographic challenge into top-notch imagery. #1 is a slam-dunk IOTD! And I'll be sorely disappointed if it's not...

Lance

Your first shot is superb, everything about it is spot on! Well done!

KC

Lol - you get it. All those wires - and worse, the catenary poles and the shadows - shadows every
where. Yes, I envy those off the Corridor and even more so - those out West where you can take
pictures past sunset without worrying about shadows intersecting and covering both engine and
tracks! But there are certainly opportunities to be had like no where else.

Thanks, Lance!

Thanks everyone. And John, still waiting for those switcher pics!

/Mitch