Fuji X-Ploits; Black and White 4; Chasing a Steam Locomotive!

X-T1, 10-24mm lens @ 15.9mm; 1/1000th sec. @ f/11; ISO 640; (click to enlarge)
Just east of Blackstone Virginia

Everyone who knows me well knows that I really enjoy being around steam locomotives. Anytime I can be around or even chase a steam locomotive, there is little doubt that I will. The Norfolk and Western J Class # 611 steam locomotive, built in Norfolk and Western's own shops in Roanoke Virginia (1950) spent the past 12 months undergoing a complete restoration in Spencer Shops in North Carolina.  A limited number of excursions were scheduled for this summer and I suspect many more will be scheduled later this year as well as future years.

55-200mm lens @ 77.9mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/10; ISO 640 (click to enlarge)
The 611 coming through Pamplin City Virginia.

When I received the excursion schedule, I knew that I would, at the very least, set out to photograph her on one of them.  These images were made on the weekend the locomotive traveled between Lynchburg Virginia and Petersburg Virginia.

55-200mm lens @ 77.9mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/10; ISO 640 (click to enlarge)
Again, in Pamplin City, but with the locomotive up close.

I left my home at 4:55 a.m. to drive the 2 1/2 hours to Pamplin City, Virginia, a very small enclave of abandoned buildings and a few homes.  When I arrived, there were only three others there to see the train.  I set up two tripods and two cameras to get the exact image I envisioned.  Then we waited.  Luckily there were some other photographers nearby and we engaged in some light conversation to help pass the time.  By the time the train arrived, there were about 25 adults and several children present, with most taking photographs.  I'm glad parents brought their children so they could see and appreciate such an historic sight.

The locomotive with its excursion train was supposed to come through Pamplin at about 8:10 a.m.  That time came and went with no train.  It finally arrived about an hour late. That is pretty much par for the course for a steam excursion service, in my past experience.  In the past 30 or so years photographing trains, I have spent many hours, camera on tripod, waiting patiently for the train to arrive to get just the right image.

After the train came through, everyone quickly took off out of the area, most chasing the train east.  I slowly packed up my gear, letting the sight, sound and smell of that steam locomotive sink in.  I then drove just east of Blackstone Virginia where I had previously scouted a straight-a-way to capture the entire train with the sun behind me.  See the top photo.

I felt I could make one last image and that would be at Sutherland Virginia, which was simply an overpass.  Again, I drove east.  When I arrived at the overpass, there were 7 or 8 individuals all standing and waiting.  I nudged into line and waited, camera in hand.  No room for a tripod when arriving that late–only about 5 minutes before the locomotive arrived.  The man next to me was holding up his iPad and practicing framing his shot.  For this image, I had my Nikon D810 since I couldn't use both cameras.  That image is below. This view used to be a wonderful S-curve 25 years ago, but as you can see, the trees have fully blocked the track and curve in the background.  But it was a different point of view from the other images, which was my point in being there.

Since this image was not made with my X-T1 and I have entitled this post "Fuji X-Ploits—Black and White,"  I have left it in color—as sort of a bonus.

D810, 24-120mm @ 48mm; 1/1000th sec. @ f/8;
ISO400

Two weeks prior, I had previously scouted out the entire route the train would take because I hadn't been along that way to photograph trains in many years.  It was good that I did as many places from which I used to photograph were either grown over or wires now blocked a clear view of the tracks.  Lesson to be learned?  Scout for your images so you won't be disappointed when you have no time to waste finding just the right place.

Again, I am pleased with how the X-T1 renders black and white in my images.  Nicely done, Fujifilm.

I end this post by reiterating how much I love the sight, sound, smell and thundering feel of steam locomotives.  There is nothing else quite like them.

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly. I've just added a gallery featuring all M4/3 images.  Soon, I will be adding a gallery of all Fuji X-Trans images. Thank you.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook

All content on this blog is © 2013-2015 Dennis A. Mook.  All Rights Reserved.  Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution.  Permission may be granted for commercial use.  Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.