So here's my sad story, in pictures.
Have "The Talk" with the boss around 2:00. "Hey, I'm pretty much wrapped up, I'm going to slip out a little early." I've convinced him to try Amtrak to NY for a trip next month, so he knows I'm into trains, so I tell him I'm off to shoot a brand new locomotive. He wishes me luck.
3:00: Time to head out. It's sunny, warm (mid-40's at least), and I'm rolling out early on a Friday to shoot some trains. All is well in the world.
3:15: I arrive at the station, and line up on the northbound platform, which is where I usually shoot from. The s/b platform has crappy sight lines and generally sucks for photography. Checking the schedule, I see a northbound MARC train is due in at 3:51 and projected to be on time. Crap. 171 is due out of BWI at 3:44. 5 minutes or so to get here, and running a couple minutes late puts the MARC train in the station blocking my view at the expected time of 171. If I go all the way to the North end of the platform, I can be in front of the train as it stops, but once it starts to leave, I'm screwed for about 1 minute while the train rolls by.
I decide to take the other platform and the certain shot (even if it is a crappy one) over the risk of missing it. As I'm leaving to cross under the tracks, I see another guy with a camera showing up. As I'm walking towards the stairs to cross under the tracks, we get the first action of the day. First in the chute is Acela Express 2170. Engineer gives a friendly toot on the horn, I get a passable (if boring) shot. ISO on the camera is too high (the high shutter speed is why the LED sign looks messed up), this is why you show up early and throw some test shots. This is looking south towards Washington:
ACS-64_FAIL_8 by
Ryan Stavely, on Flickr
I get over to the other side, and quickly remember why I never shoot there. It sucks. Decide to go back to the good side and risk it.
Once one the other side, fellow rail fan is setting up 20 yards further south than I like to shoot. If I go to my preferred spot, I'm going to be right in my shot. Since I left, he was there "first" and I lost my shot. Hang out with him and talk trains for a bit. We both talk about how nervous we are that the MARC train is going to ruin our shot.
While we're talking, it becomes Train Time in Odenton. 6 trains in 15 minutes. Normally I'd be thrilled.
3:37: First of the bunch is MARC 537, making it's express run to DC. This is pretty much the shot of 171 that I'm looking for.
ACS-64_FAIL_7 by
Ryan Stavely, on Flickr
3:44: Next up is a deadhead MARC - this is a Camden line train set that leaves DC a little after 2 and makes a revenue trip to Baltimore, then deadheads back to DC to make a Camden line run. Again, this is where 171 is going to be in a few minutes. At this point the observant reader will notice the two tracks between the train and I. Tracks that can (and will!) be filled with trains.
ACS-64_FAIL_6 by
Ryan Stavely, on Flickr
3:47: Not 3 minutes later, other guy and I are looking both ways. 171 left BWI on time 3 minutes ago. Who is going to show up first? MARC, or the good stuff? Seeing a light to the south, we're disappointed, then realize "Hey, that's on 2 track! Moar Amtrak?!?". Welcome regional 134 to the party. At least I get a good AEM-7 shout out of the day.
ACS-64_FAIL_5 by
Ryan Stavely, on Flickr
:giggle:
