A tandem of York Railway GP15-1’s slowly glides back and forth as it works the NS interchange in York. Just as I got into position for this shot, a hole opened up in the clouds letting the sun light up the sides of the units. What can’t be captured in a photo is the amazing, deep bass, sound these units make. Photos are entertainment. Being there in person is an experience that you’ll remember forever.
Inertia: Objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion…or something to that effect. Probably like a lot of you I find it all too easy to let inertia set in and slip into a comfortable routine that’s neither unpleasant nor invigorating. I can grow roots in front of the computer and live my rail experience via social media, YouTube, and Google Streetview.
About a year ago, for whatever reason, I gave myself a kick in the ass, grabbed my camera, and pushed myself to get out in the field more often and so some rail fanning. I always feel so energized afterwards. There was no reason why I got out of it really, just slipping into a routine more than anything. The laws of inertia work both ways and once I got back into things it was pretty easy to keep it up.
Rail fanning, or just site visits, add such a positive dimension to the life experience. Photos only capture a sliver of being there in person. The way things actually look and feel when you’re out in the world is so much more encompassing. The sounds. The people you bump into.
I’m aware that by lucky circumstances I have opportunities that many do not. The Baltimore region is just loaded with shortline activity. It’s a community that embraces their industrial heritage and is very generous sharing information with strangers that are clearly interested. It’s also a landscape where you can get your photos and railside experience safely and unobtrusively from public property…including a Starbucks parking lot in one instance.
Earlier in the week I decided to play hooky from work and, with a little self-nudging, made the 90 minute drive up to York, PA. Catching a train is always hit and miss so I set my expectations low going in and hoped at best to get a few rail cars parked at industries.
At times I really think there are rail fan gods up in the sky that love to f$#@% with us and then roll over laughing about it. They’ll roll clouds in just as the perfect shot unfolds. They’ll roll trains by at the most inconvenient locations. They’ll send the trains in and out ten minutes before you arrive. But, every now and then, to hook you, to keep you coming back for more punishment, they’ll reward you.
The weather report for the York trip was “supposed” to be an amazing day with sunny skies. Not. I get up there and the clouds were pretty thick. The first location I picked was totally quiet so I did some walking. As soon as I got a few hundred yards down the track the rail-fan-god, court jesters, sprung their joke and rolled a train into the location I’d just been at but was now completely out of photo range. Next they peeled away the clouds. All well and good but I’m totally out of position. Fortunately, the job was coming in to do some slow switching of the NS interchange with back and forth moves that would last over a good hour. Pay dirt!
I hit a few more industrial spots and then went into town for an ice cold IPA and burger. Life doesn’t get much better than that! The other thing I’ve found is that pushing myself to get out and about greatly increases my enjoyment of modeling. I’m no longer just looking at a piece of plastic on a shelf. My mind shifts back to time to those great times in the field and makes that A to B association as to what the models represent.
When I arrived at my first photo location not much was going on. A quick scan to the west showed what appeared to be the typical situation of an industry whose rail days were a distant memory. Something lodged in the back of my mind though. When I came back later, there it was, shiny rail all of the way down the spur. I walked to the other side and it was a beehive of semi-truck activity. During a break I walked up to one of the guys and asked, “Just curious, do rail cars come in here?”. “Yep, all of the time”. When I got home Google StreetView confirmed it, a cut of four cars spotted there. I never would have picked up on that had I not been there in person.
After a successful day of shooting, I hit the White Rose in town for a craft beer, burger, and background info. from the locals. For those in the Mid-Atlantic, York would make for a great day trip with your spouse/SO.
Spend more time in York. Visit the White Rose Hobby Shop. With a tip-o-the-hat visit the Ma&Pa engine house. Follow York Railway’s former WM line west to Hanover- it may remind you of your modeled locations.
Thanks Dick
Lance,
I love York, have railfanned several times while visiting family. (I live in Oregon).
re York Transfer, what were the cargoes that were shipped in by boxcars? I had spotted this place too, and also had assumed there was no rail activity there.
Really like your layouts & blog too.
I’m not entirely sure what’s in the structure Doug. I peaked in the door and saw a lot of bagged product on pallets. Building supplies? Lawn supplies? Since writing the blog I made another trip over there and caught a boxcar spotted their. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you the photo.