Kevin,
Thanks for the kind words. The photo I posted of OB getting set up was taken about 7:20 AM. I agree that low angle lighting is wonderful, and it is nice when you can get it to work out. Getting everyone up for an early departure can sometimes be a challenge, I suspect. But well worth it!
I appreciate the comment about travel costs on short notice. Unfortunately, my career involves some pretty busy scheduling in the spring and fall, and it is not easy to arrange to be gone from work. So I ended up with more expensive plane tickets than I would like, but I was able to make the OB / 315 trip. I had a great time.
To get back to the main point. I think Greg and John West makes some improtant points. Getting some trips that are more affordable and more available to some of the more casually intersted riders is important. We need to get more young people interested in steam locomotives and railroad preservation. That's why I think John Bush's idea of a mixed train behind 463 makes a lot of sense. It can be operated with the existing equipment, and it can be priced at a level that is more appealing to a larger potential audience. I think that is a winner. And even for the hard core photographer, what's not to like about 463 and a short freight consist climbing the 4% to cumbres, photographed from selected locations accessible by busses / vans carrying the passengers. Then the mixed making photo stops on the east side at remote locations. I think it offers a lot of opportunity for the price. Even if it isn't all at early morning / late afternoon light condiditons, its in a lot of places you can't easily get to and photograph. I also think it helps all of us if we can help promote these runs, and even help fill seats.
Charlie
CVM
-30-
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2014 12:11PM by Charlie Mutschler.