Re: Feedback, not a complaint

Quote
Tenderpaw
The disappointment: in 2 days no photo opportunities at the high bridge. It seems like that could have been given a priority. Also, on the last day they seemed to rush us out ahead of the regularly scheduled train and we missed some photo ops. I felt like they could have let the regular train pass us and not do the big rush.

My recollection, as a participant, is that high bridge shot eats up a lot of time because everyone has to disembark and reboard from one car. It also takes time for the photographers to walk down to the river.

The "big rush" is a necessity since meeting the regular trains will cost you at least ninety minutes. I don't know what the D&SNG rulebook requires, but assume your conductor needs to have you at the siding 30 minutes before scheduled train time - that will give him enough time to get your train into the siding and report that his train is in the clear, with switches lined and locked, then get the photographers off the train and in position so that the meet can be photographed.

There are two regular trains on the line, running on 45-minute headway, so the photo train is stuck in the siding for at least another 45 minutes, if the second train is on time. Once that one rolls by, you have to get everyone back aboard and get out of the siding - figure that takes 15 minutes, minimum.

If you were to meet the regular trains in both directions, you would end up spending 3-4 hours of the day sitting in sidings. The rest of the day would have to be spent running, so there wouldn't actually be any time left for photo stops.

--
Chris Webster