GLC GP35 385 Traverse City 7/31/12

[TCtrainguy17]

Yesterday I drove out to Bates after hearing GLC come into town. By the time I arrived they had already switched Amerhart and were in Williamsburg running around two boxcars. The lighting couldn't have been more perfect when I caught up to them but as I got set up for my first shot I noticed that what had been a beautiful blue sky was now cloudy. Despite the poor lighting I went ahead and photographed the 385 at several spots. This was the first time I've had the opportunity to photograph a GP35 on the Williamsburg Branch. The first shot is behind the Turtle Creek Casino and the second image is at the Lautner Rd. crossing. Unfortunatly none of the other shots I took didn't turn out as well as i wouldve liked. Comments are welcome as always.

Blue Locomotives Don't Equal Blue Skies by Corey Stanke, on Flickr


Curse of the GP35 by Corey Stanke, on Flickr

[Tom]

I don't know why you guys are so hung up on having clear skies. Those photos are awesome!

[TCtrainguy17]

I don't know why you guys are so hung up on having clear skies. Those photos are awesome!

Thanks! Clouds haven't been good to me in the past, normally they aren't nearly as dramatic.

[Michael]

I don't know why you guys are so hung up on having clear skies. Those photos are awesome!

Thanks! Clouds haven't been good to me in the past, normally they aren't nearly as dramatic.

That is a good point Corey. In this case you have some nice contrast in the clouds as opposed to just a dull gray sky. Nice shots!

Boy those guys don't waste any time taking care of business and heading back home do they?

[Standard Railfan]

[quote="Michael"}Boy those guys don't waste any time taking care of business and heading back home do they?[/quote]

With the awesome track speed limits on that sub, they cannot waste any time if they want to get back to Cadillac.

[GP30M4216]

Hey those are really cool photos! Always a good catch! Is that a Western Pacific boxcar I see??????

[Michael]

[quote="Michael"}Boy those guys don't waste any time taking care of business and heading back home do they?

With the awesome track speed limits on that sub, they cannot waste any time if they want to get back to Cadillac.[/quote]

Someone posted once that they actually help off-loading at Bates (Amerhart) sometimes.

[wagnew0923]

What did it do with the box cars out by Turtle Creek

[AANscaleRunner]

The second car in the shot was an Ontario Northland. I can't recall what the other one was. They went south out of Cadillac yesterday.

[TCtrainguy17]

What did it do with the box cars out by Turtle Creek

When they only have one engine they aren't able to run around the boxcars or center beams at Amerhart. So they go out to Williamsburg and use the siding, albeit not all of it, to run around.

The second car in the shot was an Ontario Northland. I can't recall what the other one was. They went south out of Cadillac yesterday.

First car had EEC reporting marks and second car had WP reporting marks. I believe they were just picking them up, normally they leave boxcars at Amerhart to be unloaded and pick them up on another day. Center beams on the other hand don't take more than 20 minutes to unload.

[wagnew0923]

I guess they cannot push the train from behind

[TCtrainguy17]

I guess they cannot push the train from behind

I think that would require the conductor to ride the leading boxcar and flag any unprotected crossings although I'm not totally sure about the second part.

[AARR]

What did it do with the box cars out by Turtle Creek

Box cars went to/came from Bates. There is no rail business at Turtle Creek.