The train was out of site when I crossed the tracks a few minutes later, and I feared I would have to chase halfway to Newark to catch up. I figured my only hope was the 10 mph slow order over the Muskingum River bridge just southwest of town.
Not quite. The train was stopped at the end of the siding near Papermill Road. It was halfway in the siding and halfway out, and I figured it would be leaving town any minute. It was pretty dark, but I took a shot anyway, and a long exposure brightened things up considerably.
But instead of roaring off, it backed into the siding and sat. After a few minutes, more than long enough to charge the air for a very short train, I figured that there was going to be a meet. Probably with an NS runthrough coal train.
After a while I heard an air horn, and the engineer flashed his headlights at me. I don't know if he was warning me to back up or just seeing if I was still standing around, or some other reason entirely, but I moved back a bit anyway. I like the shot closer to the rails better, but better safe than sorry.
Eventually I heard a rumble as the train crossed the Muskingum River, and then the sound of power notching up as it cleared the span. Then I could see the flashers down the road, and then the train was upon me.
Having great trust in my gear, I let it do it's thing. I should I just bulbed it, as the exposure is a little bit washed out. But still ok, I guess. Beat arriving early for a basketball game.
The real interesting part of the picture was after the power had passed, and the waiting train illuminated the exhaust and coal smoke. I know there were better ways to work it, but the resulting image is still interesting, in a completely abstract way.
