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deedeebruce

N & W J 611 in her Glory! copy

Jan, 2017

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

The N&W J 611 crossing over the James River as well as CSX tracks on its way to Strasburg, PA in 2019. This is one of my favorite shots.

Winter Storm Petra gave Jo-Jo and I great photo ops.

Jo-Jo loves to sit in "his part" of our upper yard. He likes to sit there and look over his domain.

At Hatteras, NC in April 2015 for OBX bike festival

My good friends, the Thomas' always let me explore around on their farm with my camera. I got a message that they had the new American flag wrap

Just out riding on a dirt road and came across this little bunny.

Pulling the grade at Blue Ridge, VA, the N & W Class J 611 shows off with a great steam-smoke display. This was during the 2016 excursions.

Emmanual Episcopal Church, Eagle Rock, VA

At the top of the grade and rolling on at Blue Ridge, VA, during the 2016 excursions.

The N & W J Class 611 traveling from Roanoke, VA (Her birthplace in 1950) to Spencer, NC for yearly FRA inspections to begin Her excursions for 20

Was out early with a good friend waiting on the sunrise. AWESOME!

I love this lighthouse. Also marked an item off the bucket list....climbed to the top. Views were amazing!

Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken on the Norfolk Southern Shenandoah railroad line, at Blue Ridge, Botetourt County, Virginia. It was near the asphalt plant on Rt. 460.

Time

This was taken around 9:00 a.m. or so. The engine was on an excursion from Roanoke, Virginia, to Lynchburg, Virginia.

Lighting

There was nothing special about the lighting other than everything was all natural and life just "clicked" that morning. This is one of my absolute favorite shots.

Equipment

I was using a Canon EOS Rebel T5, Aperture 45/10, ISO 100, Shutter 1/400, Focal Length 18/1.

Inspiration

My Father was a Railroad Engineer for the C & O Railroad - later merged to CSX Transportation. When he started out his railroad career, he started on the steam locomotives. Steam was always his passion. The N & W J 611 was built in 1950 and is the last surviving J Class steam locomotive. The 611 has been retired and brought back into service 2 times. The latest revival was 2015. This was at the beginning of bring Her back into excursion service. I have become attached to the 611 and her crew and volunteers. There are no C & O steam locomotives near me that are back in service and the 611's home is in the Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke, Virginia, which is about 45 minutes away and when she's not in Roanoke, she's at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC and that's about 3 hours away. I am my Father's child in that I share his passion for steam locomotives!

Editing

No post processing. On rare occasions, you take a photo and then when you look at it later on your computer, you get the "WOW" factor. This was one of those times.

In my camera bag

Normally I carry a DSLR camera, as well as a point and shoot. It depends on if I'm on a job or just being a tourist. I always carry extra batteries and battery packs, a separate flash, flash remote, extra SD cards, lens cloth, Sharpie pen, extra tripod base, chargers, small flashlight and business cards.

Feedback

My best advice is have fun with whatever you are doing. Some people can get so stressed out to get that "perfect" shot. I can relate to that and have been there. I have found that my best work comes when I am just out having fun. No stress or pressure just good fun. The day I took this shot of the 611, I had placed my cell phone in my pocket and had no clue what the video was going to look like. That morning it was beautiful, blue skies, birds singing and in the distance you could hear the baritone sound of the whistle of the engine. I thought, what the heck, let me see what it will come out like. So in my shorts pocket the cellphone went and recorded the beautiful sounds of that special morning. I had my spot near the railroad tracks and there were railfans in front of me and behind me. We were all just having a fun morning. I think if I had been pressured to "get the shot" I would have failed. Thus, the best advice I can give, is just grab your camera(s) and have fun with it. I hope this picture has brighten the day of at least one person that has viewed it. It brightens my day every time I look at it and I remember the birds singing, the crisp blue sky and the baritone whistle! There's no better way to spend a spring morning. I highly recommend it.

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deedeebruce

deedeebruce

N & W J 611 in her Glory! copy

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow deedeebruce

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