This afternoon, I spent a couple of hours waiting for a train to pass. I have wanted to photograph a BNSF train since I’ve been here. I have gotten a couple of trains with my iPhone, but none with my DSL. I carved out a couple hours and found a place to wait. After some time and movement, I was able to capture the BNSF 6060 (GE ES44AC) moving south.
I would love to spend my time doing more of that. That’s why it is on my lifetime bucket list. I would like to be a true “Railfan”. Not simply someone who likes trains, so I take a picture once and awhile—but a Railfan, who plans several trips a month to go out and photograph and learn about trains. This is one of those goals I plan to work on this year since I am so close to Kansas City with all of its rail traffic.
To me it is akin to hunting. I can go out and sit and wait for a train to pass. It is an educated wait; I’m not sitting on a silent track at the silent time of day. I want to know when the trains typically pass and set up at those times. I want to work the frequencies to listen to the radio traffic and know even more precisely when to catch the passing trains. Like hunting, there are those days where I don’t get the shot. There are plenty of times that I miss. But, that’s why it is a lifetime bucket list item. Getting to level of rail fanning that I want will not be done on a single trip, but will take a lifetime.