I think I can ... I think I can ...

[Mad Aussie]

I know I can ... I know I can ;)

Yesterday I decided to go chase a trail ... from one bridge or crossing to the next ... for about 3 hours. Good fun leaping from the car ... snapping off a few quick ones (yes ... I mean photos ;) ) ... then leaping back in the car and hurtling through the countryside to find the next viewpoint.

The people on the trail got to know us. At the beginning it was just the kids waving ... by the end everyone from 5 to 85 yrs old were waving to us.

Here's a few of the shots ...

Our first glimpse of the choo choo ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5484770671_08cc946901_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5485365928_07f9a8ddfb_o.jpg


At the next station ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5485365550_59b0ee4d36_o.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Another station, another good opportunity ...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5484770307_b5911cb80a_o.jpg

Same but without the selective colouring
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5485365210_ae5c85aefe_o.jpg

Blowing off some steam. We all were ... it was 32C out there.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5485366094_290c7d57c2_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5485366196_d9a397afcb_o.jpg

A small tunnel
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5484771317_4caf92d44e_o.jpg

After turning around and changing the destination tag on the front, it was off back to the start. The return journey started by crossing this bridge. We waved goodbye and headed home.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5485366510_05ab9e53e7_o.jpg

[Hillbillygirl]

Awesome series and such a cool idea MA. Love them all, but that 2nd last one with train just before the arch is just "it" for me.
(As for the 32C, yeah it finally warmed up to that here too, so we went out shooting also;))

[Wicked Dark]

excellent work. interesting trains. I sort of wish that we had real train service here.

[Andrew]

Looks like a great way to spend a day. The B&W suits the age of the train. How far does this ride go?

[asnow]

What a lovely set of pictures of this old train. Thanks for taking us for the ride.
HBG - We wish it was 32C. It finally warmed up to to 32F.

[Iguanasan]

What a wonderful series, MA. Nicely done. The tunnel shot is really, really cool!

[casil403]

Sounds like a fun day! Liking the BW ones much MA. :)

[Richard]

cool series. some nice perspectives of the loco's.

[Marko]

way cool set MA - dig the variety!

[Realist]

All very nice captures. Great PP as well!

[JAS_Photo]

Great series and wonderful captures, M.A.!

[Bambi]

what can I say that hasn't already been said? This is a great set!

[Mad Aussie]

Well thank you all very much. I'm glad you liked these. I am keen to go back in the winter when it's cooler. The sound of a steam engines whistle coming through a valley minutes before you see it, the chuffing as it gets closer, and then the sight as it rounds the bend into view is quite magical.

I will put up some colour shots somewhere when I get time as well.

Sorry I've only had time to flit in and comment in 1 or 2 threads that catch my eye lately, things have been very busy for me. I look at more than I comment on though.

[Mad Aussie]

Looks like a great way to spend a day. The B&W suits the age of the train. How far does this ride go?

It's an 80 km journey return on Sunday. They travel from a town called Gympie (leaving at 10am) down to a tiny town called Imbil 40 k's away in time for lunch. They are back in Gympie about 4pm.

They have themed rides as well where you can dress up like a Harry Potter character or whatever the theme is for the day. I think there's about 7 themes they use.
1st Sunday of each month they have a big fake hold up at Imbil as well where the outlaws (Bushrangers in Aussie) are caught and flogged. All good fun.

[Hillbillygirl]

What a lovely set of pictures of this old train. Thanks for taking us for the ride.
HBG - We wish it was 32C. It finally warmed up to to 32F.

Yeah you're right Asnow,:headslap: so used to printing Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, that just slipped up.

[Matt K.]

Whoooohoooooo ... is all I can say .. .superb set, thanks for sharing

[QuietOne]

Looks like a fun way to spend a day, whether chasing or riding. I've been on or around a couple of train rides like that, though they're shorter. One in Henry Cowell State Park in Felton, California (not too far from Santa Cruz, for those who don't know the area), an old logging train. I was with a sort of "Wild West" group then, and we'd get invited over to help "rob" the train on a regular basis. Locally, there are train rides at Horseshoe Bend. They run holiday themes, an annual fine dining event, and occasional "robberies". I also visited the Old Town area of Sacramento. They have a nice train museum there. It's nice to see these things restored.

[Mad Aussie]

Glad you like Matt :)

Sounds like you have quite an interesting history Q1!!

[Michaelaw]

Very cool choo-choo's MA!

[Mad Aussie]

Very cool choo-choo's MA!

Thanks M!

[MoinMoin]

That's such a great set of pictures, MA! I really like them all - but Nr. 2 and 4 are my favourites here!

[Mad Aussie]

That's such a great set of pictures, MA! I really like them all - but Nr. 2 and 4 are my favourites here!

Thank you MM :)

[QuietOne]

Sounds like you have quite an interesting history Q1!!

I was with Silverado for a couple of years - kinda Keystone Kops meets the Old West. I shot both cartridge and cap and ball revolvers, and on occasion, a 10-guage shotgun.
Old West Reenacting (http://www.billscustoms.com/oldwest_silverado.htm)

The group at Henry Cowell is Shadows of the Past. They're a bit more serious about authenticity.
The Shadows of The Past WebSite (http://www.sptddog.com/sotp/sotp.html)

We were at the Sacramento train museum because there's another group there, we were invited up to play. We quietly watched because we weren't thrilled with how they handled things - dropping a greased cap and ball in gravel, then shooting it afterwards is an accident waiting to happen. We never did go back.

Overall, though, it was a lot of fun.

[Mad Aussie]

Note to self ... Q1 knows how to shoot men!

[QuietOne]

Don't worry, MA. Mike always tells me he's sure I can make it look like an accident.

[Mad Aussie]

Don't worry, MA. Mike always tells me he's sure I can make it look like an accident.

Q1 - "The gun just ... it just went off by itself!!"

Judge - "27 times???"

Q1 - "Every time I reloaded!"

[QuietOne]

Helps when I nail their foot to the ground. That way they don't go anywhere while I'm busy reloading.

[Lizardqing]

Those are some great shots. Almost makes me wish we had a train around here.

[Mad Aussie]

Those are some great shots. Almost makes me wish we had a train around here.

Thanks