Lousy'sPhotoBlog--ABigPieceGone
Although it's been said that "some things never change", it's also been said that "change is inevitable".
A big change began at about 4AM, Monday, March 12, 2012, at a favorite place for hobby-practicing.
For me, the central gizmo in "hobby practice" is made by Nikon - although the first professional photographer who I met recommended Canon.
When I expressed enthusiasm about aiming a camera at sunrises and sunsets, "the pro" said, "Overdone."
Next I mentioned "Waterfalls."
He said, "Overdone."
"Barns", I said.
"Overdone," said he.
Although barns fit into his category of "overdone", it still fits into my category of "not done enough" (as do sunrises, sunsets, waterfalls and other perhaps-"overdone" subjects). Therefore a jaunt during July, 2012, was for the purpose of targeting the van Campen barns, which, although previously "seen" by my Nikon, viewing them again did not impress me as "overdone". -----> 1
In fact, as had happened during earlier visits there, the van Campen barns were "seen" from a variety of angles -----> 2
The van Campen barns are in The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area -----> 3
.....and are in a section known as "Calno, NJ" -----> 4
During the late-1960s & early-1970s, the US government forced hundreds of owners to sell their properties - amounting to approximately 70,000-acres - as part of a plan to build a flood-controlling dam across the Delaware River. When legal action prevented construction of the dam, most former residences in the area were bulldozed to prevent improper occupancy of them. But not the van Campen homestead -----> 5
Well...that fifth picture, above, indicates that the "big change" did not involve the smallest of the van Campen barns -----> 6
But it is the structure closest to where the "big change" happened -------> 7
Sadly - and ironically - the "big change" involved the destruction by fire of the unoccupied James van Campen farmhouse -----> 8
The irony is that a historic building which had been spared being wrecked by a bulldozer's blade was wrecked decades later by an arsonist's match -----> 9
The oldest part of the farmhouse was built in 1812 by James van Campen on land that had been willed to him by his father, Abraham -----> 10
Two years before the fire, the view from the house toward the barns was very different -----> 11
Before the fire, the rear of the home was comfortably shaded -----> 12
These days, the trees have much less to shade -----> 13
Before the fire, the residence had been enlarged to a two-story, frame structure -----> 14
These days, the former James van Campen homestead is almost level with the ground -----> 15
Might this exemplify another quote about "change"? ...that "Not all change is for the better?" -----> 16
As mentioned in several of my 49 other blogs (a list of which can be seen after clicking on "complete archive", upper right), providing no-cost blog space to its members has become the primary attraction at this first-class, multi-faceted website; as has the thought that somebody may actually see - and comment about - this blog. Thank you when either of the aforementioned happens.
If not because of this blog, I hope that you will find many other reasons to.....
Keep smilin'
Kim
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Lousy'sPhotoBlog--HeritageUnit
This "take a picture of everything"-mentality which infected me almost three years ago has been beneficial in many ways, including expanding my wardrobe and my vocabulary.
For example, before 2010, I didn't own an engineer's cap. Now I wear one almost constantly - not because I'm a chronic train-chaser but just because I like the style. Vocabulary-wise, I have learned that chronic train-chasers are sometimes referred to as "foamers". Because I am extremely passionate about picture-taking, I guess, then, that I am "a foamer" in a broader sense - not just with trains as targets, but also with sunrises, sunsets, animals, barns, lakes, rivers, streams, etc. However - I know so little about what I am doing that I will confess to being only an amateur foamer as opposed to being a professional one.
The subject of "trains" and related vocabulary occurs here because the focus of this (and probably my next) blog is "trains".
Twice in the same week I became an ATC (Amateur Train Chaser) and this blog is about the latter event, which featured the "chasing" of the initial voyage of a decades-old diesel engine (after the diesel was repainted, that is). Heretofore, the beautified engine had been only "on display". But, on July 19, 2012, it went "in service" on the small (85-mile) Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad.
"What's so special about this post-paint-job voyage?", you ask.
Well...some say that "The clothes make the man". In the same respect, it was significant to PTCs (Professional Train Chasers) to see this dressed-up engine go to work for the first time. And the uniqueness of the uniform is that it features the colors of the historic (1846 - 1976) Lehigh Valley Railroad -----> 1
For me, this "chase" could have started four stations up the line, but I only belatedly found out about it. (Did I mention that I'm a mere Amateur Train Chaser?) While returning home from refueling my car, I noticed a train beneath a highway bridge. After "U"-turning to an observation point, I next recognized some PTCs hurriedly packing up their gear as if preparing to go to another site. But the train first stopped to service a customer. Therefore I was able to converse with the PTCs.
"What's goin' on?", I asked.
"First day of work for the lead engine after its new paint job." I was told.
It was then that I learned the term "Heritage Unit", which describes a diesel painted to resemble an engine of a now-out-of-business railroad company. (See what I mean about expanding my vocabulary?)
Fortunately the Nikon was in my car and I could join in "the chase". I knew when the train was coming when I saw the PTCs "assume the position" -----> 2
And here it comes - just past Henry's Crossing -----> 3
...Then on to Stokes Avenue (which "Big Brother" recently re-named Mill Creek Road) -----> 4
This diesel engine was built in 1964 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). Sometimes ALCOs feature marginal emission control -----> 5
In the following photo the "Heritage Unit" was protected by gates at Tinkertown Crossing...but I haven't yet been able to learn any history about Tinkertown -----> 6
From its starting point near Scranton, PA, the freight train has arrived 60 miles southeast at its destination, Slateford, PA -----> 7
At Slateford, Norfolk-Southern is the cross-country rail company which is interchanged with by "short hauler" Delaware-Lackawanna -----> 8
One of my PTC-friends said that most train crews these days consist of two people: a conductor and an engineer and that even though the conductor does "the grunt work" of getting in and out of the train to disconnect and connect cars -----> 9
.....and throw switches, nevertheless the conductor is "the boss" -----> 10
When the "Heritage Unit" first arrived at Slateford, it was angled such that its appearance was very plain -----> 11
.....but as it slowly inched forward, its fancy paint scheme came into view -----> 12
.....as did one of the PTCs -----> 13
.....while an aspiring PTC seemed in awe of the power of the machine (as am I) -----> 14
OK - Below is the last view of the "Heritage Unit" as the lead engine -----> 15
For the return trip to Scranton, railroad logistics resulted in the "Heritage Unit" becoming "engine #3" and the former "engine #3" being at the front of the train. In the following photo, the caravan is at "The Point" of the Delaware Water Gap -----> 16
A more meaningful # is: D-L 3000 now in the lead -----> 17
Slightly north of East Stroudsburg, PA, the train passes beneath a defunct signal bridge in an area known as Gravel Place -----> 18
Beside the refurbished station in Cresco, PA, is much railroad memorabilia including a gate house (not shown) and a baggage canopy, left -----> 19
For me, the "train chase" ended near my home about 35 miles southeast of where the train is going -----> 20
Although "414" is now third from the front, here's one more photo after the first two engines have passed -----> 21
.....because, after all, the "Heritage Unit" was "the star" of this blog.
As mentioned in some of my 48 other blogs (a list of which can be seen after clicking on "complete archive", upper right), providing no-cost blog space to its members has become the primary attraction at this first-class, multi-faceted website; as has the thought that somebody may actually see - and comment about - this blog. Thank you when either of the aforementioned happens.
If not because of this blog, I hope that you will find many other reasons to.....
Keep smilin'
Kim
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Updated: 2:32 AM GMT en Julio 21, 2012
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Lousy'sPhotoBlog--KittenUpATree
Skinny Minnie is a neighborhood cat -----> 1
When Skinny Minnie wants to "get away from it all", she has found at least one place that fits the bill -----> 2
Several weeks ago, Skinny Minnie was temporarily not so skinny -----> 3
Then - just a few days ago - one of Skinny Minnie's kittens got stuck up in a tree -----> 4
Skinny Minnie's kittens have not been named -----> 5
...or the names that are sometimes applied to them... -----> 6
...should not be printed here. -----> 7
Even after getting stuck up in a tree -----> 8
...kittens eventually remember to become -----> 9
...curious...and... -----> 10
...playful...and... -----> 11
...ferocious. -----> 12
Such ferocity is beneficial because... -----> 13
...it assures that... -----> 14
...trees don't grow an over-abundance of branches. -----> 15
At some point, though ... -----> 16
...a kitten stuck in a tree will get hungry and... -----> 17
...will tire of being curious, playful & ferocious and ask... -----> 18
"Will you get me down? PLEASE!!!" -----> 19
Photographing for, and writing these blogs is very enjoyable, as is the thought that anybody looked at them. Better yet are favorable comments. Thanks when either of the aforementioned happens.
As mentioned in some of my 47 other blogs (a list of which can be seen after clicking on "complete archive", upper right), providing no-cost blog space to its members has become a primary attraction at this first-class, multi-faceted website.
If not because of this blog, I hope that you will find many other reasons to.....
Keep smilin'
Kim
web counter
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Updated: 7:52 PM GMT en Julio 07, 2012
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