As is my wont on
Monday morning I decided to head over to Caribou Coffee in Brainerd
again for my morning shot of Joe and deal with my emails on my iPod
touch. I picked up my camera on the off chance that I might see
something worth shooting. But I'd already seen one train on the
Brainerd sub this weekend I figured that was my lot for the weekend. An
eastbound to chase would be nice but I wasn't really holding out much
hope to be honest. I'd been sat there a while buried in my emailing and
I looked up and would you believe it? An Eastbound coal train! I
quickly packed everything up, grabbed my coffee and set out to catch it
at Deerwood. I zipped along 210 and down 12 . Mindful of the fact that
this was a holiday weekend and the traffic cops could be out with their
radar guns. I reached Deerwood quite comfortably and was rewarded with
this shot of GEVO No. 9267 and SD70MAC No. 8953. Now I was going to
have some fun! How many times could I catch this train between here and
Aitkin?
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I jumped in the car
and the chase was on! I figured the first place I'd have a chance was
the Co. Rd. 111 crossing. However a slow moving truck as far as Cauyna
Country club put me in a bit of a hole as I rushed up to the crossing.
I got there just in time but in my rush I accidentally switched my
camera over to playback mode and I only worked that out in time to get
a shot of the train leaving me. CURSES! It looked like the approaching
shot would have been a good one too.
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Back into the car
again and on
to my third location. Blue Lake Road, where I was yesterday for 2
hours. Once again I pulled the train in easily and sped away from it.
Checking in my mirror to see how far the train was behind me I saw an
angle I like with some nice curves in it. So I pulled over and prepared
to get the shot. This one was worth it I feel.
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Fired up I decided to
try for a
fourth shot in Aitkin by the depot. But the speed limits slowed me down
and I found myself turning down a side road to grab a shot at some open
ground by the police station. I only had time to get out of the car and
lift the camera to my eye before the lead loco came into view.
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I also got a shot of the SD70MAC
running behind it.
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I had already decided
I was
going no futher chasing this train so I waited to see if there was any
DPU on the rear. There was but it was pointing the wrong direction. No
matter. I'll take the picture as proof of the chase.
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There we go. I was
done. I was
pretty tired after that. I have to say that the chase was a lot of fun.
The adrenalin was flowing as I tried to reach my desired locations. As
I drove back to the cabin I reflected on things that would make the
chase easier next time. Things like a Bugatti Veyron
for example.
Perhaps the extra speed and acceleration would hlep me catch the train
at a fifth place. But knowing that to be an impossibility, I think some
greater knowledge of the line and photo opportunities would help. The
final mile of the chase through the streets of Aitkin were that did me.
Next time I think I'd settle for somewhere on the outside of town. But
what a lot of fun! Chasing a train is as much fun as you can have while
trainspotting.
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