I think I’ve developed a new “season” in my photographic life.
There’s “Competition Season,” where I enter my photos in various shows.
There’s “Charity Season,” where the sale of some of my works help charitable endeavors.
And I think I’ve organically developed “Railfan Season,” where I spend wintertime chasing various railroads around the Northeast, and hopefully capturing amazing photos in the process.
Such was the case yesterday. The Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway hosted their third annual “Operation Toy Train” run, where they and several other heritage railroads hold concerts and holiday train rides to benefit Toys For Tots. The SC&H would hold three stops this year – one in Greenfield Center at the Lamothe Landing stop; one at their Corinth Depot / Jessup’s Landing spot; and a third at the Hadley station.
Ooh. This could work in my photographic favor.
So after a quick pit stop at the local Hobby Lobby for a couple of model kits as toy donations …
Look, if these kits inspire some gearheads into automotive repair in their adult lives, I’m cool with that …
I arrived at Latmothe Landing in plenty of time for the SC&H’s arrival. And at a few minutes after 2:00 p.m. … look what came chugging along the tracks.
The train staff unlocked the boxcar, and we received a Christmas concert. This is cool.
x
Meanwhile, I’m sipping on hot cocoa and getting a selfie with Santa …
Yep, there’s that old, fat, bearded geezer. Also in the picture – Santa and his wife. 😀
But I had to move quickly. Cars were parked along Canty Road in areas that normally don’t allow parking; and if I wanted to get to my shooting spot, I needed to leave early, lest I get stuck in the equivalent of a Sunday morning post-services parking lot escape. You know, “May God bless you in the name of the father, the son, and start your engines.”
So while the band kept playing and the children kept dancing …
I was on my way up Route 9N.
Greenfield Center … Corinth … Hadley … turn off the dirt road … and I’m at the spot. A clear view of the Sacandaga River Bridge.
Now I just have to hope there’s enough light when the train passes.
I check my notes. The train has to pass over the bridge between 4:40 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for the Hadley concert.
Sunset is at 4:30 p.m.
So as I (and eventually other railfans) waited …
At 4:52 p.m. … the star of our show crossed the Sacandaga.
And it’s all lit up nice and pretty.
A quick snap with my phone camera, and …
That’s nice. Very nice.
And this morning, after I let these images percolate and preserve in my computer … I reprocessed that photo … for this.
Oh my Lord. I caught that?!?!?
Short pile for 2026 for sure!! TOTALLY!!
I got the train, both bridges, plenty of background …
This photo is sweet like wrapping paper underneath the tree!
Let’s put it this way …
As far as I’m concerned, this Operation Toy Train run was a success.
Now I have to prepare for that … ahem … OTHER train run this year.
You know which one … 🙂
Chuck The Writer 