Train Photography

Written by:

William Larson, Writer at RailroadPhotography

Your location is where the best pictures will come from. The best sites such as Google maps, Bing maps, Apple maps, Etc. These sites show street view, A satellite map of the area, a specific (This one isn't usually used) map layer called transit is also a thing but doesn't show freight train schedules because that is unsafe. (See under for details) When you do find your specific location, make sure to follow these three simple  steps,

1. Make sure the land you are going to be on isn't owned by the railroad because that is considered trespassing and is a felony.

2. Make sure you are at least 100 feet from any tracks that are either switching, spur or mainline because trains have caused many troubles in the past over the hitting of people or any objects being discharged from the train

3. Make sure to be prepared for the such climate, weather or any trouble that could develop.

Your camera is the most important part of Photography. Now, I don't have many suggestions about which camera to use but my one suggestion is the CoolPix L840. Now, photos don't need to look amazing but do need to be easily appealing to people.

Make sure, when the locomotives fly past, you give a lil wave, engineers have hard job and would love it.

Freight train schedules aren't used as of the early 1990's because people can then find a good window of time to hop the train or maybe try to bomb or shoot the train. Schedules also aren't used because trains don't always run on time. Amtrak is a good part of this talk, even though they currently are going through a employee strike and are closing down mainly all the long haul routes due to crew shortage.