With all the recent postings about how to incorporate storms into your rail photos, I'd like to tell you about a thunderstorm that got the better of us a few years ago. We still talk about it.
It was back in 1991, when the Tioga Central RR in New York held a railfan day on its final day of operation. I know that a few sporrs guys were there, such as Tom Trencansky. It was a great day photographing vintage Alco's on photo freights. Perfect weather, with lots of staged photos and runbys. Tom was planning to do a night photo session at Owego station, but the weather reports called for thunderstorms. My group from New York City felt that we should head home. It was a four hour drive. We didn't think the night photo session would take place. We left, and about a half-hour later we heard on the radio that Owego was being battered by a violent thunderstorm. We laughed at the guys who had remained at Owego. However, we later learned that the storm moved quickly and things cleared up in Owego. Tom set up a few night photo scenes, and everybody who stayed got great pictures. The puddles and wet surfaces left by the storm actually enhanced the scenes. As for us, we laughed too soon. While stopped for dinner, that storm caught up with us. Worst thunder and lightning I've ever seen. We jumped back into my truck and tried to get ahead of the torrential downpour, but that storm stayed over us for three hours. It paced us eastbound all the way down Route 17 for 100 miles. It was like driving in a car wash at 30 mph -- I couldn't see a thing. I wouldn't admit to the guys that I was scared, so I didn't do the sensible thing like waiting out the storm at a service station or quick-mart. Spectacular lightning was continuous, with very close strikes to the left and right of the road. The guys with me couldn't sleep because they were terrified we were going to be hit by lightning or I was going to run off the road. And even though we were all adults, I have to admit the lightning was frightening. Shouts of "Wow!" and "Holy Sh*t!" were all we could utter. I didn't shake that storm until we turned south down the Hudson Valley and the storm continued east. You weather experts out there might know how fast a thunderstorm travels, and how long it lasts. I learned my lesson that night. If you're out railfanning and a violent storm kicks up, seek protection, stay put, and let it pass. Bernie Ente Maspeth NY [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] -> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs -> Message © SPORRS® 1998 - All Rights Reserved
