Spark Show Pictures!

[f150tom]

I was very happy to see that I managed to get a couple of pictures of the 353's attempt at a spark show. I think that I must have run a mile back and forth alongside the track to get these. Anyhow, the self-proclaimed camera idiot managed to do something decent.:D

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/f150tom/353spark.jpg

The camera had some "advance issues" on this picture, thus the odd size. :hide:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/f150tom/353spark2.jpg

[Jerry Christiansen]

Mike,

If you still can edit your post, I hope that you will remove the word "attempt". I thought the 353 put on a neat show. I think your first picture is awesome! I hope the 353 joins in the fun again.

Later,
Jerry Christiansen

[f150tom]

My bad. Looking back on it "attempt" was a bad choice.:hide: I didn't mean it in a bad way. I agree that they put on a good show. Hopefully the do try to do that again. I think the pictures would have been better if I would have been off to the side more. Oh well, theres always next year.

[Todd Hintz]

I didn't realize that the 353 joined the fun (was listening to the banjoes and fiddles this year during the spark show.) Your pictures made me sorry I missed it as they are outstanding. I'm sitting here this weekend sure wishing it was last weekend. My son and I had so much fun this year and can not wait for next year!

[Tim Moen]

All, what a wonderfull sparker show!! Thanks R crew and all that helped. Jerry--- how are you and Jim going to get the U.S. Standards Certified height gage to work on an engine and stack that moves?? Seems to me (in my extreme laymans estimiate) that just with the draft blower, the 353 exceeded the Rollag/Clay Co. Height Record!! Tim

[Kenronsberg]

Sorry about the surprise appearance by the 353. We thought the shovels were going first and then the traction engines. Our plan was to sneak out from behind the eat shack ( If you can sneak with a train ) when the last traction engine had gone, as kind of a bonus sparks show. That was why I didn't whistle any crossings. We had the whole railroad crew covering crossings and both ends of the train for safety. ( Jeff, Corey, Fred, Brian Spencer, Vern , Jerry, Dave, Deann &Raymond )
All the sneaking made a lot of extra work with switching cars and the locomotive on the turntable in the dark. All I had to do was run the engine, but it really took the whole crew to get the train down there. Sorry I couldn't get the engine over to the brake for you Jerry!
Thanks to the whole crew for the help. Brian and Spencer lubricated the engine, Gury Muhl gathered up the magic sparks dust, and the rest of our engine crew David, Carole, Doug, Katie, Bill all had a role in the cab. Without Vern's flashlight and Brian on the radio I wouldn't have turned a wheel.
Oh yeah, once Asher was sure we were running safely, his job was to be extreemly nervous about the whole thing.
We did learn a few things on our maiden voyage, so if Vern and Asher let us do this again I think we can do a little better job.
It sure takes a lot of people to move one engine around !
Mike the pictures look great, I hope there are more to be posted, I didn't get to see much from my seat.
Ken Ronsberg

[Jerry Christiansen]

Tim,

No problem measuring the height, we just have to set up the equipment on top of one of the box cars.

Later,
Jerry Christiansen

[Tim Moen]

UFF DA Jerry! Lots of fourth year math involved on the angle or percentage of grade!! Ha! Tim.

[Tim Moen]

Ken, from my view it was worth all the effort! Thanks to All. Tim

[Spencer the Great]

Those pictures turned out really well!

[Emma]

Those picture of the 353 are great. Spark shows are better the fireworks on the 4th of July for me.:)

[f150tom]

I only wish that my pictures of the other spark shows turned out as nice as these did. Still a bit of a rookie on the camera. I honestly think that it was pure luck that these turned out as nice as they did.

[M Kerkvliet]

Great pictures Mike. Most of the pictures of events like this don't turn out as well as yours did. Luck has a lot to do with it, but you had to be in the right place at the right time. That is where the planning comes in!

I am expecting big things from the RR crew next year, now that they know they can do it! This year they tired to keep it low key so that if it didn't work, they wouldn't have to take any heat :biglaugh: Next year everyone will be expecting it! Better start making plans Ken!

[P.D.]

Thanks for the pics. I'm glad to see the image captured....PD

[f150tom]

I can't take any credit fo advance planning, just lucky seeing the train sneaking out from behind TMB. As far as being in the right place, I'm assuming it was member of the railroad crew that told me that it would take a while for the brakes to set up and I should set my camera by Baker depot. Boy he nailed it! I wish I would have gotten his name. Anyhow, after some investigating I discovered the issue with my pictures wasn't the camera's fault (or mine). It was the developer! So I have a improved version of the second picture and a third picture to post.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/f150tom/353spark2a.jpg

And now the new one.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s193/f150tom/353spark3.jpg

A big thanks to the railroad crew and everyone else who helped on this. I'm definetly going to need more film next year!

[Mallands]

What great pictures! I didn't realize they had the 353 in the spark show. I missed the first 2 nights of the spark show. I would have liked to seen it!

[Katy K]

Spark shows are great, but for me the 353 Spark Show was a real treat to watch! I will not forget the look on my Dad's face as he realized that the Train was going to participate in the spark show. I think his eyes may have welled up some. Fantastic pictures!!! Thanks!