Memories of Boyhood...., a photo from Falkirk, Scotland

Photographer's Note

What fun and what reminiscences! Opening the big window in the carriage door of a steam train and sticking your head out, having the wind in your hair, the air redolent with wonderful sulphurous fumes from the engine, grit in your eyes. And keeping a watchful eye out for an approaching tunnel because you had heard stories from your pals about some poor wretch being decapitated that way. Real manly stuff too because in the station you could watch big muscular grimy men shovelling coal into the fierce mouth of the engine's firebox while another turned great brass valves and wheels and pulled great iron levers as the engine hissed and puffed in readiness for the next blast down the line.

I relived some of those boyhood memories yesterday at the Bo'ness and Kinniel Railway, the headquarters of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society which you can read about here.

For those interested, the engine pulling the train is a 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive which was acquired by the society after it had ceased working at a Fife colliery though it was originally owned by the Ministry of Defence. The carriages are standard Mk I British Railway carriages manufactured in the 1950s and 60s in the original livery of crimson and cream, often referred to by enthusiasts as blood and custard.

You can see the curve in the railway where I took this shot out of the train window if you click on Map:view but unfortunately the little yellow man doesn't appear to travel by train!

RhodieIke, jjcordier, timecapturer, jester5, InasiaJones, bayno, delpeoples, annjackman, ourania, saxo042 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RhodieIke (9207) 2012-04-13 13:27

My,John, We are getting down to your passions with this post hey,fantastic Pov, hope you did not get any soot in your eye.Your angle gives the illusion the train is going to de-rail(looking in the right corner).Fantastic, and so pleased you relived a tad of your childhood, Cheers Iain.

mesutilgim (68036) 2012-04-13 13:28

Hello John,
Wonderfull capture with a perfect nostalgic taste.
Very good pov and layout.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Royaldevon (17811) 2012-04-13 13:35

Hello John,

Everyone always says that steam railways are a 'boy' thing but, I have always loved to see them and have had as much pleasure travelling on them as any boy (substitute man!).
This must be one of the best ways to photograph a steam train, when a curve in the track allows a view of the engine, with its black smoke rising into the air. From this pov, the viewer becomes a passenger.
The photograph is nice and sharp, you have great guide lines and excellent thirds composition.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

emka (58224) 2012-04-13 14:27

Hi John, What wonderful memories about steam locomotives and what a fun to go by such a train again. I like your note very much - this is just the feeling one had. Excellent capture, I can imagine that you studued the map to se where is the curve and then waited with the ready camera.
Warm regrads from Madrid

MAlgo

MJR (3173) 2012-04-13 16:47

John
Beautiful note - beautiful photo.

It is very attention grabbing in this nearly square foramt, it looks larger than most posts...

Delightful imagery, and a wonderful almost glassy sheen to the whole, a nod towards your mastery of your chosen weapon !

Like it lots !

regards
Martin

jjcordier (62394) 2012-04-13 23:28

John
Tu as attendu le bon virage pour photographier de belle façon cette glorieuse ancêtre fumante. Une belle lumière et un bon cadrage pour cette très bonne photo....qui a peut-être nécessité un nettoyage d'objectif juste après la prise de vue -)
Amicalement
JJ

dale54 (4944) 2012-04-14 2:52

john hi,like this.very nicely taken,beautifull day.good light and shadow in this,great job! tfs! dr

timecapturer (30394) 2012-04-14 3:29

Hi John
Yep! I remember summer holidays as a boy on journey's like this and I seem to remember I had my head out of the window all the way. Always arrived with soot specks all over my face. Love the way you have captured this, superb detail, atmosphere and the irresistable curve of the engine and carriages. Glorious Memories! I can smell the steam.

Enjoy your weekend - Brian.

InasiaJones (29347) 2012-04-14 13:16

Hi John,

Here's a classic way to shoot a train while aboard, delivering a very attractive effect, as if the viewer was himself looking through the window.

I remember of a Lonely Planet guidebook about Vietnam, featuring Vietnamese passengers sticking out their head through another window and looking at the photographer with a big smile, and I thought it was the most appealing photo to choose for the cover, as an invitation to travel by putting the viewer on the passenger seat, like if he was already part of the trip.

Despite the fact that your photo presents the train slightly on the shadow side, details don't suffer too much, as the light from the landscape bounce back on the glossy surface.

I think that you took this photo in the right season, as the nostalgia from the train is nicely served by the melancholy of the season, with leafless trees and earthy tones.

A ride I would like to take myself; actually, I was looking less then a week ago at the website of South African steam trains itineraries and schedules, and it won't be long before I'll try one of these iconic engines.

Cheers!

André

brianmcc (5536) 2012-04-14 16:01

hi john,
i immediately thought 'hornby' when i saw the thumbnail and your title; and childhood memories came flooding back. memories of playing with my toy trains that is, i was never a real rail fan. you have composed this perfectly with the train curving nicely from the front of the frame towards the left giving a lovely view of the engine and carriages. beautiful light illuminating the side of the carriages. perfect sharpness and depth of field.
have a great sunday,
brian

bayno (16241) 2012-04-14 21:11

Ciao John,
another charming picture, beautiful light and colors, you've waited this old train did the curve for a good photograph, there is also the man leaning out a window that enriches the composition...nice memory...beautiful shot...have a good day...
Valter

delpeoples (45018) 2012-04-15 2:37

Ciao Giovanni

How lovely you got to relive your childhood, thanks for sharing that part of your life with us. Steam trains always spark the imagination and they certainly evoke images of old England. I'm glad to hear there were no mishaps when you stuck your head out of the window to shoot this one. The things you do for a photo eh? But it's resulted in an excellent perspective and point of view. I like the strong colours and the beautiful light, nicely managed. A good square frame finishes off the opus beautifully. Nice work, I feel like re-watching The Railway Children now...do you remember that old British film?

Have a great Sunday
Lisa

dta (51510) 2012-04-15 8:55

Hello John ,
The perspective and the moment -in the curve- are very well chosen . I like a lot the harmony of warm colors, too .
Excellent job .
Regards

ktanska (21527) 2012-04-16 12:46

Hi again,
This one is beautiful. Colours of spring show brightly. Train in the curve fills the framme nicely. Lovely unhurried feeling of a museum train ride.
Kari

annjackman (13233) 2012-04-17 1:51

Hello John,
I remember going to Brighton on the 'Brighton Line' when it was steam. Loved sitting near the front and putting my head out of the window - I can still smell the smoke! You have taken a classic photo of this train going around the bend. The golden light is just magic. Really love this shot for both quality and composition.
Best wishes, Ann

ourania (12469) 2012-04-17 4:24

Hello John,
this is a lovely picture that shows in a delightful way the joy of a train ride through the countryside. The composition is brilliant capturing the train on the curve, its engine fuming and at least three passengers sticking their heads out of the windows going for the full experience. I love the clarity, light and colours of the lovely day and the way the textures look so real. Your notes make the viewer share the excitement and visualize the whole journey. Well done and thank you very much!
All the best,
Ourania

saxo042 (31802) 2012-04-18 9:46

Hi John,
A perfect converging perspective! There is a clear sense of speed in this picture but with direction of the engine, I wonder in what direction the whole train was moving? And you must have been leaning out from the carriage, more than than man closer to the engine? A very good POV and a very pleasant view!
Kind regards
Gunnar

angel66 (1006) 2012-04-19 0:25

Hi John
lovely photo with colours and light we used to see in the 70s. You have managed to bring back memories in all sense, very good and very artistic. Love your POV
Ciao
Giuliana