The Benefits Of Using Drones While Railfanning

Drones have become immensely  popular  for doing video and photography. They provide views  that one would not be able to get on the ground. Drones are an excellent  tool but they also must be used responsibly, and they also must be registered  on the FAA website. But despite  the hassle and regulations it is worthwhile  to look into getting  one especially  if you are a railfan. There are many reasons to get one and drones can help railfans do tasks that only a drone is capable of.  RPJ has compiled a list of reasons  for railfans to get a drone.

1.  Drones  can fly above train yards: Railroad management  is normally  hostile  to railfans that are in the ground on foot. Railfans are always looking for specific engines and sometimes the only place you can see them by going through a train yard. Unfortunately this is Illegal to do on foot and can result in trespassing charges. However,   a drone can solve this problem as long as it is no lower than 80 feet in the air. So if you have a hard time with getting  a particular  locomotive  and you know it's  in that yard it's  possible  to get it now thanks to drones.

2. They can prevent  a meet blocking  a desired train. One of the biggest  pains a railfan  can run into while railfanning is being blocked  by another train. Just ask the railfans who got blocked  from seeing Nickel Plate Road 765 at Berea and Horseshoe Curve! A drone could  have easily  solved this problem  for any railfan who had to deal with this dilemna by being above the problem.

3. Another thing they can do is remove the annoyance of having  objects or people in the way of your shot:
Let's  face it, most of us have had to deal with the jackass lady with the ipad before that cuts in front of your  shot to get her lousy photo. With a drone you don't  have to really deal with that as you are above everything. It also prevents conflict breaking out thanks to ones ignorance.

4. Also, drones  can take video and have still photos taken out of it: This is very useful  for flying drones above areas with lots of trains such as LTEX, NREX, or museums that have too much equipment  to record  in one  shot.

5. Drones can make shots much more interesting  for your audiences. Let's  face it, I run a page called Worldwide  Railfan Productions  as well and our viewers are always  looking  for something  new and different  than what the competition  puts out. If they get bored because  our  material  is getting  stale we try to do stuff differently  and it tends to gather their interest back into railfanning. Drones  can be an excellent  source of changing it up by providing  unique  views that you can't  normally  get.

Have any other reasons using  a drone is beneficial  for railfanning?  Comment them below!

Shortline Spotlight: The Youngstown and Southeastern Railway

Article By Ian Cole

Not a lot of shortline  railroads can say they started out as an interurban route. But that is actually the case of the Youngstown  and Southeastern, whose predecessor  the Youngstown  and Southern was created in 1903 and ran interurban  passenger service from 1907 to 1948. The railroad ran from the steel giant Youngstown, Ohio  to the small town of Darlington, Pennsylvania.

The Y & S also had two other branch lines, one that went to the village of Leetonia, Ohio, and the other to the town of Smith's  Ferry, Ohio and both lines  would become abandoned later on. The railroad exchanged owners a handful of times, at one point being jointly owned by the Pittsburgh  and Lake Erie  Railroad and the Pennsylvania  Railroad.
In 1996 the local owner at the time illegally  closed the line at the time and repairs were blocked by the company. The line then went on to become the Central Columbiana and Pennsylvania  Railroad, however that operation  would only last two years. Ohio Central went on to operate  the line until 2006 when the modern day Youngstown  and Southeastern  Railroad  Company was founded.

That railroad  became a hauler of garbage to the Negley, Ohio landfill, however operations to the landfill would only happen for a few years as the landfill and railroad  never came to terms in 2012. However the railroad continues  to haul steel pipes and fracking sand down to Signal, Ohio and Darlington, Pennsylvania.

The railroad also has a modest locomotive  shop down in Negley, Ohio. However  beware railfans, security  is tough so it's  virtually  impossible  to get in unless you know somebody. The railroad  also boasts Two depots that are still standing. One in Columbiana, Ohio that serves as an office, and the other in North  Lima, Ohio where the engines are normally  parked. The line also has a 10 mile per hour speed restriction  so it is fairly easy and convenient  to do chases of.  Locomotive  power that the railroad  uses consists  of all EMD power including GP 18s GP 10s and GP 9s. The railroad also has a nice variety  of paint schemes including one based on the Paducah  and Louisville railroad.

If you are ever in the Youngstown  area this is a great railroad to take some time to railfan. They typically  run every other day to the south of North  Lima and vice versa to the north on days that they are not operating south of North Lima.
One final  note for horn fans. A couple of the engines use RS5T and S5T  horns.

Ask Me Anything: Railroad Edition

How I got into trains? I can credit this to four things My great grand parents, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, watching conrail trains in Salem,  Ohio, and Youngstown  Sheet and Tube no. 301 aka the canfield fair train.

Favorite  Railroads? I'd  definitely  say four for sure Baltimore  and Ohio, Chessie System, Conrail, and Ferromex.

Favorite  paint scheme on a locomotive? I love the 8114 heritage  unit because  of the paint, however  that is ironically  one of four  heritage  units i have yet to catch.

Favorite  Place To Watch Trains? It's  hard to say one place as I have been to many. My top three would have to be North  East, Pennsylvania Rochester, New York and probably  Connellsville, Pennsylvania.

Worst day of railfanning  ever? A lot of my friends  know that I am not a fan of the Norfolk  Southern  Dash 9 widecab whatsoever, in fact some days I downright  hate the stupid things. Anyways  one day i was out railfanning  at Salem, Ohio and I had gotten 8 trains in 2 hours which seems pretty good right? Well, there was a problem  with that. EVERY  ENGINE  on EVERY  TRAIN was a Dash 9!!! No variety  whatsoever! I would take a day where i only got one train over this..

Best memory while railfanning? Probably  the weekend where I got The Wabash  heritage  unit, The central of georgia, Bessemer  and lake erie, Illinois  central, a millitary train, and probably  a ton of epicness I'm  forgetting  in those two days...  Berea Railthon 2013 was amazing  too.

Encounters  with police while railfanning?
Yeah every now and then there is an instance  where someone  will think I am suspicious and call me in. Typically  nothing  bad has happened  because  of this, never got a fine or asked to leave by them, in fact one of Salems police  officers will occasionally  watch trains with me and has gave me some train dvds for Christmas  before. So there is definitely no hard feelings by me or them.

Weirdest thing that has happened  to me while railfanning? I witnessed  a mama bear and two cubs cross the tracks in North Springfield, Pennsylvania  this year. Does that count?

Have you ever been in the cab of a locomotive  before? Yes a handful, Ive been in the cab of  the south shore commuter  trains in chicago twice, two different  alco rs3 locomotives , a GE 60 tonner, a couple of Youngstown and Southeastern  locomotives and a bunch of ones that don't  run.

How long have you been photographing trains for? I've  been at it for four years, a decision  I ultimately  regret as I wish I  was born with  a camera in my hands. I missed  a ton of cool stuff growing up.

GE or EMD Trains? How about Alco or Lima instead!

Least favorite  thing about the railroads? Cab signals  no question  as beneficial  as they are for railroaders it was mostly the death of variety, other than mega mergers

Thing you miss the most while railfanning? I'm  actually  sad they don't  run roadrailers on the fort wayne line any more.. I used to hate the things when I was young, but then i learned my line was one of two that had them... glad I got what I did.

Your typical railfan squad? I normally  hang out with my good friends  Roger Chamberlain, Lee Kemmer, Sam Zitello, and Enoch Hamilton. Occasionally  I'll  do it with Ben Craft or Brian szemon, but I'm  typically  down with doing it with just about  anybody.

Pick your poison Dash 9s for the rest of your life or no trains the rest of your life?
Probably  no trains, I'm  sure I can find something  else to do.

Favorite  steam  locomotive? Nickel  Plate Road 765 would probably  be the one! Although  I wish B & O  had an EM1 still..

Funniest  memory  while railfanning?
Probably  when my friend Ben cussed out some trespassers in Rochester, Pennsylvania.

How many rail museums have you visited? 13 so far.

What hot spots have you visited? Chesterton, Berea, Fostoria, Altoona, Cresson, Rochester (Pennsylvania and New York), Elkhart, Conneaut, Alliance, Bellevue, Connellsville, North East, Erie, Toledo, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Willard

Favorite  short line? Youngstown  and Southeastern  for sure.

Favorite  rail museum? Either Mad River and NKP or Lake Shore  Railway Museum.

If you could go back to one decade to railfan and you got to take your camera with you  what decade would you choose? The 1950s you get literally  the best of everything then. 1990s would be a close second.

Favorite Railroader? Either my Great Grandfather  or Chris Ratini.

Sketchiest spot you railfanned at? Youngstown  or Philadelphia...

Advice  for younger railfans? Don't  wear the vest, please just don't wear it. You'll  thank yourself later.

A List Of Celebrities Who Also Liked Trains

1. Johnny Cash: While  this may not suprise some, as seen by  his numerous songs that had stuff to do with trains such as "I've  got a thing about trains". Johnny Cash was in fact a railfan, having grown up near both the Rock Island Line and Cotton Belt route, it's  fair to say he had an interest in trains. Also, in his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "hurt" you can see him in the cab of Southern  Railway No. 4501. Another thing with him is that on his variety  show back in the 1960s that always included a segment on railroads. You could say Johnny  was a train fan through and through.

2. Walt Disney: When you were known for placing  a Steam Railroad and a Monorail both in the same amusement  park you own, it's  fair to say you must have some interest in trains. There have also been reports  that before creating Walt Disney Inc, he worked on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Not only that he also owned numerous  toy trains. Walt Disney  could be the definition  of a railfan if need be.

3. Rod Stewart: Famous Rock n Roll star Rod Stewart is known for owning a tremendous  HO scale model train layout he calls "the three river city". He was also once quoted stating that  "I'm proud to be a railway modeler,"  "It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine." Obviously  this bluntly  states he has a passion for trains as well.

4. Joe Biden: Along with being the 47th Vice President  of the United  States, Biden is known to be a passenger train enthusiast. He has logged over 2 MILLION  MILES  on Amtrak  travel alone over the past 40 years or so.  He is a major advocate for passenger rail and played a major role in making sure Amtrak got 2 Billion  dollars to go towards upgrading their trains on the Northeast Corridor. Not only that, he also played a part in restoring St. Paul, Minnesota's  Union Station.  Regardless  of your political  beliefs, Joe has been and continues  to be a major advocate  for trains.

5. Merle Haggard: The fact that Merle's 23rd studio album is called "My Love Affair  With Trains" could be enough evidence  for some that he really  enjoys his trains. His  Father also worked for the Atchison,  Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad and he lived in a house made out of a Santa  Fe boxcar. His tour bus was even painted  with the Santa Fe "drumhead" logo on it! Not only that, but his collection  of model trains was worth over $250,000! So yeah, you could say he was pretty devoted to his trains!!

6. Neil Young: Neil Young has always  been a huge fan of Lionel Trains since he was a young boy. He got his first Lionel set when he was a pre-teen and had kept his hobby since. His special needs son Ben, is also a big fan of the trains and they bond together  through their love of model trains! In fact, their bond was so significant  that Neil had a "paddle" designed for Ben  to operate the trains by leaning his head into the paddle to apply and disengage power to the train set due to the fact he had severe  difficulties  using his arms and legs. Talk about devotion!

7. Roger Daltry: The singer of world renowned  band The Who has a 45×25 foot layout that he operates in his attic with some of his friends. He discovered  this hobby when he was in his "middle age".  Him and  his friend Cliff Parsons were both appalled at the fact that children of Brittain didn't  know much about their country's proud railroad  history, and are working on developing  the 2.5 acre Ashford International  Model Railway Educational Centre, which is planned to feature  up to 30 massive model railroad layouts worth several hundred thousands of pounds! There is no denying  his love of trains when he out that much into it!

8. Frank Sinatra: Ol Blue eyes  had a thing for trains, so much so that he would take the subway from Hoboken to Manhattan  just to see the model trains in window displays at department  stores! His mother pawned an old fox fur she had aquired so that way Frank could have his first train set. Another interesting  tale about Frank was that he would hop aboard streetcars with his friends to the old Lionel train factory and search their dumpsters for discarded model train parts. They would then put together trains from whatever larts they could find! ( Talk about hardcore!) As an adult his interest  never faded, as he devoted an entire guesthouse on his California  ranch to become a model train shrine! This was how he would spend his time out of the limelight  to unwind. Because of the fact that he was on tour constantly, Sinatra  never really had time to buy trains of his own. However, his staff loved him like his own family and went out of their way to buy an actual  full sized caboose that was placed  on his ranch property! Devoted? I'd  say for sure!