June 2011 Contest

[JCagle]

For the June contest I'd like to take a trip down memory lane of sorts. Many people have special memories that involve their dad and railfanning. Since Father's Day falls in June I'd like to take this month's contest and look at some Dad inspired shots. Maybe it was a place that you remember going with your dad, or a special trip with dad, or something that has a tie to your dad or an adopted father figure in some way. Be sure to share the story behind it as well, and we'll get that up on the main page as well.

We'll take entries until the 31st since we got a late start this month and we'll have voting and announce the winner the beginning of the week before Father's Day.

and as always:

All images entered in the contest must be your own images. Any violations of this will be banned from entering the contest for 6 months. Any subsequent violations will receive a minimum of 1 year suspension from the contest. At Jreb we take seriously the rights of photographers, and we strive to protect those rights.

Entries may be watermarked with your name if you desire, but please remove any references to other sites for contest entries.

There will be a theme announced for each month's contest.

All entries must be Norfolk Southern or it's predecessors.

There is no age limit or time frame that the pictures must be from.

Everyone including moderators and administrators may enter the contest.

Each participant is limited to two entries in the contest.

Since the winning image is posted on the main page you must attach the file as a thumbnail. You may post the image in the thread as well if you desire. Attaching the image can be done in the additional options menu above and to the left of the post button.

The deadline for entries will be posted in the theme post each month. Following the deadline a poll is placed in the thread for voting. When the poll is posted the deadline to vote is also posted. The poll will time out at the designated time. The winner is determined by the highest vote total.

In the event of a tie vote there will be a 48 hour run off.

If you have any questions or concerns contact jbcagle7073 via the private messaging feature, or via email at

[mbgphoto79]

My dad was solely responsible for my love of trains as well as photography.  He was a combat photographer in Vietnam and held onto that skill long enough to pass it down to me.  His father used to take him and his brother out to watch trains in Charlotte when the passenger station was off of Trade St. We used to go out on the weekends in Charlotte to watch the trains work the south end of the yard and cross over the CSX Monroe line.  Before long he had discovered the NS steam program and I had the privilege of riding quite a few of the excursions before that program ended in 1994.  Riding behind the N&W 611, 1218 and SOU 4501 are some of the fondest memories I have from my childhood.  Thanks, Dad!

Here is a shot from the McDowell St. bridge in Asheville, NC. The subject matter is self explanatory and for the record there is not one piece of non-NS rolling stock in the photo (save for the ancient clamshell crane)!  Date is probably 1991 but I could be wrong. 

[Matt L]

My Dad (RIP) encouraged me to be a railfan. He grew up in Elmira (NY) during the late steam/early diesel era... when the Erie, DL&W, the Lehigh Valley and the Pennsy all passed through the area. By the time I came along, the Erie and the DL&W had merged into the Erie Lackawanna. Dad used to take me out in his Morgan (a British sports car) and one of these things we loved doing was overtaking EL freights in the Chemung River valley between Elmira and Waverly.

Dad is gone now. So is my beloved EL... and even CR after it. Even so, I think Dad would be happy to know NS keeps the trains rolling on the old Erie/EL mainline in the Chemung River valley.  



Photo taken by me Friday 1/29/2010 in Wellsburg, NY.

[SOU4501]

My Dad (RIP) was definitely not a railfan,but his love of working on cars helped me become a railfan. The attached picture shows the NS Yadkin Local rolling eastbound thru our hometown of Rockwell,NC. When i was young Dad was friends and business partners with Shotgun Talbert,the Southern Ry agent for the Yadkin branch who worked out of the depot in Rockwell. They would buy old cars,Dad would fix them up,and they would sell them. Dad's friendship with Shotgun got me a steady supply of Ties magazine and a few cab rides. What more could it take to turn a young boy into a railfan for life? Thanks Dad!

[JCagle]

The poll is up and active for 5 days. Good Luck!

[JCagle]

Congrats to Sou4501. We will get the pic on the main page tonight.