Wild photo. Do the open flames of the switch heaters pose any risk when a train passes over?
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Awesome photo Marshall. Great use of depth of field.
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Outstanding mood, composition, and color. PCA vote from me.
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A very rarely seen scene, very cool.
Or hot, you decide.
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COOL!! A spectacular photo...with not a train in sight! PCA for this hot photo!
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I have seen such type of phenomena on the track in my life !
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Great photo, Marshall. PCA from me too.
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Says do not touch like no other, Great eye make it work so well.
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Thanks for sharing this most unique view of rail heaters! I agree with the previous comments....this is one cool or hot photo!
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Very interesting and well executed photo. Well done. PCA voted.
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PCA for sure. Awesome photo!
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| Posted by on February 3, 2014 | |
Neat shot, I have not seen any switch heaters which have actual open flames like this before.
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Bravo! Exceptionally well captured.
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Wonderful image! PCA!
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I've seen a lot of great pictures, and I believe this is truly one of my favorites of all time. Excellent job with every single part of this photograph.
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| Posted by on February 3, 2014 | |
I remember riding over switches like that on a Pennsylvania RR train years ago. One sure way to insure the switches work. Does any one know what kind of fuel is used for the flames. Propane, natural gas, oil, kerosene?
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Absolutely wonderful photograph! Thanks for sharing!
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Truly wonderful shot. This was taken at the Western Avenue Metra Station near Fulton. The bridge in the distance is the old "Met" bridge which was part of a long abandoned "L" line. It now serves as support for signals for the Metra Trains.
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On the CP, they used Propane
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I think I might use this image as my desktop for these cold winter nights in Michigan. Just looking at it is making me feel warm. Awesome shot, Marsh!
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| Posted by on February 4, 2014 | |
PCA Beecher! This is seriously so cool.
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| Posted by on February 4, 2014 | |
The best of the best.....GREAT WORK Marshall....Tom.
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Congrats on getting photo of the week. And a nod to RP for selecting it.
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Awesome! Bring out the marshmallows!
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Marshall, great photo from cool spot in Chicago. Again well thought out idea.
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Congrats on photo of the week. Nice!!!
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| Posted by wm7473 on February 5, 2014 | |
Mr Beecher, a terrific photo!!! This interlocking always fascinated me, between the assorted styles of signal equipment and trackwork; the fired up switch heaters with all the 'busy' background lighting make it fascinating.....thank you for sharing it with us!
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I just tossed my camera in the trash. Bravo, well done!
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I don't know why but this makes me think of Back to the Future Part III. Great photo!
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| Posted by Maxim on February 10, 2014 | |
Very nice photo, shows depth really nicely. Well done. After a while looking at this though, I still don't quite understand why its on fire? Its below 0 degrees temperature it seems like with the snow around, and parts of the tracks are on fire! If anyone can answer that question for me, that'd be greatly appreciated.
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Not much I can add to what's been said already - congrats on the PC!
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A work of art that tells a story. A rare combination sir. You should be rightfully proud of the accolades and awards. Well done, very very well done!
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Maxim, a Chicago railroad page I found said these were propane fired heaters which would keep the switches from freezing. It said that passing trains had to run at no faster than 30 miles per hour else the fires would be extinguished, and that this switch (at least in the early 1990s) still had propane-fired equipment as opposed to (more boring to the railroad fan) electric warmers installed elsewhere in Chicago rails. I'm wondering if the propane-flame heaters still exist here, even as the very busy railroad interchange surely does.
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| Posted by Maxim on February 14, 2014 | |
Kurt, thank you for the information. :).
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| Posted by on February 16, 2014 | |
Maxim, the flames are from switch heaters which were once individual units consisting of small tanks with a filler lid and a wick assembly plus a handle on top. These were individually placed by MofW workers or switch tenders under the rails of turnouts and the oil they contained was ignited manually. After the threat of ice/snow was past they would be removed and stored. These old types were almost universally replaced with propane/natgas fired stationary units that were manually of automatically ignited. These often had steel shields parallel to and outside of the rail to protect the flame/passersby. Many of these have been replaced by electric, natural gas or propane units installed lineside with ducts and a fan to deliver hot air to the rails.
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A better version of the Chicago Fire... Nice capture, very creative
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Fantastic shot! I remember as a child back in the 1950's seeing the smudge pots burning throughout the rail yards in downtown St. Louis and thought many times what a beautiful sight. Thanks for sharing Marshall and bringing back good memories of times with my dad who worked for the TRRA.
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Works better than an electric blanket. A truly phenomenal shot, Marshall.
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