SGS 2470 R474 heading for Gharibwal 19th Dec 1995
Early morning sun on the Gharibwal branch. Train R474, the 07:10 off Malakwal, gallops across the Jelhum plain with 0-6-0 SGS number 2470 and crew in charge.
It was a gamble to come out here, mornings usually dawned with cloud which would soon burn off. This was generated by the proximity of the Salt Range hills seen rising behind in the not too far off distance, and this particular stretch offered relatively clear views over the flat landscape in an area covered by semi arid and often dense scrub.
The evening prior had given a cloudless sunset so I made the decision to come out here the next morning. It was a very early start to catch a train out to Haranpur Junction and to then walk along the line to this position from there, and my memories are of the push I gave to myself to get up early enough, and then the wait here during the sunrise, the hope and then then joy of the sun as it warmed the air against my back. This increased with the joy of the smoke trail, without which the picture would just not have been the same. The exhaust perhaps was the most important element in steam railway photography, today it is either ignored by people who are unfamiliar with steam locomotive photography, it is approached in the way same as a diesel, or for guaranteed success it is laid on by request, perhaps with repeated runpasts, or you get lucky!
The estimation as to where it may occur has been carried over into my present day efforts with the diesel as there is no doubt it adds animation and drama to a photograph. The environmental credentials of black smoke are not great of course, this is an internal struggle I have always been aware off, and battled internally with, but the trains are here and I love them, in that my heart rules over my head!
So no, I won't chop a tree down because its in the way of my photo, but I will happily climb it if possible for a better view!
December the 19th 1995.
SGS 2470 R474 heading for Gharibwal 19th Dec 1995
Early morning sun on the Gharibwal branch. Train R474, the 07:10 off Malakwal, gallops across the Jelhum plain with 0-6-0 SGS number 2470 and crew in charge.
It was a gamble to come out here, mornings usually dawned with cloud which would soon burn off. This was generated by the proximity of the Salt Range hills seen rising behind in the not too far off distance, and this particular stretch offered relatively clear views over the flat landscape in an area covered by semi arid and often dense scrub.
The evening prior had given a cloudless sunset so I made the decision to come out here the next morning. It was a very early start to catch a train out to Haranpur Junction and to then walk along the line to this position from there, and my memories are of the push I gave to myself to get up early enough, and then the wait here during the sunrise, the hope and then then joy of the sun as it warmed the air against my back. This increased with the joy of the smoke trail, without which the picture would just not have been the same. The exhaust perhaps was the most important element in steam railway photography, today it is either ignored by people who are unfamiliar with steam locomotive photography, it is approached in the way same as a diesel, or for guaranteed success it is laid on by request, perhaps with repeated runpasts, or you get lucky!
The estimation as to where it may occur has been carried over into my present day efforts with the diesel as there is no doubt it adds animation and drama to a photograph. The environmental credentials of black smoke are not great of course, this is an internal struggle I have always been aware off, and battled internally with, but the trains are here and I love them, in that my heart rules over my head!
So no, I won't chop a tree down because its in the way of my photo, but I will happily climb it if possible for a better view!
December the 19th 1995.