End of an Era - Marias Pass

Photo By Justin Franz

From Mark Meyer, Montana Railroads Yahoo Group,

"Speaking of ES44 locomotives, some of the six-traction motor variety have replaced the venerable SD40-2s long in service in helper service at Essex. SD40s are being phased out and replaced with more fuel-efficient power, especially during the downturn in business. Two SD40-2s are expected to remain in the Essex area for work train service and may be used as auxiliary helper power as necessary. Helpers for the most part, are only used on eastward stack and merchandise trains."

Summit Crossover, Glacier National Park, October 2008.

Photo By Justin Franz

First Friday - March 6

On March 6th, Dylan Peck and myself will be the featured artists at Sotto Voce in downtown Missoula. Both of us will display images from the past few months ranging from subjects like railroads, scenery and people. So please come on down see some photography, have a drink and maybe even buy a shot.

First Friday - Missoula, Montana - March 6th

Sotto Voce - 111 West Main Street, next to The Dark Room.

White Powder, Black Dimonds

By Justin Franz

One from the cutting room floor

Newburg, West Virginia. March 2007. Photo by Justin Franz

In March 2007, Mike Confalone, Joe Posik, Tim Franz and myself made a three day trip to 'Wild and Wonderful' West Virginia to photograph the former Baltimore and Ohio 'West End', today CSXs Mountain Sub. What ensued were three intense days of winter railfanning as we criss-crossed northern West Virginia and western Maryland in search of Color Positon Lights, Interlocking Towers, coal train and of course the wild railroading of West 'By God' Virginia.

Now the whole story of that trip is told in the pages of Railroad Explorer Magazine in 10-page special 'White Powder, Black Diamonds - Four New England Railfans Head South.' The Winter 2009 issue tells the entire story authored by myself and illustrated by all four of us.

The Winter 2009 issue of Railroad Explorer is on sale now for $9.95.

For more information visit www.railroadexplorer.com

Election Day

Photos by Justin Franz

Here are a few shots in and around Missoula, Montana taken today, November 3, 2008. Election Day in America.

More to come later!

MRL 20th Anniversary Excursion

In October 2007, Montana Rail Link celebrated their 20th Anniversary by operating a series of excursions across the system. Here are two images from that day, scanned from Color Kodachrome 64 Slides (and changed to black and white in photo shop, due to some odd coloration from the poor scan)

Enjoy

Train Master David Franz, Northern Pacific Depot, Missoula, Montana

Montana Rail Link 10th Sub, Arlee, Montana

Photos By Justin Franz

Special Thanks to David Franz and Montana Rail Link

Plugging It

For anyone who enjoys great railroad photography the Fall 2008 issue of Railroad Explorer is a must buy. Besides featuring what looks to be an excellent in-depth look at CP Rail's (Now Montreal, Maine and Atlantic) Sherbrooke Sub, there is an excellent photo essay by Tim Franz on his time on the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad in the 1980s. With an introduction by his son, myself, the essay has six awesome images of this shortline. As one who helped in selecting the images I can tell you it's an excellent spread, much of it never before published.

The Fall 2008 issue of Railroad Explorer is on sale now and sells for only $9.95.

Check out http://www.railroadexplorer.com for more information

Lock 11

Photos By Justin Franz

During a lull in action of CSX's Mohawk Sub, I wondered over to Lock 11 along the Mohawk River to document this relic of the past still in use today. Here are the results.

For more information on the locks of the Mohawk River or how one works, check out this site....
http://www.eriecanal.org/locks.html