2016 In Review: My Top 5 Favorite Railfanning Highlights

[@jimholder6656]

A truly outstanding collection of individual videos -- many thanks! There's no railroading quite like found in Calif. -- certainly the most scenic!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Jim! Glad you like it! There's something for everyone in Cali. From urban cityscapes and open meadows, to mountain passes and deserts. It's hard to get bored out here.

[@mojostevo]

I'd also like to compliment you filming and editing, very well done.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you! Thanks for tuning in.

[@iusetano]

Oh yes!!!!! I'm hoping to see more videos like these in the coming year. Some stunning shots that you had. Excellent video. All the best in 2017.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks! I will continue posting as the year unfolds, you can be sure of that.

[@shootisttx15]

Great video...very entertaining. The various engineers definitely have their own techniques on how they blow the horns.

[@Alwaystrains]

Indeed they do, thanks for tuning in Steve!

[@charliebrooks2570]

Nice UP shots! Keep em coming!

[@stephenrocks7004]

When I was 10 years old we spent a week at “ Jack London square “ some 50 years ago. My brother and I laid dozens of coins down on those tracks. We were told that He wrote “Call of the Wild” there. Wish I new the rest of the story

[@luispatricio2801]

In the last locomotive that you recorded that it was that thing that I had in the top of the cabin, I thought it was a pantograph but since there was no catenary I discarded that

[@Alwaystrains]

Ah, a common misconception. It's an icicle-breaker. It knocks low-hanging icicles off of tunnel roofs

[@mythicmesa]

Can't stop thinking it's the sound capture, you will be my sound guy in my next life, really spot on, nice camera positioning, offbeat angles too, a good year!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you! I always thought a video should sound as good as it looks. I invested in some good camera equipment and it pays off. Thanks for tuning in last year! As always I'll be bringing you (the youtube viewers) along with me on my rail related adventures for 2017.

[@TrainsNStuff]

what kind of camera (cameras) do you use?

[@Alwaystrains]

@Trains N' Stuff: My primary camera is a Canon Vixia HF-G20, paired up with a Canon DM-100 external microphone. In some circumstances I'll opt not to use the microphone, in situations where it would take too long to set up, or I'll grab one of my Canon Rebel DSLRs. But my primary set-up is the G20 with the microphone.

[@TrainsNStuff]

Cool! I assume mics make it where the horn isn't distorted? I use a Canon SFX510HS (no mic) and I'm starting to use a Canon (Camcorder) Vixia HF R70.

[@Alwaystrains]

Not exactly. While using the mic does give better sound on the horn, it's not the reason I bought one. The stock microphone in the camera can handle horn volume reasonably well. The reason I bought the mic was to cut down on wind noise, which it does an exceptional job at. In one of my recordings, it managed to filter out 15mph winds and capture the wind rustling through the leaves on nearby trees. It's a great investment.

[@sammcpherson1194]

I love the snowiest pulls!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Sam! Winter snow videos stand as my most popular subject matter. I'm already looking forward to the 2017/2018 winter season.

[@gracenauen9828]

That was a wonderful DVD on rail caning in the West. Oh I also enjoyed how you changed from. One to the other groups Thank You

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Grace. Glad you liked it.

[@FlyToChina0071]

Another nice video. Keep 'em coming :-) Cheers Adam

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Adam!

[@tiffyost662]

Awesome viewing!👍🏼😊

[@seth2943]

5:33 RIP paper

[@Alwaystrains]

aw man he dead lol

[@peterrezba995]

Love the UP passenger train at the beginning of the video. Very well designed, very good taste (the paint job as well ,amazing colors). Definitely made a point to hitch a ride on it soon. Where was it crossing?

[@Alwaystrains]

If you're a railroad executive, or know one, then yeah you probably could ride. I filmed it at the Oakland Mole

[@jasonborgen5932]

🎉

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

These spots are definitely worth Checking out!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Yes I would recommend visiting these spots when you get the chance.

[@carmichaeltrainproductionc9663]

Oh I will!!

[@mccoy79productions66]

Fantastic

[@Bernardo1946]

Thanks again for theses great videos , best of 2017 for you

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Bernard! Same to you.

[@starnet36]

Great videos; thanks for uploading. What video editing software do you use?

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks! I edit with the youtube editor, though I'm looking to upgrade to a legit software soon.

[@seth2943]

7:35 RIP headphone users

[@Nicola636128]

Great catches for the 2016.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you!

[@mojostevo]

Holy cow the first video was awesome!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@trainzguy2472]

Where do you find out where all these trains are and when to see them? I'm an SF peninsula railfanner. I can't figure out where to find realtime info on good consists to watch. Is there any internet site you'd reccommend to find freight train numbers/times or possibly another way to find out?

[@Alwaystrains]

Not in particular. The good ones will get talked about on forums like Headsupnorcal, or TrainOrders. Other than that, it's all just hearing it from friends up the line.

[@watchintrains1359]

Great footage!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@Maine_Railfan]

Awesome catches!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@Maine_Railfan]

No problem!

[@jackquinndennis1636]

Great video, but WHAT was that BNSF consist with all the "pass cars"??? Those're sleepers, right?

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Jack. That was BNSF's Superbowl Special, some sleepers, most are chair cars.

[@TrainsNStuff]

Amazing!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@TrainsNStuff]

You're welcome! I do miss BUGX 1322's horn.

[@16thaveproductions]

Awesome video -Austin

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Austin!

[@f.s.937]

What is on top of the Roof on the last locomotive you can see in this Video?? Looking like a Pantograph but the Line has no electrification. Thanks for enlightenment :-)

[@Alwaystrains]

It's an icicle-breaker. It's purpose is to knock down low-hanging icicles from the tops of tunnels.

[@f.s.937]

Ahh..... OK :-) Make sense. Thanks for the informations. Greetings from Stuttgart / Germany.

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

Things i have learned from watching: 1st: Trains in the US are really REALLY long. Do you have sssoooo long train station? Or how do make it possible that all passengers can get in and out? 2nd: A lot of railways in the US are in really bad condition. 3rd: Where is the electrification? There are only Diesel Locomotives.

[@Alwaystrains]

1. Most station platforms are long enough to accommodate such passenger trains. Believe it or not, there was a time in US history where passenger trains were longer than the ones running today. 2. Most mainlines are not in bad shape, not for our purposes anyway. In the US, railroads are privately owned enterprises. Only one railroad (Amtrak) receives government funding. So everything that the railroads do, they have to pay for out of pocket. That might be why the lines don't appear to be in as good a shape as those overseas. 3. I don't have very many videos of electrified trains simply because I live on the west coast. On the east coast, much of the railroad is electrified. The big cities and their power sources are close enough to each other that it makes sense to have that kind of set-up. Out on the west coast, power sources are so far apart that it's not economically feasible to have an electrified set-up. The Milwaukee Road (a railroad that no longer exists) experimented with a cross-country electrified line in the 30's/40's/50's, and was deemed a failure. By the 60's and 70's, the railroad was back to full diesel.

[@southwestohiorails4645]

What video editor do you use

[@Alwaystrains]

I am currently using a software called Cyberlink Powerdirector.

[@markgotham5372]

How about that....In the Back Yard....Petaluma, Ca,......Nice Shots....Mark

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Mark. Are you also a Sonoma County resident? I live along the NWP. It's fun to have a totally lively and colorful shortline in my area.

[@thenoblegerman2637]

What kind of engine is UP 585 and what is that thing on top of the cab?

[@Alwaystrains]

The Noble German 585 is an EMD GP38-2, former SP. The thing on the cab is an icicle-breaker, used for clearing ice buildup off of tunnel ceilings in the winter

[@thenoblegerman2637]

AlwaysTrainsHD interesting

[@kayehess5238]

I am seeing cabooses on some of the trains. I thought they did away with those several years ago?

[@Alwaystrains]

For the most part, they did. As conductors and brakemen rode the cabooses, their job was to visually keep watch over the train and report what they were seeing to the engineer and fireman up front. What ended this practice was the development of the F.R.E.D (flashing rear end device). Not only does the FRED serve as the marker for the end of the train, but it has a computer that gathers data regarding the train's movement. That data is then fed electronically to the engineer at the head end, which means the conductor no longer needs to ride at the back, and can now sit up front with the engineer (this practice also phased out the official "fireman" position on diesel-powered trains.) Although the conditions necessitating cabooses no longer exist, many short-lines and switching jobs have re-purposed them to use as "shoving platforms," as they're easy to get on and off and have a catwalk for a conductor to stand on while riding point on a shove. The last train in the video, the flanger, also has a car on it that resembles a caboose, however it is not a caboose at all. It has a blade underneath it that pulls snow out from between the flanges of the rails and throws it off to the side. So basically, cabooses have in large part been re-purposed for switching and MoW related jobs. Hope that answers the question.

[@leonardolucero7200]

muy bueno el vídeo.

[@Alwaystrains]

Gracias.

[@peterrezba995]

Looking forward to some new videos.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks. I'm adding more by the week

[@peterrezba995]

Excellent!! Looking forward. Thanks!!!

[@1000tCSX]

Ocean man... K5LA

[@bambanghudaevi8468]

every train has to put a flag on the train crew