Out back

[vaneramos]

Railway lines reveal backsides of cities. I enjoy riding trains to see this other face, the less elegant aspects of human habitation and industry.

These photos come from close to home, between Stevenson Street and Victoria Road. Though it's only a block away, I had never explored that stretch before yesterday. This is not the busy passenger line running service from Guelph to Toronto, but a quieter cargo line heading further south of east along the Eramosa River toward Erin Mills. Where it leads, I would like to know.

Behind a row of washed out houses I found some rotting wooden ties. As I poked around, I noticed a woman working nearby. She was slender and tough, with long brown hair and a dry face. She pushed a wheelbarrow, picking up wooden scraps.

"What did you find?" she asked.

Nothing really.

Then I noticed a crumbling pickup and went over to photograph it. As I squatted there, she came over.

"Photography class?" she asked.

"Just for fun," I said. "Sometimes old things are the most interesting."

She cocked an eye at the truck. "That's really old.".

She took a red wagon some child had left behind and dragged it away.

Comments

[missprune.livejournal.com]

i specially like the car and weeds picture. That's the sort of thing that really catches my eye.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that in your photos, too: beauty in everyday things, and in their details.

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

these are such beautiful pictures- railways hold such magic in them.
thank you for posting these.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. Yes, they're like a slightly different plane running alongside the one where we drive and move about our normal days.

[tim-e-bear.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why, but I really like the rusty truck picture.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Well, something about that view certainly caught my eye!

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

I too, have a long fascination with railroads. As evidenced by the lumpy rails this is not a through-line. Speed limit here is probably about 5mph.

An important tip on photographing rail lines or merely walking along them: Never walk between the rails, instead:always travel beside them. Despite the seemingly unlikeliness, it is possible for a train to sneak up on you and there's always a remote possibility the crew may somehow not see you. The result could be fatal. Your chances of survival are manifold by walking alongside instead of between the rails. The truck is no more than 25 years old and is either a Chevrolet or GMC. Nice stuff and I'd like to see more!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, the trains on that stretch of track move slowly, probably because they have several busy streets to cross, even Highway 7. Then they move into countryside and pick up speed. It isn't heavily travelled either, at least I don't hear them often. I guess two or three times a week.

Thanks for the advice.

[halation.livejournal.com]

the text is esp. lovely. make sure you keep it!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I certainly will. I do enjoy recording dialogue when I remember it.