Fog is a part of being on the shore, especially in the morning hours before the sun has a chance to burn it off. With the recent warmer weather, there was some fairly dense fog at the southern end of the Thames River this morning. I figured I might be able to incorporate the low clouds into a shot or two while out on my daily walk. It would work for a couple, but not exactly in a way I had envisioned.
Driving into work this morning, I was hoping that the layer of fog would reach at least as far north as Red Top in Ledyard. There were a few angles I thought would work with a thick fog hanging over the water. Looking out the office window this morning, I thought it may just work out. So once it came time for my walk, I headed north aiming for the Mill Cove & Red Top area. But by the time I got north of the Sub Base, the fog had lifted, and only a clear view of the tracks was left. So it was time to switch to plan B.
What’s plan B you ask? At the time I had no idea. So I walked around a bit – I had a good 10 minutes before Providecne & Worcester train NR-2 arrived in the area. A good way to kill two birds with one stone – get my walk in and scout out some angles. One angle struck my eye, so I changed the telephoto to the wide angle lens and sized things up. Yeah, it should work. A bit later, NR-2 showed up, and this was the resulting shot:
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As the train rolled past, another shot caught my eye – one with a blooming tree across the water.
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Not too bad – not exactly what I had wanted, but still workable. Satisfied, I headed for the car and started driving back.
On the way, NR-2 arrived in Fairview yard, and was doing some switching as I passed by them. Looking to the right, I noticed that the Thames River bridge was partially enveloped in fog. Hmmm, that may make a pretty neat shot from the south side of it. So I headed there and snapped this one – kinda titled Girders in the Mist
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As I climbed back in the car, NR-2 was asking the Amtrak Shore Line dispatcher if they could head over to the NECR yard in New London in about 5 minutes. OK, that would work – I could get down a bit further south and get a good shot of the train crossing the bridge. I got there a couple minutes ahead of the train, and grabbed these shots. Too bad part of the fog cloud lifted.
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As the train cleared, a gentleman approached me asking if I was a railfan. Well, we proceeded to talk for a bit as NR-2 sounded for the New London crossings across the river – he was originally from the area, then moved to Maryland and is back in town because his daughter is having a baby. A minute or so later, another horn pierced the fog – this time it sounded like an eastbound Acela. Yep, it sure was, and this time the fog rolled back in, so I grabbed a couple shots of the train heading across the Thames.
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We talked a bit more, then I had to head back. Another day of some different shots – not exactly what I had in mind, but still I think they worked out for the best.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
