Final Work on My Last Trip

This trip is behind me and done. There was little planning for this trip. I had thought about taking a day in Colonial Williamsburg, where I lived 40 years ago, but decided that a library trip would be more productive. I got home, took a few days to get video edited and posted to YouTube. I am a believer in editing. I have seen video that look like they posted raw video. I take the leader  and unproductive parts out.

First step in this process is to copy the video from the camcorder or camera or phone, leaving the originals on the device for the present. After copying the file on the computer, from the devise, I give it a raw file number. It is in my raw video file, the last number plus one. I enter  this progressive for all raw files. Even if the raw file is added to others or is not used, it gets a separate number. My final Byrd Park video required 5 raw files. To this number, I build the final file name for raw. After editing these files are place in a file for raw data, just in case I need to come back to them.

Once editing, the video will be filed on my computer and the appropriate ones will be uploaded to YouTube. All done! I finished the last thing this afternoon when I took stills off the video.

This trip was little to plan, and had some changes as I went. Now to work on some of my next,

The Drive Home, Tuesday

I did not even cross a railroad track, except on overpasses, going some place. I decided that I might stop where I might watch and video, on my way down I 95 and US 301, on my way home. Looking at my memory as well as the map, I would pull off the interstate and take 301 south of Skippers, find a place and watch.  I stopped at the crossing, at Skippers, to see how good it was. Southbound was good but northbound not good as far as my standards go. Looking south, I did see what I thought might be a trains headlight. It was just a reflection off a metal shed. I than looked north and there is was. Even if I am checking a site out, I take my camcorder and camera, just in case something should come by. As luck would have it, a south bound freight. I did not have time to get my tripod, so I videoed the train, hand held.

After this train went past, I decided to continue on 301 until I got to a better place. I lived in Weldon, NC for a while and knew the area well. I decided that Halifax, NC would be the best place to stop and watch. I drove through town to find a pace to get lunch, Before I got back on the bypass, An Amtrak came through. As close as I can figure, it was a late Silver Star, Amtrak 92. I first stopped for a hot dog for lunch. I pulled over where I would watch and unfortunately, a south bound freight came through, before I could get set. I got settled in, set up my tripod, and was getting settled when the northbound Carolinian, Amtrak 80 comes by:

Over the next several hour, two freights came though. After I got home and began to get my video ready, I realized that the first of the two was the one that passed me in Skippers. I must have been delayed because of the Amtrak and the northbound freight. I was not trying to chase it. In fact I got my hot dog and got lost, in the meanwhile.

Finally, Amtrak 89, Palmetto, Southbound, finished out my afternoon:

As we can see any watch session combines luck and knowledge. Luck will cause us to miss and luck will allow us to catch the trains we want.

Sunday and Monday in Richmond, VA

My stay in Richmond, VA was without watching trains. On Monday, I went to the State Library to work on genealogy. I also took the slow surface road so I could see changes in the city. I took a stop at the Virginia Historical Society, to donate some documents to the Society. I did a lot of work in the library but little in new information obtained. I went to church on Sunday Morning. I lived in Richmond when I accepted the call to preach. I go back one Sunday a year to worship with my home church. Sunday afternoon, I went to Bird Park and took some video and only three stills.

Of Late!

I know that I have been very quite of late. I haven't taken any trips recently and just watching beside the railroad. i am in Richmond, VA now and have not done any train watching to name. I go home tomorrow with no real watching to be done. I come to Richmond to visit friends. Before I accepted tjt call to preach, I lived in Richmond but that was 27 years ago. Much had change, half for the better and half for the worst. I will go by the State Library to research some on my Virginia ancestors. I may or may not stay the day. Tomorrow I drive home.

I have  been planning trips, which I may or may not take. I will talk about that later. I do think about this a lot but just don't get to writing.