Speaking of helicopter experiences: One of my best friends, Phil Gosney, and I were in the Feather River Canyon, to photograph the doubleheaded UP passenger special, on the westbound trip to Railfair, in 1991. We arrived at Keddie to find a huge mob. Lucky for us there was still time for Phil to park his car, then for us to hike over to a hill, just north of the Keddie Wye. Nearly every conceivable break in the trees and brush on that hillside had one or more photographers, straining in anticipation of their shots. Marc Balkan, from New Jersey, was already there and had carefully laid stereo microphone cables down the hill, across a trail that nearly everyone was using. From a perch near his large video camera, he loudly asked everyone to watch out for his cables. He also asked everyone in earshot to please turn off their scanners when the train got close, and to please be quiet. But then he declared he did NOT "want to hear motor drives!" Well, we were amiable to the first and second request, but the Nikon MD12's had eight fresh AA batteries apiece, and we were "ready," to expend some Kodachrome 25. Phil had gone over to "the darkside" by then, thanks to the influence of SP Photographer Bonnie Adams, and was shooting "Fuji-something." (Just kidding about "the darkside!")

Some friendly Canadians were busy hacking out a nice spot through a dead tree's branches, and invited us to join them, on their rocky ledge. We thankfully accepted, being that the other "good" spots were full. We were having a grand time comparing notes, talking, listening to our radios etc., while watching these experts "Brush it out, eh!"

Photographer Dick Dorn was nearby with his two young boys. (They are both grown now.) The Dorn boys were having a grand time running around on that trail. Remember, that trail with the microphone wires? Poor Mr. Balken was coming unglued. But needless to say Mr. Balken did not appreciate, or know, the two boys were Dick Dorn's son's. Both of whom were more than familiar with railfan protocol, and being around expensive equipment, and have since become excellent photographers themselves. In his best teacher's voice, Dick Dorn calmly ordered, "Now boys, be careful of the nice man's cables!"

But it got better: After a bit of a wait, the special train appeared, most of us turned off our scanners, and the crowd hushed in awe and anticipation of doubleheaded steam, trailed by a gleaming, yellow, passenger train, about to glide across the Keddie Wye. As the train slowed and passed before the cameras, a helicopter from a Sacramento TV station hovered overhead, effectively drowning out the sound of motor drives, and even some New Jersey cursing! Kodachrome 25, and all brands of still photo film are very forgiving under such circumstances. The same cannot be said for video and sound equipment.

Glen Icanberry