Trunk Line Photography

Solar Maximum and the Aurora

2011-10-24T23:07:00.000-04:00

The CME hit Earth today and the Aurora is splendid tonight. Not since 2002 have I seen the sky light up like this!

Low Light

2011-10-09T12:06:00.001-04:00

Free time for photography has been limited this year. Them little babies, kids, work, and everything else seems to suck up the time I have for the photo thing I like to do. I have decided to post a few low light shots from the summer. Some from storms, sunsets, and work.

Lightning is always hard to capture... many shutter openings and many misses or the wrong direction in bulb!

Protecting our defenders.

A stick, fulcrum, and a quick off camera foot stomp!

Playing with Fire

2011-09-11T08:54:00.000-04:00

Work is hot sometimes, and sometimes I get to photograph work.
The official release:
Firefighting Training at Selfridge

Posted 9/6/2011 Updated 9/7/2011
127th Wing Public Affairs

9/6/2011 - SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- Training exercises are an essential component of service in the U.S. Air Force. The base fire department at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., conducted a training exercise on Sept. 2, 2011, utilizing an aircraft simulator and a variety of live fire scenarios.

The modern day pit fires are not JP-8 (jet fuel) of the days I first learned to fight fire on. Today we use LP gas and electronic controlled ignition, like your stove. Safer, cleaner, and less fun I guess.

A P-19 firetruck engaging with the roof turret.

Sunset and fire.

Snozzel, bumper turret, and roof turrets engage on the fire.

Baltimore Visited

2011-06-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

The International Association of Fire Chief's (IAFC) Hazmat Conference was held last May in Baltimore, MD. I attended the conference for a second time, the first time for me to stay in Baltimore. I am not a big city fan (never will be), but must say Detroit is doing it all wrong! What a waste of a wonderful waterfront in Detroit. Baltimore was clean, safe, and thriving along the waterfront and many blocks inside in all directions from. I'd say that Baltimore's waterfront should be a goal for Detroit, but what do I know... I'm just a firefighter and photographer and not into urban planning. I'd rather watch the wheat blow in the wind, then fight the potholes, traffic, and mess in and around Detroit to see something there. But if... big if... the D was ever to try and do something with their waterfront, look to Baltimore as an example.

The restaurant below my window had some good food and OK prices... almost every meal in town was no-less than $15.00 and up. The Sheridan Hotel was not the best but made for an OK stay for 5 nights.

Army Golden Knights

2011-06-19T13:32:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy couple of months... so for June here are a few images. Army Golden Knights parachute team came in for a VIP jump at Selfridge for something to do with Michigan International Speedway. MIS was there jumping with them as well as some local politicians. All landed safely while we were there.

Special thanks to Mark for letting me borrow some "glass" (Nikon 18-105mm lens) to try on these shots. Nice FOV and image quality.

Work Shots

2011-05-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

Dreary weather has kept much of my photography limited this spring. Finally, we had some decent weather for a few hours a day over a two week time and I was able to get a few shots in.

A-10s breaking off for landing.

A-10s on the taxiway heading to park.

View of in the cab of Engine 3. The mirrors are big blind spots in the field of view.

Engine 3 and Tender 15 with personnel doing drafting training.

Tender 15 is dumping into the drop tank. Engine 3 has the hard suction hose in the drop tank going into the 6" steamer connection to the pump. A vacuum pump (priming pump) is used to lower the atmospheric pressure inside the pump and draw the water up the hard suction hose into the pump itself. This completes the priming of the pump and allows the water from the drop tank into the pump to use for firefighting purposes.

Anyone want to swim?

Grand Trunk Blue in the Spring

2011-04-22T23:16:00.000-04:00

It has been a nasty, cold, grey, and wet spring. Not too much fun for photographing anything, but from the comfort and warmth of the cab of my truck, these shots were had this week.

GTW 4907 heads south on the Mt. Clemens Sub at Hall Rd.

The Paper Mill turn in Port Huron has this old (1956 era) GP-9r rolling down the tracks.

The Spring Winter

2011-03-27T12:51:00.000-04:00

It's almost April and I have had snow on the ground at the house since the 1st week in January! New Years weekend was the last time we had no snow on the ground anywhere at our home. Currently 6 to 8" cover our grass, deck, and other areas of the yard. Our snow fence stands shredded in areas, a testimony to the brutal winter thus far. What has Spring bought us? Snow, thunder snow, and some freezing rain. I certainly hope the warmer spring weather come soon!

Should be grass here right?

Wasn't there deer out there in the rye field eating greens two days ago?

The sun has set due west, so I know it's Spring!

The ice is in the rut; plowing was dreadful this day!

No wonder the song birds are not around yet!

Surely the railroaders want Spring too!

PH&D Castleblayney Scrapped

2011-02-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

The PH and D RR Historical Society has been trying to get the old PH andD Business Car Castleblayney back on home rail for some time now. There has been considerable planning, time, and money was put forth to find a route to return the car to the Port Huron at the PH&D RR HS located in the PH and D Wye on 32nd St.

If I call correctly, there were problems with CSX allowing this car to be transported via rail due to the wheel-set or bearings on the trucks. I recall a conversation that CSX had transported a private passenger car before in which the the bearings seized up and caused a derailment, damage to the ROW, and loss of freight. The Castleblayney I believe had those same bearings. CSX then later banned the movement of any train car with that type of bearings from that point on. Getting past that problem apparently was not resolved.

The photos and video were from DeWitt Chapple Jr I believe.

Castleblayney 2009 at the GCRM Miami, FL. Photographer unk.

Quoted Posts from Sandy Duffy on Railway Preservation News "It is my sad duty to report that the Port Huron and Detroit business car Castleblayney has been moved to the "scrap line". As most of you know, this historic car was the first heavyweight Pullman business car ordered and bought by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in 1927. It was designated car #1, Richmond.
The car had been deteriorating slowly while at the Gold Coast Museum. Had my mother known that this was to be her fate, I don’t think she would have donated the car. Unfortunately, a number of factors made it very difficult to save it, let alone move it.
The only items saved are the nameplates off the car and the keys to the observation door.
The money initially raised to transport the business car was used to purchase and move PH and D RR caboose #62 (originally as delivered new #52). This is now resting on the property of the PH and Dt Railroad Historical Society."

Not being in the entire information loop here the Gold Coast Railroad Museum must have had a time frame before for this car to be removed or it would suffer the fate of GTW 4-6-2 5629. Well unfortunately the PH and D Business Car Castleblayney has suffered that fate due to unable to mitigate the problems with the car.

Please refrain from bashing CSX, The Gold Coast Railroad Museum, or my fellow members of the PH and D RR HS on not getting this car back to home rails.
Some things just cannot be avoided due to costs, RR Regulations, etc. The money involved in trying to get this car back was put forward to getting the Caboose back to the PH and D wye. These photos come from Bud Gilbert, credit to the photographer, who ever they are.

Again this is a sad end to some of Michigan's Railroad History. I guess the trucks will be used on another car there at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, FL.

Dan

The Right Spot at the Right Time

2011-02-10T10:26:00.001-05:00

-1 was the temp and it was a cold westward pull for this CN train heading out of Tunnel Yard in Port Huron. The train is going through the Tappan interlocking plant as it heads west on the #1 main track.

I was in the right spot at the right time for these images... rare!

DM

The VanHoosen Farm 1982

2010-12-29T20:59:00.000-05:00

Images through the lens of my Dad's camera of the historic Van Hoosen Farm in Oakland County near Rochester, MI. The last time I was there was in 1993 and I was going fishing in Stoney Creek at the bridge by the farm. A few new homes were being built and some man came down from a newer home up on the hill and said I had to leave and that he was going to call the cops because people like me were causing trouble (fishing?).

I told him if he felt I was a threat to his homestead by fishing then go call the Sheriff. No cops ever came, and he stood there for a few moments then paced back up the hill.

My Dad took these images before the contractors spoiled the rolling meadows and before the urban sprawl occluded the horizon with $300,000+ homes. I have not been back there since that day. I do not want to go back there. I have almost forgotten about this area up until I discovered these negatives to scan.

Here is Van Hoosen Farm in 1982 frozen in January as my father, Joseph A. Meinhard, captured it on film in black and white.

2010 Coming to an End

2010-12-28T23:56:00.001-05:00

The end of the year is almost here. I hope for smooth rails ahead and that I can stay on track with my goals for the New Year. 2010 has been yet another challenging year filled with joy, pain, struggle, success, & the firm knowledge that one must trust in God's plan. I know that trusting in the Lord helps during the struggles in life, and this was one of them years.

Good bye 2010. Thanks for the good blessings and hope for more this year upon my family and friends.

Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T07:08:00.000-05:00

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Lk 2:10

For my friends and family Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

Ships and Trains... Cold, Cold Steel

2010-12-17T16:53:00.001-05:00

An early departure from work allowed for me to capture some sunrise photography of shipping on a cold 6 degree morning. The first shots were along the St. Clair river. I then needed to warm up and make my way to the PH&D wye and roundhouse for some photography there.

PH andD Roundhouse

PH and D Caboose wheel.

A cold brake wheel.

A short CN freight going east into Tunnel Yard off of the Mt. Clemens Sub.

Signal shadow

In all I took around 100 images this day. It was neat to see the river steaming in the brutally cold air. Hey, it is still Autumn for a few more days!

Winter at New Haven

2010-12-14T12:17:00.000-05:00

I took a side trip to photograph the Grand Trunk Western depot at New Haven, MI and the elevator there too. Snow always makes for some interesting shots. No trains on my brief stop there along the GTW (CN) Mt. Clemens Subdivision. That would have made the stop perfect.

Mom the Pilot

2010-12-05T08:48:00.004-05:00

How many children can say both of their parents were pilots? For my siblings and me, we all can! Both my Mom and Dad were skilled aviators. Here are some photos of them together, around their plane, and flying; all stunning images taken from my Father's old Nikon camera.

Marilyn Meinhard and Joseph Meinhard early 1950s.

Mom at Doc McKinley's Airport.

Mom checking the fuel level.

Mom and Dad ( in a Navy uniform) 1952?

Mom flying solo while Dad takes the photo from another plane.

Our Mom is currently finishing up a book on her flying experience, I cannot wait for it to get done. I hope to use some of these photos in it and several others that my Dad took over the years. I sure am proud to have a Mom that was a pilot!

DM

Port Huron and Detroit Railroad Historical Society

2010-10-03T13:04:00.001-04:00

Progress is coming along at the PH&D Railroad Historical Society (PH&D RRHS). Some earlier images from late in 2009 to some current ones of the old PH&D offices, which is now where the museum will be located. This week the old PH&D bay window caboose was delivered via over the road truck.

2-2002

12-2009

9-2010

Rain may have slowed down the operation of putting the caboose upon its trucks, but in the end it came out looking great! Thanks Bud for letting me post your image!

Autumn Faith

2010-09-28T23:28:00.002-04:00

--Sent from my Virgin Mobile!

--
Sent from my Virgin Mobile

July 28th Severe Storm at Selfridge ANGB

2010-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

The approaching severe storm of July 28th as viewed from the fire station.

The storm as it begins to pass overhead, winds at 35 knots right now via the

AOS (airfield observation station).

At 2:35 p.m. the peak wind-gust of 56 knots hit the fire station. This was around 74 MPH

and recorded on the AOS. I was in the stalls shutting stall doors that opened during the

power surge from a nearby lighting strike. It sounded like a jet engine overhead!

Taken 15 seconds after the above photo. Light pole is about 125 feet away.

The back end of the storm had the lightning. Not real good shots in the daylight.

As the evening calmed down, the flying resumed. Here a KC-135 Stratotanker head south after

doing a touch and go.

Night Storms

2010-07-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

Last nights storms that rolled through with lots of rain, lightning, and thunder.

Big Boys

2010-07-05T11:17:00.000-04:00

All these photos were taken at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, MO... in 98 degree heat!

The UP Big Boys were some of the largest locomotives in the world. Along with other articulated types, they were designed to pull freights through mountain ranges and grades. The top photo is in the cab of this beast of a locomotive... well before the dawn of the computer controlled diesel cab they have now!

HMS Belfast in Japan 1951

2010-05-28T22:19:00.002-04:00

It took a while to ID the HMS Belfast, but behind it is CV-45 USS Valley Forge. I believe it is a light cruiser from the Royal Navy. Photographed transitting the Yokasuka Harbor in 1951 by my father Joseph Meinhard.

Distant Storm

2010-05-27T23:14:00.000-04:00

As viewed from Selfridge ANGB, this distant storm went south from Wayne County into Lake Erie. Here are the various stages of its development. There was very little lighting with this storm.

USS Rupertus DD 851

2010-05-09T22:10:00.000-04:00

USS Rupertus from my Father's slides.

Operation Lifesaver - Preventing Injury and Death at Railroad Crossings

2010-04-29T20:56:00.001-04:00

Norfolk Southern Railroad hosted an Operation Lifesaver train on April 28th. The route was from Sterling Yard (17 Mile Rd) to Monroe, MI.

The line traveled over old Michigan Central tracks and traverse most of the industrial corridors of Southeast Michigan. The two passenger coaches were outfitted with televisions with CCTV connection to a camera on head end power (HEP) a NS GP-38-2 locomotive painted in the Operation Lifesaver livery.

Sterling Hts. PD at 16 Mile Service Drive

The purpose of the train was enforcement at grade crossings and to show the passengers the view that the engine crew have. They deal with drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists on a daily basis who take an unnecessary risk of trying to beat a train. With that in mind, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions were aboard the train (in the cab of the locomotive) to watch for cars going around gates then to relay them to police cars waiting to stop and ticket them.

North Yard Office

The "horse" that pulled us

While all this played out we watched out the windows, at the TV screens, and conversed with the diverse people on the train from many agencies and businesses. From the Dept. of Homeland Security, Dept. of Defense (myself), Michigan State Police, Mayor of Sterling Hts and many other railroad employees and safety officials we all had an enjoyable experience on board the Operation Lifesaver train.

Stopping at River Rouge Yard

The day ended at around 3 p.m. at Sterling Yard where we departed to our homes, business, etc. I will take the time to thank Norfolk Southern RR, Operation Lifesaver, and everyone else who put this together on that day.

The NS GP-38-2 that has the camera right between the two ditch lights.

As I told one of my fellow riders on the train, I rather educate a person on respecting the railroad grade crossing lights and making the simple choice of Stop, Look and Live than to cut them from a twisted piece of steel and work hard to save their life. It is much easier to tell someone how they can save their own life by obeying the signals, signs, and other warning devices than to cut them from their own bad choice.

Dan Meinhard

A Fistful of Scans

2010-04-22T16:11:00.000-04:00

Well maybe not a fistful, but these select images I scanned today while uploading some photos for print.

My Dad had hand written on the slide the following comments in the black bordered area. This is the Landing Safety Officer (LSO) who guided the aircraft in to land on the carrier. He is showing "high" for the pilot of the approaching aircraft.

This image has always been one of my personal favorites. It was taken on the fantail of CVE 115 USS Bairoko. These are the 40mm anti-aircraft guns. By the time of the jet age, these were ineffective and removed from most ships after the Korean War.

This slide was in a different slide carrier and my be my Father landing this TBM 3E Avenger. What a beautiful looking aircraft in 1951.

Detroit 1952 and the railroad ferry yards. Near the right side of where the Ambassador Bridge comes on shore, the Fort Street Roundhouse can barely be seen. Note the railroad ferries docked along the shoreline.

It is highly likely I may create a blog or webpage for my Dad's Korean War images. Book in the works too.

Amtrak International- a Revisit of Images

2010-04-16T18:09:00.000-04:00

Amtrak's train, The International, was canceled from service and replaced with the Blue Water in April of 2004. The International suffered from US and Canadian Customs delays and freight traffic though the St. Clair River Tunnel. On April 23, 2004 the last train departed from Port Huron. Here are a few selected images from film and digital of The International that I took over the years.

The International speeding west of Goodells, MI in Sept. 2000.

A cold January morning and snow greet The International as it comes up out of the St. Clair River Tunnel.

The Amtrak station at Port Huron, Mi.

Just a few riders on this damp morning.

A wet trip to Chicago ahead.

Some front end damage, a car train collision perhaps?

Cold and Snow.

A CN freight train derailment detours the International on the GTW Mt. Clemens Subdivision, a very rare sight indeed!

Another tunnel punch into the snow on the American side.

The International is long gone, but the Blue Water has seen better ridership with a 6 am departure from Port Huron and 12 pm arrival in Chicago (+ / - delays). Round trip fares are around $70, far cheaper than the $200 dollars from Flint International Airport!

Abstract Editing

2010-04-13T20:24:00.001-04:00

An unedited image of the top edit at Durand Union Station.

All of these images were cropped from the original images. You can get a different feel or effect on the image by removing areas.

DM

Storms Roll In

2010-04-06T21:26:00.002-04:00

Michigan has some weird weather extremes and April is a month of change in this state. The last few days have been warmer than the norm and severe weather paid us a visit this at around 1240 p.m.

Most of the hail was around 1.25" with some around 1.75" or golf ball size. Note the large spiked on I placed on the post. It was interesting to watch the hail come in and all the birds flying out ahead of the hail storm. A few birds could be seen dropping out of the sky after being hit by the hail. By far this was one of the largest hailstorms I have been in many years.

Damage to my truck was limited to a small star on the windshield glass and only a few notable dents to the hood. Some cars in the parking lot had more obvious dents to them.

DM

Dad's Slides 5

2010-03-29T00:29:00.000-04:00

Christmas 1960

Renee

Dave

Mindy

Renee, Dave, & Mindy 1972

Thanksgiving 1960 or 61

New York Central train somewhere in Michigan 1955.

What a marvelous eye Dad had for photography. Hopefully I can save these, print some, and make a few more family members and friends happy to see images that have been hiding to be rediscovered again. Thanks Joe Story for his help with some Navy photos coming in my next post.

Dad's Slides 4

2010-03-28T00:42:00.000-04:00

Detroit, MI 1963

TBM 3E Avenger and Mt. Fuji 1951.

NAS Whiting 1950

CVE 115 USS Bairoko refueling DD 851 USS Rupertus in the Pacific 1951.

Dad's Slides 3, PLANES

2010-03-25T22:19:00.000-04:00

Jack Wink on both planes above.

My Dad, Joseph A. Meinhard.

Dad's Slides 2

2010-03-25T16:38:00.000-04:00

The Ambassador Bridge and railyards.

Unknown sunk ship in 1962 in the Detroit River.

Note railcar ferry right of photo.

Pacific Cruise of VS-23 aboard the USS Bairoko CVN 115.

Yokohama Harbor in Japan? 1951

Many more slides to go through. It is wonderful to be seeing some of these for the first time.

Dad's Slides 1

2010-03-21T00:00:00.002-04:00

Detroit

Ford Rouge Steel

Andy & Mom with "Jay Jay"

Nana, Unc. Gordon, Grandma Clark, Mom (Marilyn Meinhard)

Two Hours of Railroad Photography

2010-03-16T15:27:00.001-04:00

After filling the wife's car with fuel, I heard the blast of a horn to the east of the filling station... A Grand Trunk Western (GTW) paper mill run was in progress! Bright sun, blue skies, and hopefully a GTW Blue loco...

So much for a GTW Blue loco, CN got to this one!

My first shot was this one with the crew member riding the car north to Dunn Paper.

The use of a polarized filter is a must to get these colors!

I know, if the loco was centered under both flags... if I

went anymore to the right I would be in the ice and water!

This shot is my wallpaper!

Kids, mom, and a train.

I like the low angle shots like this.

Throttle up!

The last shot at Dunn Paper.

Dortmar Paper across the Black River.

What changed?

The Port Huron and Detroit Railroad roundhouse.

The Port Huron and Detroit Railroad offices, now the PH&D RR Historical Society.

May last shot of the two hour tour of railroad photography around Port Huron

was at the Griswold Rd. crossing as a CN freight backs into the yard.

It was a great day to get out and finally get some photography of trains. I can't wait for my next installment!

Dan Meinhard

Happy Birthday Dad

2010-01-29T17:21:00.000-05:00

We miss you.

New Construction Begins

2010-01-24T09:37:00.001-05:00

The construction of a wall has started that will separate the basement family room from the train room. The train room will be 19' x 22' and will have an operating HO scale layout in it in the future. Also the room will be used for storage underneath the benchwork of the train layout.

It has been a long time coming, but I am finally excited to have things start rolling on the project. I hope the whole family will enjoy it when done and aid in its construction when I need the help. Joe has been a good helper and has learned how to measure with the tape measure, mark out measurements on wood, and write fractions.

My goal is to have the drywall up, painted, by April with some of the drop ceiling in too. We will see.

Good Times on the Grand Trunk

2010-01-20T22:28:00.000-05:00

After being lost for almost 25 years, my brother Andy found some long lost photos of my rail trip on the GTW and N&W #611 J back in 1987. They were in the basement at my Mom's house in a box, with in a box, etc. etc. They are some of the first photos I took of train with my Chinon 35mm SLR camera.

I do not know all the locations in the photos, but all were between Detroit and Bellevue, OH.

DM

VS-23 Patch

2010-01-20T19:57:00.000-05:00

This is the squadron patch from my Father's flight suit which I discovered today in my Mom's basement while cleaning with my brother. What a wonderful find. This patch is the same one on the bottom of the page, but in much better shape!

Family Photos

2010-01-15T21:16:00.002-05:00

Grandma & Mom in front of Michigan Central Depot in Detroit.

These photos were probably all taken by my Father except the last on here on the bottom which was probably taken by my Mom.

Top photo is from Willow Run Air Show sometime in the 1950s. A KB-29 refuels a B-50.
Middle photo is from 1954 with my Grandma and Mom.
Bottom is at Glen Lake in in the later half of the 1960s.

DM

Changing Seasons at Grand Trunk Western's Tunnel Yard

2010-01-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

The three images were taken from 2008 to today in 2010. There are suttle changes to the tracks if you look closely from top to bottom on the yard lead on the left. A new wye track was put in east of Michigan Ave (which crosses the tracks North / South) to accomadate the plan to put an overpass over the tracks there. The bottom photos (from today) was taken from the I-94 overpass. I was only a few minutes from catching the head end locomotives heading west out of Tunnel Yard. Morning shots are my favorite here and turn out nice when the haze and clouds are not making everything a high contract white out!

Planes, Trains, and Ships in the Snow

2010-01-12T21:57:00.003-05:00

A day off work with a few errands to run allowed me to go and do some photography on a grey day with light snow falling.First stop was the Desmond Landing at the Maritime Center (Port Huron, MI). They have the best apple fritters there! Due to the ice jams in Algonac, the freighters were stuck in the ice and no traffic was going upbound or down the river so I did not stay long. The Algosea was tied up at the Bean Dock so I took some shots of it, some of the ducks in the water, and the Canadian National train pulling a string of cars across the St. Clair River in Sarnia.

The Algosea (a tanker) at the Bean Dock.

A CN train pulling cars around a siding along the Sarnia waterfront.

After my shots along the river, I proceeded south, then west to the PH&D roundhouse to see if CSX trains had been out working yet.... nothing there so I went to the Davis Rd. to view the north end of CSX's newer St. Clair Yard. A remote train was switching cars out of the north end of the yard. The engineer was controlling it with the Beltpack, a remote radio controlled unit, that allows the train crew to control the locomotives from the ground. Pretty neat.

Note the snow freshly blown out of the switch points. The track crew was using a leaf blower for that.

After the fun days off a cold night at work allowed for a shot of this A-10 while we were doing night training on it. Egress training at night is a bit different due to the low light conditions and trying to find small switches in the dark.

1st Train of the New Year

2010-01-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

The temperature of 7°F was quite nice this morning. No wind, just a nice cold winter morning in January west of Port Huron, MI on the GTW (CN) Flint Subdivision. A west bound train's headlights caught my eye as I crossed a crossing far west of it so I turned around and fired up the ole Nikon D70 for some quick shots of a departing CN train heading out of Tunnel Yard. I have not had much time to photograph trains lately, one- the Christmas Holiday, two- I was sick over a week, and three- no snow for winter scenes.

Most westbound trains start slow and will eventually make speeds up to 60 mph further west. Amtrak's trains highball rather fast here once they clear the West Tappen siding switch. The Flint line heads west north west out of Port Huron untill Lapeer, there it turns more west than north, then at Flint it head west south west for Lansing, MI.

Snow really makes the scene jump out at times, especially with a bright blue sky. Then there is the black and white edits.

Now to shoot some open field crossing shots in the days to come hopefully.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T12:33:00.000-05:00

Dan Meinhard

FW: Port Huron & Detroit Railroad

2009-12-10T22:50:00.000-05:00

In a rush (sort of) to get some images together for submission to a photo contest, I stopped by the Port Huron and Detroit Railroad Historical Society offices in the old PH&D wye. The weather was nasty, cold, wet, and very windy. It made for some really difficult shot with wind blown rain, cold fingers, and some camera shake (monopod was used, but still got a little movement). With some work in the plans with the PH&DRHS I felt the need to visit the old office / roundhouse grounds and take some current shots. Both buildings need work. The PH&DRHS owns the old offices, but CSX Transportation owns the old roundhouse. The RH is in the worst shape. Like many organizations with intentions of restoration of a building, locomotive, or even a ship, there is a lot of work ahead. I look forward to becoming a member this weekend.

Family Portraits

2009-12-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

In an effort to get more studio experience with my new lights and backdrop, I offered up free prints and a studio session to my family. So far one sister and her family and my Mom came over for the experience.

All worked well and all the images were fun to capture. Mom was so concerned about her looks I told her I would put her smiling face on a bikini model for a laugh! Anyway, studio photography is another step in the right direction of developing my skills.

The Snowy Owl - a Lesson in Lenses

2009-12-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

The opportunity to photograph anything of interest when it presents itself is always one any photographer jumps upon. On this day it was the Snowy Owl which winters at my work. Three years now it has come back to the base and each time it has been too far or too late to photograph it. With a tip from a co-worker I was able to find it real close, but the light was low and my lens was slow… meaning not good in low light (a Tamron 100-300 mm 5-6.3 zoom). On a day like today I really wish I had a nice Nikon AF Nikkor ED 180mm f/2.8D telephoto or better. The limitations of my current lens is apparent with the blur from the camera shake. I could have switched back to the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for better light, but not enough zoom to bring the owl in close.

These are not the best photos in the light of a sunset behind overcast sky. It shows where I need to invest to bring out the best of the light I have to work with and the best in my capabilities. My current zoom lens works good in bright sunlight of the day, but a setting sun or soft low light conditions with f/5-5.3 just does not give enough light to the camera to work with. I pushed these images in the digital darkroom a bit, but not at all my best work. Nothing left to say here, but to save $ for the lens I need to do good work in this type of shooting situation.

Family Heirlooms

2009-11-02T13:23:00.005-05:00

Family heirlooms may be rings, furniture, dishes, or even artwork. The following drawings were done by my Dad from 1943 to 1949. These our some of are family heirlooms from Dad.

This is a drawing of my Uncle Paul Meinhard on Iwo Jima. I have never met him and he died in the early 1980s. My Uncle Paul is pictured on the right (I believe). His own comments are in the image (drawing) below, written on the back of Dad's drawing of him. Dad's drawing was done from a photo of this image. Photo to come soon.

The description by my Uncle on the drawing with him in it on Iwo. This was written at a later date, but drawn by my Dad in 1945 during WWII.

This drawing done by Dad is simply called "Fatigue." This has always been a favorite image of mine. It is quite haunting in its look.

TBM Avenger

A P-38 Lightning pulls out of an attack on a Japanese Zero.

Hellcats giving "hell" to a Japanese Destroyer.

The F6F Hellcat

The F6F on deck of a carrier.

The drawings here represent my Father's artistic nature. He also painted, did engineering designs, and sketched and drew in pen and in as well. Let us not forget his wonderful photography. These drawings were done during WWII while he was in high school and also while he was in training to become a Navy aviator on the eve of the Korean War. These are not meant to imply any distaste to any Japanese people, but a look at a creative artist during a historic time of our country.

My Aunt Grace said my Dad was never encourage by my Grandfather on his art. His artistic skills were looked upon as wasted effort. We are fortunate to have these wonderful creations in our family of an excellent artist and a man who we called our Dad.

DM

The Test

2009-10-15T09:27:00.000-04:00

This is an email generated blog posting test.

"Well, the Few and the Proud-- the Marines have always exemplified those cardinal virtues of duty to country, honor, and bravery.... And it's because of you that America's future will be big and strong and generous and full of hope and fighting spirit. It's because of you that we can be sure that America will be ``Semper Fidelis'' -- always faithful to her best hopes and highest ideals." Ronald Reagan

Visit my photography sites on the web.

Trunk Line Photography Daniel Meinhard Photography Daniel Meinhard Photography on Google Sites

Moonrise at the Beach

2009-10-06T19:46:00.004-04:00

An evening trip to the back yard (5 miles to the east) lends us at the county park at the end of Metcalf Rd. Joe rode his bike and I enjoyed the sound of the surf building. The colors were quite nice and I was able to get a few good shots of the moon, less telephoto and my D80 Nikon. Sometimes that good ole D70 still brings out the good shots.

It is amazing how fast the shoreline changes with the storms, the rocks in the photo above were not present this summer swimming there.

YNP- Jill's Photos

2009-08-12T21:48:00.005-04:00

The credit for these photos goes to my wife Jill. She took them with my Nikon D70. She has an eye for photography too, now if she would just use it more often! These are all wonderful shots of Yellowstone NP.

Old something or other... just some water squirting out of a hole.

Mammoth Springs

Grumpy Joe & Jordan running.

Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of YNP.

Me on the rocks.

Upper Falls YNP

Cold Mornings

My favorite!

Western Trip-YNP

2009-08-12T17:52:00.007-04:00

Bison meets Dodge Ram

Our overall goal of our trip was Yellowstone National Park (YNP). We arrived through the south entrance via the Tetons National Park and not with out some near death experiences. Road construction nearly took our lives with poor planning and traffic management by Wyoming DOT. Two rock hauling 18 wheelers nearly took us out on a 7% grade while we were stopped on a blind curve just after a sign said "end construction." 200 feet or so from the sign was a flag man stopping traffic for more construction... no warning of a stop or construction ahead.

In any case, we got there and saw the Tetons in the fading sun and arrived at camp around 930 pm. There was lots of people in the park, lots of traffic, and few areas that were not far from the feeling of being in line for a ride at an amusement park. The traffic was bad due to road construction and wild animals that take up the lane or lens of dumb photographers from cars. Many motorist just parked their cars in the road and got out to photograph what ever they saw. We waited over 2 hours to go a few miles or so due to this.

A Bald Eagle over Big Thumb Creek.

Wildflowers

What a road!

Yellowstone Lake and a reflection of calm waters. I hiked around to this point and fished there... no fish.

Yellowstone Lake after sunrise.

Old Faithful

Old Faithful and all of us who came.

Mammoth Springs

Yellowstone National Park had lots of fishing places, but none were really open for fishing along the lake and Yellowstone River. Many on the book they give you show that fishing is allowed, but when you get there signs are all over the place saying you cannot fish. Puzzling and frustrating for I planned on some trout for dinner, lunch, etc. I would love to go back there again, maybe with four or five days to spend there and with less people / traffic. But for now, I think all of us had fun, even if it did sleet, snow, rain, and storm most of the days we were there.

Western Trains - Golden Spike Tower @ North Platte, NE

2009-08-12T17:29:00.003-04:00

UP Bailey Yard

Our first official stop out west was the Union Pacific Railroad's Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska. We stopped at the Golden Spike Tower, which was built in 2005 for visitors to view this yard. The rail yard is the largest railroad classification yard in the world. The yard takes up 2,850 acres, with a total length of eight miles.

Bailey Yard handles 10,000 railroad cars per day and is immense in its size. There probably is something in your house that you can touch that has passed through here in your daily activities. I surely impressed with this size and scope of the yard and trackage for servicing locomotives. The tower was clean and had great viewing of the area. Even if you do not like trains as I do, come by and spent $6 to see it.

Western Trains- Sheridan, WY

2009-08-12T16:42:00.008-04:00

On our return trip to Michigan we spent the night in Sheridan, WY. We departed later than expected due to doing laundry and waiting for clothes to dry. On our way north out of town (going to Montana and the Little Big Horn Battlefield), I stopped by the depot and caught a train there. I was on the wrong side to photograph better due to the sun being in the late morning setting and a train coming northbound shooting to the south east. The trains were both long and had lots of hoppers for coal traffic.

Two Powder River Basin (PRB) coal trains meet in Sheridan, WY. Here a north bound train meets with a south bound empty train. Both trains had helper units on the rear.

The north bound train (left) slows and stops with its three locomotive on the rear pushing it up and out of the PRB.

The south bound empty coal train gets the green signal to proceed to the many mines in the PRB coal field.

A friendly wave to Joe and I from the engineer.

South bound for the PRB mines where it will be loaded again.

The north bound train waits for its signal.

The rear pusher units are crewed here and will aid in its ascent out of the basin.

TransCaer Hazmat Training in Port Huron

2009-06-18T19:21:00.007-04:00

Since work would not let me out due to manning levels to go here, I went on my off duty day to gain some excellent hands on training. The training was located at the Amtrak Station in Port Huron. The training covered DOT tank trailers and railroad tankcars. Training was outstanding, too bad more personnel from Selfridge did not attend. Sarnia FD, Port Huron FD, and three from Emmett FD (they left at lunch) all were in attendance.

CN & Dow Chemical were the hosts of the training. A lot of planning went into this and I must say they did an outstanding job. Thanks to those involved.

One of three trains during the times between 8 am and 330 pm.

Sarnia firefighters telling us how they do it across the river! :)
It was nice meeting you all, eh?

Installing a Midland Kit.

Fire Trucks and Trains!

Port Huron firefighters.

Emmett FD, Sarnia FD and one from St. Clair Cty Hazmat.

The classroom inside.

The classroom outside.

It was a gloomy day and the sun did not come out until I was leaving. At least it did not rain. Thanks to the Salvation Army for the snacks. That was nice.

DM

Lightning

2009-06-11T21:05:00.003-04:00

Severe storms, that weakened before they hit the house (thankfully), produced a nice display of lightning as they passed to the east. This was the first change I have had all year to photograph any lightning.

DM

Those Little Flags

2009-05-24T12:05:00.004-04:00

Photo by Dan Meinhard at the Traveling Wall, White Cloud, MI.

The other day, my son asked an innocent question while we were passing a cemetery, "Dad, what are all those little flags for?" Knowing the complex answer, I needed to make it simple for a five year old. My response was this...

"Each American flag represents someone who served in the Armed Forces, like me. The flags mark their graves and show us they sacrificed a part of their life, their time away from family, friends, and the people they love to protect us from people who would like to harm or hurt us. When you drive past a cemetery and see the American flags, you know the grave was for a Veteran who served his country. Some of them died in a battle while others served for several years or more in the military then died in old age. We honor them every year on Memorial Day for their time protecting us from people who would do us harm. We especially honor and remember those who died while in service to our country."

He responded after we had passed the cemetery with, "There were a lot of flags there. Will you have a flag on your grave when you die?" That choked me up. The only thing I could get out was "I would be honored if you would do that for me." I then told him, "Every year I try to place one on your Grandpa's grave, under the redbud tree."

So when you are out driving and see those little flags this weekend and there after, remember why they are there. Remember what Memorial Day is about.

DM

Lake Huron Shoreline

2009-05-09T10:23:00.003-04:00

The Lake Huron shoreline on a windy day in April.

Just Trains

2009-04-26T19:10:00.002-04:00

Waving at a CN train heading through Columbus, MI.

Thundering by at 50 MPH.

A westbound CN train passes the GTW Lapeer depot.

Pilot of CN 5785 west of Taylor Rd near Goodells, MI. B&W edit on the background.

Union Pacific Bright and Shiney

2009-04-11T11:38:00.006-04:00

A Union Pacific powered Canadian National (former GTW) train pulls through a rural Michigan town. Foreign power on the CN is not uncommon. Many railroads share or borrow "power" when needed.
UP locomotives are some of the most brilliantly painted and well kept in North America. BNSF would follow closely to colorful locomotive paint schemes. Railroad locomotives are often their "billboard" and shabby looking locomotive can often reflect on the state of the railroad to the casual observer.
This CN locomotive (GP40-2w) clearly shows its weather worn paint job compared to the Grand Trunk Western loco trailing it.

DM

Fall & Spring

2009-04-07T17:14:00.003-04:00

What do you mean spring? Just a comparison of the same location, one in October and the the other in April.

April Storm

2009-04-07T07:42:00.004-04:00

April snow storm and various images of the effects of it.

DM

US Navy Squadron VS-23 Officers 1951

2009-03-25T17:57:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Joe Storey for passing this great photo of the VS-23 officers. My dad is center, second row (white teeth showing in smile).

DM

We will miss you Whisker

2009-03-06T12:07:00.003-05:00

Whisker & Aries

Today we have lost a beloved member of our family. After almost two weeks of fighting a feline anemia, we had to euthanize Whisker today after he has rapidly deteriorated over the last few days.

We were cautiously optimistic on Monday when he apparently had a "good day." He snuck downstairs and laid in the sun with Aries (his tabby buddy), and Kristie (my mother-in-laws cat). He later went and laid in the basement on the couch with Aries.

Today, he was suffering some discomfort that was not present in the last two weeks of the illness. Instead of seeing him suffer we have decided to put him to sleep. He was the best cat I have ever had. No other cat I have had played hide and seek, fetched, or accompanied me through the house like he did. He will be missed by all the family members.

DM

VS-23 Photos

2009-02-05T18:44:00.003-05:00

Some of my Father's photos from the Korean War, 1951. Assigned to VS-23 aboard the USS Bairoko CVE 115, he shot color slides through out his tour. His best friend his photographed in the first image over Norfolk, VA.

The Hirth Wedding

2009-01-18T12:29:00.004-05:00

Announcing the union of Angela and Chris Hirth. The ceremony took place on January 17th, 2009 at the Hope Chapel in Shelby Township, Mi. It was a cold and snowy night, but warm with love and fellowship of two wonderful families coming together in celebration of their wedding. More views of this photographic event can be seen on my Daniel Meinhard Photography Blog http://demphotography.blogspot.com/ .

God's Footprint

2009-01-09T00:20:00.002-05:00

Well it looks like it. The formation in the clouds was caused by a jet flying through the stratocumulus clouds. It punched a hole through the clouds in several locations that night and tore a long scar in the cloud deck.

Lexington Orchard Fire

2009-01-03T12:42:00.006-05:00

On October 6th, 2008 an orchard warehouse was consumed by fire just west of Lexington, Mi on M-90. Lexington Fire Department responded and set up a drop tank and started drafting with a pumper. I was at home cutting the grass when I witnessed a large black plume suddenly rise north of the house. I though a plane had crashed and grabbed the boy and we headed north with my Nikon in hand. One we got into closer the color of the smoke changed from black to gray and I knew it was not a plane but a structure. That was confirmed when my son and I parked and I started photographing the operation.

One shocking thing I observed was all the firefighters dropping their lines and hoses to pose for a picture. They did this with their backs to the fire as you can see in the last photo below. You never turn your back on a structure fire or any fire! One firefighter was heard yelling "Picture... come on!" and I watched as they shut down the pumps and put down the hoses and ran to assemble in front of the burning ruins.

End of 2008

2008-12-31T22:09:00.003-05:00

Tonight, people are gathering and drinking; having a good ole time with their friends and relatives paying not much attention to anything, perhaps only the time and when to get another drink. All the while a few scattered volunteers stand watch here and there in distant places, most of which we can not imagine where or what it smells like. Some of the locations are close by while others are far away and in a land and culture that saw the birth of hatred which killed Americans by the thousands.

So here tonight I say goodbye to 2008. I thank the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Coast Guard and the other agencies of uniform both seen and unseen that have kept us safe here at home in the U.S.A. Like many of them I stand watch tonight doing my duty so the rest of the public can party with out much thought of what they have or what they do. Tonight is just another day at work as it is for many in uniform whether civil service, military or other government worker; we are just doing our job tonight.

I say good bye to 2008 with vigor, for it seems it was a year of lows and highs, some of which I have welcomed greatly and some that were unwelcome just as much. I shall endeavor to persevere in what ever obstacles lay in front of me and with God's aid I hope that 2009 will be a might bit brighter. Thank you my family and friends for the journey of 2008. I hope that 2009 brings us better times, stronger faith and a greater appreciation for our freedoms. So with the winds at our back may the sails be full for 2009.

DM

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T09:51:00.004-05:00

To all my family and friends,

May you all have a Merry Christmas.

Safe travels to your family and friend's homes.

Merry shall your gatherings be and with cheer and good food shall you all dine.

Never foget our Troops near and far on this day and everyday protecting us.

May your hearts be warmed, for Christ was born today.

Dan Meinhard

The Hard Work of a Railroader

2008-12-25T09:00:00.005-05:00

13 degrees was the temperature outside as my son and I ate our lunch after Christmas shopping. We stopped at the Port Huron Amtrak station to watch a train stopped in the St. Clair Tunnel, apparently under emergency. After watching the crews for a few minutes I realized the train had pulled apart from the locomotives due to a broken coupler or part of the coupler and or drawbar. The crew was climbing in and under the cars on the grade going into the tunnel. The snow was deep for we just had another storm of about 8 inches fresh on top of 10 inches already on the ground in most places.
A set of locomotives were cut off from the rest of the train and came back to the car in trouble. They chained the car to the coupler of the locomotive and my son and I watched them as they work to move that troublesome car from the train. Before we knew it the work was done and it was time to leave. We should all remember those who do this tough jobs out there on the rails. I sure know, I did some of that work before and I have a great apreciation for their work. Enjoy the photos.

Hunting with Joe

2008-12-07T12:38:00.005-05:00

On November 29th, I took Joe out to the woodland for his second taste of deer hunting in Michigan's cold November air. He did much better on this outing than the first. He was so comfortable sitting next to me on our rootball tree blind (a tree blew over and exposed its roots) he fell asleep for an hour. He was comfortable with the wool army blanket on him. We saw no deer, but he is learning everything I can teach him on hunting, nature and what God has entrusted us to preserve and take from the land as food and shelter.

When the sun finally set and the hunting time was over Joe and I walked back and met up with Mom on her way back from the hunt too. We all did not see any deer, but we all shared in something special. A beautiful sunset glowed with the crescant moon setting as well; God is nigh.

Happy Birthday Marines!

2008-11-09T23:27:00.003-05:00

The 10th of November marks the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

Thanks to all those who have served and are serving in the Marines. Happy Birthday Marines!

Semper Fidelis

Dan

Andy's 8 point

2008-10-10T11:40:00.003-04:00

My brother shot this White Tail in Mason County, MI this past week. Dressed out it was 166 pounds.

Back to Trains

2008-09-19T22:23:00.006-04:00

Coming out of the St. Clair River Tunnel are a pair of Illinois Central (IC) units. 6105 is an EMD SD40-2 and the 1032 is a SD70 also made by EMD. These photos were taken July 25th, 2007 at the Port Huron Amtrak Station.

Remembrance

2008-09-10T15:24:00.005-04:00

On October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings housing U.S. and French members of the Multinational Force who were stationed in Beirut, Lebanon as part of a peace keeping force during civil war in Lebanon. I was only 11 then and I remember it well. The attack killed 241 Marines and Sailors. I remember those images on TV of the attack and my father being real upset about the attacks and loss of American lives. Several hours after the attack an organization called Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. This was one of the worst terrorist attacks abroad on US personnel.

I joined the Marines in 1989 and served four years of active duty honorably. It was the best of times and the worst of times and only a Marine can understand that meaning. I would do it again and again if I could do it all over.

One of my platoon Sergeants told me his account of what happened that day in Beirut. He said they were supposed to be in the barracks that night and were mad that they were "volunteered" to do an extra patrol. Little did they know that saved his life and 13 other Marines.

As the years past from 1983 most Americans forgot the 241 Americans who died in Beirut let alone that they were Marines and Sailors. But for us Marines the stunning images of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19th, 1995 brought back memories of that attack in a land far away. Marines also died in that bombing in the recruiting office that was on the sixth floor of the Federal Building in Ok City, once again shedding blood in service for their country along with 168 innocent Americans. This time it was not Islamic Jihadists who did the bombing, but home grown terrorists who hated their county for its handling of the Waco, TX disaster under Clinton and Attorney General Reno. In no way was it excusable that act of terror.

On the morning of September 11th I was driving to work at the fire station. I was going on duty for my 24 hour shift. I remember the day, the morning, very well; sunny, bright, clear sky... "It's a great day to be flying!" as my dad would say. I remember thinking of him and how he would say that. It was a good morning to drive and I had just come back from a short trip to Canada with the wife and was wishing I had more time to spend out in the Bruce Peninsula than the three days I had.

Shortly after roll call we checked out our fire trucks. I then started working on a training PowerPoint for the F-16 aircraft and our procedures for shutting it down, etc. One of my co-workers came into the training room and said a plane flew into the WTC in New York. I turned the projection TV on in the training room and began loosely following it as it played out. I remember turning to the TV on Fox news and watching the second plane fly into it and thinking what just happened? Was that a rewind of the crash? Then shortly there after all hell broke loose and we were all called to the Day Room... we were at War. We all changed. Our stance changed. The base geared up for War. Our F-16s were armed rapidly and were some of the first in the air flying Combat Air Patrols over the U.S.

In the Seven years after 9/11 a lot has changed and some has not. Regardless of politics, we were attacked and it was not George Bush's doing, a right wing conspiracy, or some act of top secret CIA operations within the U.S. so we could attack Iraq. We were attacked and I watched 343 of my brothers die in the line of duty. They went in while other ran out, that's just the job we do, I do, and firefighters know this everyday and do this everyday with out much though of it.

So tomorrow is 9\11\2008 and the politicians will come together and hold hands for a day, speak their well written dialogues and talk of the nation and how 9\11 changed them and how we are stong, etc. Just remember which ones they are when they talk how bad the nation is, what is wrong with the USA and what we are doing wrong around the world. Remember the politicians who smear the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen and women who serve this nation freely, not forced, but volunteered to do their duty to rush into danger, just like the firefighters of 9\11 did into the WTC towers. Remember the politicians who tell Generals they are lying and not telling the truth to congress, insulting the troops and their leaders in the process. Vote them out!

Tomorrow is 9\11. Remember those who went to work that day, and did not come home, for they were only doing their job. Remember the 343 from FDNY, the NYPD 23 police officers, and the 37 officers from the Port Authority Police Department who died in the line of duty. On that day there was no Republicans or Democrats, just unselfish Americans doing their job. I wish we could go back to that spirit in the days right after 9\11. We could do so much more good united to help each other than smearing lies, views, and political attacks on each other to gain a foothold with voters.

DM

Steam Locomotives

2008-08-17T23:14:00.011-04:00

These are some shots of steam locomotives in action that I have taken since 1987. The oldest being N&W 611, Huckleberry Railroad #2. More recent are Pere Marquette 1225, Flagg Coal # 75 and Rio Grand #464 at Huckle Berry RR.

Win one for the Birthday Boy

2008-08-16T12:43:00.004-04:00

Backyard Birthday Party Football

The Pass...

The Interception...

The Hand-off

The Mad Dash

Touchdown!!!

What a way to spend your birthday party!

Delaere Wedding Video

2008-08-12T18:18:00.002-04:00

This is the short version of a video slide show I made for Rick and Angi.

Grand Trunk Western 4624

2008-08-12T11:47:00.005-04:00

Some shots of GTW 4624, a GP9r, on the paper mill run in Port Huron, MI. The sun was already set when I took the shots. The Nikon D80 did real well in the low light. I have not had much time for any railroad photos lately and this was by pure chance. I needed a break from work on several projects at home and took an hour off to fish while a DVD I was making was writing to disk (took over 14 hours).

Rick and Angi DeLaere's Wedding set 2

2008-07-06T15:40:00.003-04:00

Rick and Angi DeLaere's Wedding

2008-06-29T12:16:00.002-04:00

June 28th, 2008 unites Rick and Angi in marriage.

Eclipse of the Moon

2008-06-22T16:55:00.005-04:00

The 2008 Lunar Eclipse viewed from Michigan's Thumb area.

Lightning

2008-06-08T22:26:00.004-04:00

We finally got some decent spring storms, but as always I don't have the shutter open for the real good strikes of lightning.

Memorial Day

2008-05-24T15:30:00.003-04:00

Charles J. Cudlike

SYNOPSIS: On May 18, 1969, SP4 Charles J. Cudlike and his unit were engaged in battlein Thua Tien Province, South Vietnam. During the fighting, Cudlike was injured, and was being medically evacuated from the battle area by helicopter. The injured teammebers were boarding the helicopter when it had to leave quickly because of a heavy volume of enemy fire. At this time, Cudlike had been unable to completely board the aircraft, and was hanging on one of the skids of the helicopter and the door gunner aboard the helicopter was trying to pull him into the ship. Due to his own wounds, the gunner was unable to pull him in. When the pilot of the helicopter became aware of the situation he started looking for a place to land, but before he could do so, Cudlike fell from the aircraft at an altitude of 500 feet into the jungle. Comprehensive searches were conducted by air with no success. Cudlike was declared Killed in Action, and his body was never recovered. War is hell. Men are killed by other men whom they call their enemy. But men are also killed by "misadventure" - by senseless drowning, falls, and by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At 21, Charles Cudlike had just begunto live. Because no trace of Cudlike's remains were found, his name is maintained among thosewho are missing and captured in Southeast Asia. Experts believe that hundreds of these Americansare still alive, captive, and want to come home. One can imagine that Cudlike would gladly serveon one more patrol to help bring them home.

If you value your freedom then give thanks and remember the Veterans who have given their lives in the line of duty for our country. It does not matter what political side of the line you are on, just remember our military is a volunteer military. Our troops work in conditions most of us would never even consider of visiting for a moment. They do it as Volunteers and they have ensured our freedoms as a free nation since 1776.

As a Veteran I go out of my way to thank other Vets that I see in parking lots with license plates, stickers, or wearing hats, etc. So the next time you see an old timer wearing a hat and it says CV-9 USS Essex, stop him and say thanks for it is the least you can do since he was willing to die to ensure you could be Free.

D Meinhard

Rapid Intervention Team

2008-05-20T18:56:00.003-04:00

Firefighter rescue is an important and over looked skill in firefighting, at least until the last 8 or so years. Ever since the Worcester, Mass. fire deaths more emphisis has been placed on firefighter safety and rescue or Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). Federal Law requires a minimum of two firefighters standing by ready for firefighter rescue anytime they go into an atmosphere or area that is Immeadiatly Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH). That law was in place back in 1999 when that disaster happened, but having a skilled team trained specifically for this is something that is realitively new on the fire scene. We all know what happened on 9-11 and even as recent as the Charelston, SC last year where nine firefighters died in what some fire professionals said recklessly. Many point the finger at poor training, lack of safety offices, RITs, RIT training, and firefighter self rescue training.

Here are some photos I took during my RIT train the trainer course a few years back. So far I have aided in the training of around twelve firefighters on shift (out of 50). It has been difficult, in my opinion, to get time for more training like this. In part because we have so many restrictions on what we can do with buildings we have, in other ways because a lack of serious thought to "this can happen" to us and risk analysis to think it won't happen to us at all. Again, those are just my opinions.

The two in and two out rule is the minimum. Studies show you need more than just two firefighters to rescue one downed firefighter. You may go through six or more personnel just to extracate one trapped firefighter. Remember tools and equipment all need to be brought into a dangerous environment that has injured or trapped someone you work with.

CSX at Marysville, Michigan

2008-05-15T22:41:00.006-04:00

Gloomy skies and light drizzle don't make for color photos in the spring. This photo takes on an industrial look with the black and white edit and dark fade at the top.

The CSX coal train was heading for the DTE St. Clair Powerplant in St. Clair, MI. The rail is former Port Huron and Detroit RR. CSX has trackage rights from Flint to Port Huron from which they travel upon their own tracks. I am told that the powerplant in the background is no longer in service with DTE (Detroit Edison). This is the Marysville Edison Plant and was built in the late 1920s.

Park Play

2008-05-02T16:08:00.002-04:00

I was trying out my new lens, a Tamron 17-50mm 1:2.8. So far I love it. It is great indoors too with flash and with out flash. I plan on using it for weddings, portraits and other candid shots. As you see it does a good job with a cloudy day, and the SB-800 flash.

April Sunset at Tunnel Yard 2

2008-04-03T17:00:00.002-04:00

Some more photos from 2 April.

March of Ice

2008-04-03T12:44:00.003-04:00

The Spring thaw and the ice flowing from Lake Huron. The ice is flowing under the Blue Water bridge in Port Huron, MI.

April Sunset at Tunnel Yard

2008-04-03T12:36:00.004-04:00

Due to gas prices I have not dedicated much time to railroad photography. Though on this day I did and was rewarded with some nice photos of the sunset over the Grand Trunk Western Tunnel Yard in Port Huron.

Durand Union Station

2008-03-21T09:12:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite shots of Durand I took on a cold January evening at sunset.

Thank You Mike Cox

2008-03-20T20:57:00.006-04:00

I would like to thank Atty. Gen. Mike Cox and his department for helping us fight for our rights as a consumer under the protection of the Michigan Lemon Law. Saturn decided to refund us almost all of the money and buy back the 2008 Saturn Vue.

Saturn Customer Service overall would get a very poor rating and it is sad they did not do the right thing from the beginning. Saturn / GM, thanks for finally coming around to do what should have happened a while ago.

After all this we went back to Chrysler / Dodge family products and we are happy so far.

As far as the Saturn dealership, they have done a fine job at customer service overall, too bad they do not sell Dodge or Chrysler products.

Total days in the shop for our 2008 Saturn Vue... 48 @ 9300 miles ~.

My Dodge Ram P/U 1 day in the shop @ 73000 miles.

45 Days and Counting

2008-02-02T10:26:00.000-05:00

45 days in the shop and counting for our 2008 Saturn Vue. Saturn wants to repair it and send it back to us. I asked their Customer Service rep how many times will it take? We do not want it back because it is unsafe and unreliable. When I asked if the CS rep had a car and how many days it was in the shop last month, the rep said it was not relevant. Oh really, it is relevant because our car was in the shop roughly 20 days in January.

NTSB will receive a safety report today on the car.

Rethink Saturn

I definately am!

DM

The 2008 Vue Saga

2008-01-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday it went into the shop again. This after there was a burning plastic smell the wife smelled while driving then the whole suite of gages went dead, and all the warning lights came on. Also the radio was dead too and the On Star light flashed on and off. The engine was revving up and down while going 50 MPH or so and the car was lurching.

So into the shop it went, and a call later reporting "We have found nothing wrong with the car..."

Rethink Saturn.

I surely am.

DM

14 Days in the shop and counting...

2008-01-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

14 Days in the shop and counting. GM Engineers, if there is such a thing, say it is normal for the locks to lock while the keys are in the ignition.

I find that hard to believe because the three GM vehicle we have rented in the mean time do not do it. So for 14 days and after replacing all the locking hardware, computers, etc. it still does it in our car and no other cars. Hmmmm.

Hello Lemon Law.

DM

2008 Saturn Vue Still in the Shop day 36

2008-01-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Today marks the 36th day of our new 2008 Saturn Vue in the Shop. This is the 12th day since we dropped if off for transmission problems and they decided to look at the door locks too. Well for 12 days now it sits awaiting the parts to fix the locking problem... The doors will lock all by them selves when you are out of the car with it running, in park or with it shut off (pumping gas, etc.) in park and you are out side... the keys are in the ignition of course!

This is just part of the frustration that we have experienced and I would dare say I do not want to buy or own another Saturn product again.

That is too bad because the dealership has been great to us, but lately we see the frustration with the car and us indirectly.

Basically, the Saturn Vue looks nice, has nice features that the wife and I like, but overall this 2008 Saturn Vue sucks! I don't know what happened to this vehicle, or if some disgruntled employee put some voodoo magic on it, but it has problems that are unacceptable for a new vehicle to have.

146 days owned, 36 Days in the shop = 2008 Saturn Vue Lemon

DM

2008 Vue Still in shop with problems... still

2008-01-05T22:35:00.001-05:00

Poltergeist (the name I affectionately call the car) is still in the shop. How long until they fix it this time?

Seems like I am paying for a new car to be parked in another garage that is not my own.

They are trying to fix the door lock problem and will be hooking up an event recorder to record the intermittant problems with the transmission. The dealership has been great, too bad the car from GM / Saturn is not.

DM

Oh yeah, don't buy one with the small engine and tranny!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-22T23:11:00.001-05:00

To all my family and friends, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

God Bless you all and I hope all of your prayers are answered in the New Year.

Sorry, all Christmas cards are late again. This will have to do for now!

Dan

2008 Saturn Vue = LEMON?

2007-12-08T18:06:00.000-05:00

Last night while coming back from a quick meal at a local Sub Shop in Port Huron, MI, I entered my 2008 Saturn Vue that I bought for my wife. While pulling the door handle to open the door, it broke! This is just another problem in a line of problems with our 2008 Saturn Vue.

Lets see, transmission problems, airbag sensor problem, hatch problem, it will automatically lock you out of the car while pumping gas or being out of the car with the keys in side (such as to stop and get the mail at the mailbox) and the latest being the door handle breaking. It has already been in the shop 21 days this year for the problems and will being going back in the shop again. We bought the car in the end of August of 2008.

I will not buy another GM / Saturn product again. It's too bad because the dealership, Saturn of Fort Gratiot, was awsome. Thier customer service is the best I have ever seen at any dealership. They are not happy at all with our experiences and have told the Saturn Customer service department that they (Saturn) owe us something. I expect nothing, other than apoligies, which they have given us, but who knows.

This is the first time I have bought a new GM product and I am definately not about to do it again. I'll stay with Chrysler products, which have at least given me some sense of quality and durability.

Saturn Vue looks nice, has nice features, but is cheaply built piece of plastic crap. Stay away from it. Buy something else at Satrun of Fort Gratiot!

Dan