Virtual Railfan Tour of Paraguay - My Thrd Visit in 1995 - Day 1

 

My third and last trip to Paraguay was with a fan trip in 1995.  On this we went on a special train across the country from Asuncion to Encarnacion, on the border with Argentina, and return

Firing was a two-man operation

It was a leisurely day

There were several stops for photos

There was a quick visit to a sugar factory

The crew were very accommodating and there was a long conversation for the last stop of the day which produced one of the best pictures I have ever taken.

We were out in open country and the idea was to get a glint shot with the setting sun. (there seems to be a springs problem with the second car which was leaning to one side) This shot worked out reasonably well but they backed up and stood waiting while we watched anxiously as the sun dropped lower and lower. There were several shouts of "Call it forward, we are going to lose the light" but the leader waited until the last possible moment before giving the signal.

This was the final (magnificent) shot of the day with the train silhouetted against the setting sun.  It was taken using Kodachrome 35mm film using a light meter.  I had to wait several weeks until I had returned to Canada to find out what I had recorded.  Slide film was expensive and pretty much unobtainable in Paraguay.  For both pictures I only took one exposure!









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