Maybe I missed something, but I don't understand what they are planning to do with the recreation of the first O. Winston Link photo shoot of 1955.
What are they planning to do, use modern diesels lit up in the same manner?

I thought the press release mentioned that the train
would be stopped. Not much of a recreation if this
is so. I wonder if the reporter understood most of
Link's shots were posed, but not static.
I once asked Link, back when the NS steam program
was active, why he didn't recreate some of
his scenes. He said "Aw, I did that. Let the other
guys have a chance."
This would be interesting to see but I'm afraid
it will disappoint.

Yes, I believe modern NS power on a business car train, stopped and posed.

As for the exactitude of the recreation, that doesn't seem like a very important distinction to me. It's a fundraiser for the museum, just for fun for a good cause. Maybe commemoration would have been a slightly better choice of words than recreation, but either way its a good thing in my book.

The point to me is that NS and Osram Sylvania are using their resources to help the museum out, much as they did for Railroader's Memorial earlier. And for that I thank them.

Bob, Eric, & all, I'm going to be helping out as a volunteer with this event. I will keep you updated as I know more of the logistics. Yes, the shot will be re-created with a posed diesel business train. One of the most significant things about this fundraiser is the participation of a number of high NS officials. A regional VP is supposed to be playing the "station agent". If you haven't seen the Link Museum yet, do so. It is impressive, to say the least. (and ironic, the best RR museum in the state of Virginia doesn't own a single piece of equipment)

I'm not sure you can do a group moving shot. In Link's day the 4x5 cameras often used solenoids to trigger the leaf shutters in flash situations. Given the current load to power all those big flashbulbs and Link's multiple cameras, I'm sure he used solenoids. Thus, he could synchronise the multiple flashbulbs and his cameras together.

Many modern cameras have electronic shutters, but is there a signal protocol that can trigger all of them? If not, it will be impossible to synchronise multiple cameras with the flash.

Then you have the light output. A #3 with Plus-X or Super Panchro Press (ASA 125) had a guide number of 550 at 1/25 sec. Compare this with your favorite strobe.

In response to the many questions about the O. Winston Link Photo Shoot:

*Yes, the NS business train (with new diesel locomotives) will be stopped at the site of the former Waynesboro station. The museum does realize that most of Link's shots were posed, but not static (making his work all the more fantastic!), however during the shot in Waynesboro this train was actually slowing to a stop. So stopping this train is not that out of line.

*It will be stopped, since as Phil mentioned, it would be virtually impossible to synch more than 100 cameras. The museum wants to give every interested person the opportunity to capture this scenario - no matter what kind of equipment they use.
The point of the event this January is to honor and celebrate O. Winston Link and his work, rather than re-creating what he did in 1955 to every exact detail.

Please don't hesitate to contact the museum or post if there are further questions. We'll be happy to clarify anything.
(And thanks for the compliment of being the "best RR museum in the state of Virginia"!)

Looking at the link shot, It looks like a tight location. Might be hard to put that many people in a location like that. Still neat idea, ang a great way to remember the first shot.

-Justin

Hi All -
The location for the Link photo shoot will be enclosed to ticket holders only, and we are capping the tickets at 150. That will help with the crowding. More than half are reserved at this time. The NS train will be stopped for enough time for each ticket holder to take their shot.
-Thanks!

Link Museum
(540) 982-5465
programs@linkmuseum.org