On Day #2, we took the train to Denali National Park. It was a very pleasant experience. We had decided to take the train instead of driving so that Sahana would enjoy the trip a lot better.
In general, the train was very spacious, the facilities were very good, food was great [Vegetarians, you will survive] and the scenery was awesome.
You have two dome viewing decks from which you can see the top of the train as well as the sides. I made many hundred exposures of the beautiful scenes that flew past me at 50 mph. Pretty much every thing turned out to be bad. Even if the photos were sharp enough [Active VR mode works in the 70-200 VR], the composition was so mundane, it did not warrant any effort in post processing
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All my good photos were shot peeping out of the open window in the gap between the cars.
Train and mountain range, Tokina 12-24
Looking down, Tokina 12-24
Lake along the route, Tokina 12-24
Full speed ahead, Tokina 12-24
The car, Tokina 12-24, SB 800 fill flash
Peeping at the derailed car, 70-200 VR AF-S
Horseshoe Lake, Tokina 12-24
I should mention that many a times I kicked myself for having taken the train. There were so many good locations that warrant pulling over and taking photos. We had planned to take the train one way and drive back.
But the nearest good car rental to Denali was in Fairbanks, another 120 miles away and there was a one way drop off fee of $250. We decided to take the train back and forth. It is a mixed experience. The train is so awesome for the family and stress free, but a car is so good for photography
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