Laying on Train Tracks to Film Train?

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

If it's a tripod, then even the most basic models have a pan lever. Slightly more risky, as the lever is just underneath the camera mount, sou you would have to put your hand in the track well to operate it.

I was imagining the tripod being folded up so you could just rotate it as you would the monopod. I guess that means it wouldn't really be a tripod.

[Debunker]

While there MAY be clearance under a train's axles to hide, there's always the possibility of a hose or cable dangling underneath that could hit someone under the train. Big ouch.

Stop the video at the 0:41 mark. Notice the cowcatcher at the front of the locomotive. It's a couple of inches above the track. Railroad track is about 6 inches tall. So you're working with 8 or 9 inches of clearance. You'd have to be awfully thin to lie down on the tracks in this case (and work a camera).

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by Richard W

I was imagining the tripod being folded up so you could just rotate it as you would the monopod. I guess that means it wouldn't really be a tripod.

Sorry, thought you meant folded as in the legs being shortened as much as possible - some models can get down to six inches. Or a Benbo tripod, which could easily be set up between the tracks for such a shot, though you'd still have to stick your hand up to operate the pan.

Not proof of anything one way or other for the original video (although personally I agree with those who say there is no way there was a live person laying between the rails filming) but people do lay on or near the tracks to film approaching trains. On the May 23rd issuance of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's Daily Notification Log (Rail) there is an incident listed that has the following summary:

WHILE APPROACHING HALL ROAD AT MILE 11.71 OF THE RIVERS SUB, TRAIN CREW OBSERVED A PERSON CROUCHING ALONGSIDE THE TRACK WITH A VIDEO CAMERA. THE PERSON DID NOT MOVE AS THE TRAIN APPROACHED AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK BY THE LEAD LOCOMOTIVE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PERSON SUSTAINED INJURIES, THE EXTENT OF WHICH WERE UNDETERMINED AT THE TIME OF REPORTING.

Actually, people lay on the tracks without cameras too, trying to let trains pass over them. Ten days after the above incident there was another with this summary:

REPORTED SEEING SOMEONE LYING BETWEEN THE RAILS AT MILE 20.5 OF THE EDSON SUB. RCMP RESPONDED AND FOUND A PERSON WHO HAD SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE INJURED PERSON WAS AIRLIFTED TO EDMONTON HOSPITAL

[Singing in the Drizzle]

The first problem was the train engineer not blowing horn and braking. Next the camera lowering from sitting position to the laying down position. The camera appears to move straight down, not down and back. In the laying down position, where are the feet. It is very hard not get them in the camera frame when looking between them. Thirdly, have you tried to rotate a camera 180 deg while keeping the lense in a horizonal plane. I know that I can't do it while laying down. Finaly, if you are facing toward the direction the train came from and now the train past and camera is facing back over your head. How in the hell do you get the camera raise stright up and keep the camera steady and horizontal.

All the above could easly be done with a small camera on a stick as stated by others in earler post.

[Hans Off]

I am starting to seriously doubt the sanity of my fellow posters on this thread.

Why is everyone so insistent that the two possibilities are someone laying between the rails or a camera on a stick?

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

I am starting to seriously doubt the sanity of my fellow posters on this thread.

Why is everyone so insistent that the two possibilities are someone laying between the rails or a camera on a stick?

Well to be fair you did opine:

I think the cameraman has found himself a little hollow inbetween the sleepers to sit in. It looks like he is sat at one end of a bridge where there can conceivably be room to cower down.

Which would if I read it right indicates lying between the rails.

So how was it done?

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Well to be fair you did opine:



Which would if I read it right indicates lying between the rails.

If someone is lying or sitting doing this then it must be a friggin' robot IMO. The movement of the camera simply defies the logical movement and reactions of someone acheiving this stunt by doing it that way. The person makes no noise whatsoever- not a word, nor anything from them getting up or crouching down and the movements are too fluid.

But oh Lord- I must be insane!!!

[Hans Off]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Well to be fair you did opine:



Which would if I read it right indicates lying between the rails.

So how was it done?

You read wrong.

standing under the rails holding the camera in between the sleepers....




I'll follow up with a rubbish drawing....

[Richard W]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

You read wrong.

standing under the rails holding the camera in between the sleepers...

Yes, but that's the same as the monopod / stick idea, except that we're pointing out you don't need to actually stick your hand up between the sleepers and risk an accidental amputation to do it. (And I think it would be easier to rotate a support that you were holding than to rotate your hand and presumably your body smoothly like that, too.)

[Dr. Winston O'Boogie]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

I am starting to seriously doubt the sanity of my fellow posters on this thread.

Why is everyone so insistent that the two possibilities are someone laying between the rails or a camera on a stick?

Then tell us, oh wise one, what other options are there? Either someone actually was lying between the rails (doubtful), or were underneath the tracks working the camera. I suppose it could possibly be a remote control, but why would you bother rigging up a remote to swivel on two axes just to film under a train?

[Hans Off]

Originally Posted by Dr. Winston O'Boogie

Then tell us, oh wise one...but why would you bother rigging up a remote to swivel on two axes just to film under a train?

Heh, at last someone that can spot wisdom!

That is what I was getting at, both points in fact.

Dr Winston hereby promoted to Hans Off's official ramble unscrambler.

Cheers for that!

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

You read wrong.

standing under the rails holding the camera in between the sleepers....




I'll follow up with a rubbish drawing....

I see what you're saying about cowering down, but the camera was raised at the end so either enough material was removed to allow someone to stand up (which again seem unlikely due to the movement, or lack thereof) or this guy has a really long arm.

Or it's just a camera on a stick;-)

[Hans Off]

Originally Posted by TuFurg

enough material was removed

What material? What you chatting about now?

Now I am even more confused than before.

I think the end camera raise is just the bloke standing up. Notice the tilt in mid raise that would be consistent with a straightening of the legs (for example)

I am convinced it is hand held.

Originally Posted by Hans Off

I am convinced it is hand held.

It's possible. If the camera operator had a good grip, he could rotate the camera 180º with a straight arm. But he would have to have a long arm to raise it that high and not whack his head on the trestle.

[Richard W]

If you substitute the caption "badly drawn stick" for "badly drawn arm" in your picture, your scenario is exactly what others are saying...

[Eddylizard]

Just a bit of a question - would it be possible to hand hold a camera over your head that steadily under the circumstances proposed.

If you stand too close to the edge of a platform whilst a fast (through) train is passing then your whole body sways with the change in air pressure.

Would the effect be the same underneath the train? Ther is no discernable jitter on the clip.

[Hans Off]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Just a bit of a question - would it be possible to hand hold a camera over your head that steadily under the circumstances proposed.

If you stand too close to the edge of a platform whilst a fast (through) train is passing then your whole body sways with the change in air pressure.

Would the effect be the same underneath the train? Ther is no discernable jitter on the clip.

That's a fair point. I am leaning more towards hand held monopod now..

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

What material? What you chatting about now?

Now I am even more confused than before.

I think the end camera raise is just the bloke standing up. Notice the tilt in mid raise that would be consistent with a straightening of the legs (for example)

I am convinced it is hand held.

The material I was talking about was the whatever would have been removed so that a person could stand up between the railroad ties. I'm not a railroad expert but I would assume that normally there isn't a large enough gap between them for people to stand therefore some material has been removed.

The movement to me just looks like a bit of unsteadiness with the tripod instead of leg bending, but then again reading your latest post you might agree with that- are you nuts?!;-)

[Hans Off]

The ends of bridges (see crap diagram) often have open space between the sleepers (railroad ties)