Filming passing trains?
- Thread starter DrNewcenstein
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What exactly are you looking for in terms of "specifics"? Do you mean whether or not you can or are you looking for best practices?
PatR
Premium Pilot
Perhaps using some personal creativity to decide angles, heights, and desired end effect are in order? Pretty hard to be an original artist using borrowed technique from someone already using them. You may find a mix or hand held, tripod, and aerial shots are what makes the best final product.
Watch some train videos on YouTube. What looks good? What could look better? What parts of a train are most interesting? What motion effects would elicit excitement for a viewer or a desire to see more?
Watch some train videos on YouTube. What looks good? What could look better? What parts of a train are most interesting? What motion effects would elicit excitement for a viewer or a desire to see more?
One caveat that others have experienced and reported here... trains are big metal things that will cause all sorts of compass errors... unless you are very comfortable, flying in full manual mode with GPS off, you will have some control issues come up.
PatR
Premium Pilot
FlushVision
Premium Pilot
I had that in mind when I was doing some filming of the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire, England a few weeks ago. It carries the Settle to Carlisle rail link for both passenger trains and goods trains. As I stood there I debated with myself whether to hang around before launching for a train to arrive at the station just to the South of the viaduct so that I would be up in the air for when that train passed over the viaduct. In the end my caution won me over and I launched after a goods train went over it. The result was that I got my shots of the viaduct but no trains.
Was looking more for the legality of it more than creative input. I should have been more specific about the specifics lol
I've seen a few videos, but nothing really to the point of "I'll use that technique" - mostly I watch the Drone Fail/Crash compilations. I did watch the one where the guy buzzed the double-length train with an FPV drone. Dude had mad skillz, but there were quite a few things I thought were highly illegal, like landing on it, flying between cars, and into the open box car, not to mention distracting the engineer. That's just dumb.
I was thinking more of from-the-side as it's coming, maybe over the top with the camera at a 3/4 angle. I have an autistic nephew who loves trains, and a video like that would make his day.
I just don't want the cops up my butt over something I could do all day with a traditional video camera on a tripod, or hanging out in a deer stand near the tracks with an iPhone and a selfie stick.
As for the magnetic field that trains generate, I'm aware of that. It's been my theory for years that they generate EMPs that cause cars to suddenly stall when crossing the tracks.
And I don't fly without GPS.
Thanks all.
I've seen a few videos, but nothing really to the point of "I'll use that technique" - mostly I watch the Drone Fail/Crash compilations. I did watch the one where the guy buzzed the double-length train with an FPV drone. Dude had mad skillz, but there were quite a few things I thought were highly illegal, like landing on it, flying between cars, and into the open box car, not to mention distracting the engineer. That's just dumb.
I was thinking more of from-the-side as it's coming, maybe over the top with the camera at a 3/4 angle. I have an autistic nephew who loves trains, and a video like that would make his day.
I just don't want the cops up my butt over something I could do all day with a traditional video camera on a tripod, or hanging out in a deer stand near the tracks with an iPhone and a selfie stick.
As for the magnetic field that trains generate, I'm aware of that. It's been my theory for years that they generate EMPs that cause cars to suddenly stall when crossing the tracks.
And I don't fly without GPS.
Thanks all.
PatR
Premium Pilot
On that basis, as long as your flight does not interfere with the operation of the train or provide an appearance of harassing the train operators, shoot what you will. Standing on the tracks to get a shot is not a good idea for obvious reasons, and flying at the front of the train and zooming up over the engine at the last second is a very bad idea, but shots from the side, overhead, and from the rear won’t cause any problems if done from a relatively safe distance.
A word of caution, I advise against flying an H low along the middle of rail road tracks. Every time I’ve tried that my H has deviated from the commanded direction after getting a couple hundred feet from the controller. It took off to one side or the other quite abruptly.
A word of caution, I advise against flying an H low along the middle of rail road tracks. Every time I’ve tried that my H has deviated from the commanded direction after getting a couple hundred feet from the controller. It took off to one side or the other quite abruptly.
Thanks, that's what I was thinking. Direct oncoming shots are definitely out of the question lol
I was thinking that if I positioned the drone correctly, it would not be seen by the engineer at all, but would blend in with the scenery (trees in the background, etc). Something a huge white DJI just can't do. As long as I don't look like I'm flying a drone, they should have no reason to fret. I suppose I could bring my tripod and JVC camera and have that serve as the decoy.
And thanks for the heads-up on the H. I've only got a Q500 4K, but the H is in my future.
I was thinking that if I positioned the drone correctly, it would not be seen by the engineer at all, but would blend in with the scenery (trees in the background, etc). Something a huge white DJI just can't do. As long as I don't look like I'm flying a drone, they should have no reason to fret. I suppose I could bring my tripod and JVC camera and have that serve as the decoy.
And thanks for the heads-up on the H. I've only got a Q500 4K, but the H is in my future.
PatR
Premium Pilot
The Q and the H share some parts and software so they might act similarly in some situations.
I would not worry too much about the train crew seeing the drone. If it stays off to one side the perception of a threat is minimal at best. They know they will win in a collision
. Kind of like a gnat running into an elephant’s forehead at 60mph.
I would not worry too much about the train crew seeing the drone. If it stays off to one side the perception of a threat is minimal at best. They know they will win in a collision
. Kind of like a gnat running into an elephant’s forehead at 60mph.
I'll pilot the Typhoon off to the side, filming the Mavic get squished... oh the YouTube views... 
The Q and the H share some parts and software so they might act similarly in some situations.
I would not worry too much about the train crew seeing the drone. If it stays off to one side the perception of a threat is minimal at best. They know they will win in a collision
It's not so much the results of the collision or damage to the train as it is the engineer being distracted by one. They have to stay focused, and they can report distractions to law enforcement. I wouldn't be surprised to find cameras on trains for legal purposes, like many trucking companies are doing these days to catch idiots who hop in front of them and slam on their brakes hoping for an easy lawsuit.
He stays focused on staying awake.
PatR
Premium Pilot
That was more true than most would think. Train crews have similar working hours as truck drivers and their sleep-wake cycles are not consistent. Fighting sleep inducing boredom is quite a problem.
Trains do have forward facing cameras but they are used more for providing evidence in rail way collisions with motor vehicles and pedestrians.
Trains do have forward facing cameras but they are used more for providing evidence in rail way collisions with motor vehicles and pedestrians.
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There has been a slew of people killed here in Florida over the year by our new High Speed Train that will eventually connect south Florida to Orlando. The police just released a video from the train that got a bicyclist a little while back, the idiot just rode right in front of the train, not much they could do but stop three miles down the track. My guess is that along train routes there are areas that the engineers are on high alert such as crossings and through towns but out in the country side I'm sure they're a little less focused.
I live in a rural area, but there are two, maybe 3 areas where filming a train around here would be feasible:
1. At the nearby station in a small town, but with houses nearby I'd rather not have in my shots.
2. At a remote trestle near a local landfill, but surrounded tightly by trees.
3. At a crossing near the industrial park, but with an open field on 2 sides.
This third area would be my choice simply because there is more room to park off the road, even though it is on someone's field access road, which might be a problem for them since it's Farming Season. As well, I can point the camera towards and across the tracks, so I'm not filming someone's private property, other than the farmer's wide-open field. For Southbound trains, I'd be on the opposite side of the road at the crossing, which means idiots in motorized vehicles trying to weave through the gates.
For Northbound trains, I'd have to face the industrial park and those unsightly facilities (including the one I work at), and would have my back to vehicular traffic.
While the Q500 4K is certainly not large enough to obstruct the view of the engineer or that of vehicular morons, the eye is drawn to both motion and the unfamiliar. Hence, a drone, if noticeable, is a distraction. With the heightened paranoia surrounding personal privacy as well as the Drone Operator Downs Airbus Killing 500 Pregnant Women And Sick Children "news reports", either one could file a complaint while I'm filming, and then I have to play 20 questions with Barney Fyfe. And maybe hide a body.
1. At the nearby station in a small town, but with houses nearby I'd rather not have in my shots.
2. At a remote trestle near a local landfill, but surrounded tightly by trees.
3. At a crossing near the industrial park, but with an open field on 2 sides.
This third area would be my choice simply because there is more room to park off the road, even though it is on someone's field access road, which might be a problem for them since it's Farming Season. As well, I can point the camera towards and across the tracks, so I'm not filming someone's private property, other than the farmer's wide-open field. For Southbound trains, I'd be on the opposite side of the road at the crossing, which means idiots in motorized vehicles trying to weave through the gates.
For Northbound trains, I'd have to face the industrial park and those unsightly facilities (including the one I work at), and would have my back to vehicular traffic.
While the Q500 4K is certainly not large enough to obstruct the view of the engineer or that of vehicular morons, the eye is drawn to both motion and the unfamiliar. Hence, a drone, if noticeable, is a distraction. With the heightened paranoia surrounding personal privacy as well as the Drone Operator Downs Airbus Killing 500 Pregnant Women And Sick Children "news reports", either one could file a complaint while I'm filming, and then I have to play 20 questions with Barney Fyfe. And maybe hide a body.
Make sure to include the appropriate dress code... don't forget to check the back
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From what I have been told, at least here in the states, be sure you are not on the Rail Roads property, do not fly directly over the Rail lines or the train. You may shoot from the side as long as the Drone again is not over rail road property. Usually that means about 100 feet back from the tracks on either side.
PatR
Premium Pilot
Not sure but I don’t believe rail road rights of way are afforded any more airspace restrictions that that of private property owners. Rail road companies outside of Amtrak are not government owned.
Well all I can say is a local Part 107 pilot got into some trouble with NC Division of Aviation and before thgat was escorted iff the property because 1.) he was on Norfolk Southerns Property next to the tracjmks snd 2.) he was flying over top of the train following it which NC Division of Aviation said was a big No- No.... I don't mske the rules I just try to follow them. Maybe there is something on the FAA website.
