10 Questions for Dennis Livesey

This series is modeled after the “Interesting Railfan” series in Railroad magazine from years ago. I’m asking each railfan 10 questions, some standard and some customized for the particular person. I hope you enjoy it. (See all in the series).

After Oren Helbok adapted the “Interesting Railfan” concept to pretend to put a few questions to photographer Dennis Livesey, I decided to ask Dennis 10 actual questions. Oren shared the image of Dennis above.

Dennis is a photographer, author, speaker, among many other things. Check out Dennis’ work at Livesey Images or the other links at the end of this article.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

My grandmother bought me my first train set. My mom got me my first cab ride. My dad got me my first camera. They all supported me in my train interest.

I graduated from NYU film school and had a 30-year career as a motion picture camera assistant and camera operator. I worked with actors from Sylvester Stallone to Miss Piggy, and cameras like the Panavision Panaflex. I work nowadays for a large electronics retail store and volunteer at Steamtown National Historic Site.

2. Why do you like trains?

I think all railfans are born like I was. I was little more than a toddler and with an adult. We were near these strange metal rails on thick lumber that gave off a pungent odor. Then, off in the distance, I could see a headlight and the machine it was on. The machine came closer and closer, got bigger and bigger, louder and louder and BOOM it slammed by, terrifying me. After it was over I said, ”Can we come back here again?”

Trains are the epitome of promise. They promise movement, excitement and enduring life. We crave movement for it symbolizes life, the opposite of stillness which is the other thing. Our pulses rise when we see or ride a train. Gliding through the land, trains are a man-made life form that is of unending interest. We want to see more, hear more, feel more. I am never more alive when moving, particularly with a train.

3. Where’s your favourite place to railfan?

It is hard to pick a favorite when I like trains anywhere.

However, I do like New York City. It has challenges that you do not have in the suburbs, or rural areas or even other cities. On the island of Manhattan, it is a particular challenge for 90% of the tracks are underground. This physical challenge is easy to get creative with and I have had success in stations, in trains and where the tracks are outside. I say easy because when your favorite spot is a step out of your truck, the challenge is yourself. That is the tough one.

I do like New York City and its trains (including subways) and the railroads outside of town. Of course it is fun to travel, so I have been to Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Horseshoe Curve, Cajon and Tehachapi. I have to admit, however, in the last few years, heritage railroads have been the main draw. The main reason is I have gotten to know the people at some heritage railroads and I am treated like a guest. So not only is the equipment fun but the people are too.

Lastly, when big steam is in striking distance, I am there. My first railroad picture was of a Reading 4-8-4. My latest railroad picture was of a Reading 4-8-4 sister.

Only 63 years apart! Ha!

4. If you could railfan anywhere, anytime, where and when would it be?

I would make sure my passport was in order and then embark on a world tour. I look upon with envy the folks who travel everywhere in search of trains and lands they have never seen. Time was, I was a xenophobic railfan, rejecting all notions of “foreign” rail-WAYS. It was not until I traveled to England, France, and Switzerland did that change.

The thing is, once you have seen and ridden trains in an international country, it is no longer foreign, it is yours as well. Pretty soon, TGV, 25NC, Rhaetian Railway, up train/down train, carriages, guard and Bullied are words now in your vocabulary.

5. You’re well known as a steam locomotive photographer. What diesels would you go out of your way to photograph?

Good question for I never thought of it. Alcos, including a PA, I see when I go to Steamtown so that is not a big a draw for me as for others. The big railroads are pretty much all the same except for the heritage units. I have a few of those but have no need to chase the rest. However, I will admit to some parochial bias and would like to go out and get the Metro North heritage units out in the wild now. Maybe my friends Ralph and Emily are up for the chase?

6. Rods down or up?

If you wish to drop a grenade into a room of photographers, ask if they use protection filters. If you wish to drop a grenade into a room of railfan photographers, ask rods up or down.

The Rules of Thumb (ROT) dictates rods down for a roster shot and rods up for action shots. However, I am about what looks good and what looks good is based on symmetry. Therefore I am not happy when the rods are in-between.

7. You’ve been taking photographs with Emmie (your 4×5 Speed Graphic). What do you love and hate most about using that camera?

Love sonnets, no doubt, have been written about the Graflex Speed Graphic. However that may be, I have not found them.

The Speed Graphic was meant to give photographers the quality of a view camera in the hand which it does with alacrity. Ah, but woe unto the clueless user for if they are to be careless, the Speed Graphic, with equal alacrity, will allow the hapless photographer to shoot blanks, double exposures and out of focus shots. Don’t ask me how I know that.

So, why, why, WHY use this thing? At this time in my photography, I wanted a challenge. I have never used large format before and this camera is the one of legends. All I can say is I am having a blast, no matter the dark slides.

8. What’s “the one that got away” for you?

I was alive, albeit a child of single digits, while steam was still running. Alas, my wonderful father was not a railfan, so he did not know of steam on the PRR, CPR, N&W, or even the BEDT. Thus I never saw steam in mainline service.

9. I’ve never been to Steamtown. As a long time volunteer, what advice would you give for a first time visitor?

For a basic visit, the ideal is to ride the shuttle when it is steam powered by BLW No. 26. It is a great way to grasp the essence of Steamtown. Then a tour of the shops and collection will make for a wonderful day.

Occasionally, Steamtown has longer “mainline” excursions. Those diesel powered trips are an adventure. There is also a trolley ride and other local attractions. I recommend the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour.

10. What project(s) do you have on the go, or in planning?

I am currently scanning my film. I have scanned about 25,000 so far. Maybe 5,000 to go. Wish me luck!

Please visit his website Liveseyimages.com, or his Facebook, Flickr and Instagram pages. Dennis’ book, “Smoke Over Steamtown“, is available on Amazon. You might want to read this 2017 interview of Dennis on Trackside Photographer.