A Last Drone Railfan Video Round-Up

This past summer, I wrote a couple of posts about what was then a very new aspect of the hobby: Drone railfanning. (See Drone Railfanning and More Drone Railfanning.)

Back then, there were a few drone railfan videos on YouTube. Today, about five months later, there are dozens. 

Soon, there were will be hundreds as more people buy and learn to use this new technology.

In other words, after this post, there will be little point in writing about drone railfanning on this blog.

It won't be long before these types of videos will be so ubiquitous and easy to find they will hardly be worth mentioning. (Unless they are of exceptional quality or from a previously-inaccessible location.)

Watching drone railfan videos does prompt a few observations.

First, just like with still photography and other videos of trains, they vary in quality. 

Second, some drone videographers are forgetting the rule of videos on YouTube: Shorter is better. Two to three minutes is all most people will watch.

Finally, there’s the business of sound. There’s a reason almost all the drone videos I’ve seen have a music track: Drones are not yet equipped for sound. If they are, the engine noise drowns out the train sounds. 

At least one drone railfan videographer is mixing in real train sounds, to good effect. (See link below.)

Anyway, here are a few drone railfan videos I enjoyed watching, starting with two sent to me by Camerajumper1. The first is an amazing look at Tehachapi Loop from drone’s-eye perspective. 

He also sent this one of MetroLink and coal train action in California. 

As for others, do you like Amtrak? This one features Amtrak and NS in Jackson, Michigan. 

Do you like steam locomotives from the air? Then you’ll like this drone video of Pere Marquette 1225. 

How about drone video of bridges, rivers and trains? One thing drones allow us to do is see railroad action from the middle of the river.

Here’s that drone video that combines trains sounds and video. It sounds pretty good to me.

Drone videos like this one in Tennessee  remind us that trains spend a lot of time amidst trees and out of normal sight (until drones came along, that is).

Not all drone railfan videos feature mainline action. If you like bucolic locals, this one is for you. Bonus: An NS unit running long hood forward.

Finally, an interesting view of the CPR HolidayTrain at night. 

So, that’s it—what may be my last drone railfan video round-up. (Unless something spectacular comes along.)