Green Graffiti Train in the Heartland
I spotted this green graffiti train near the train tracks about four or five blocks from the train tracks. The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad wakes me up every morning as it barrels through the Heartland. These days, I actually hear it coming before I hear the whistle blow.
Occasionally, this still bothers me, but mostly, I’m glad the train wakes me up. It’s like a little signal that a new day is beginning. I can decide to sleep another hour or two or go ahead and get up and hope something amazing happens that day like the coffee making itself or all the jerks in the world going to live on Paradise Island with Wonder Woman’s Amazon sisters. It could totally happen.
Anyway, I’ve come to love the trains, and I love to see the graffiti go rolling by. I rarely see green trains, let alone a green graffiti train, so this was a real treat. I love the pinks, hot pinks, light greens, and yellows.
Pretty cool, huh? According to a palette I generated that is no longer available, there are nine shades of green: holly, laurel, snowy mint, fern green, mallard, schist, pine tree, verdigris, and sycamore. I love these common English names each of which are associated with RGB or hexadecimal format.
One thing I really enjoy about living close to the trains is that every evening around 6:30, the train blows through downtown, midtown, and uptown districts of Oklahoma City, and by then, the streets are sparsely settled. If I’m in my car and I hear the train coming, I drive to the nearest railroad crossing. I’m often the only car waiting for the train to pass, and I’m able to take lots of great pictures. The crossing at 13th and Broadway is my favorite. There is something very nice about being in the middle of a quiet downtown with a loud train going by. My friend Willa always says the train is a constant in our lives, a reminder that we are all moving forward in one way or another. I guess she’s right.
A beautiful green graffiti train went rolling by one day.
Green Graffiti Train with Conductor
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
And I feel like I’m a rider on a downbound train…
— From Springsteen’s Downbound Train
OKC has built a bunch of high-end apartments right by the tracks in the last 10 years or so. They’re now trying to create a quiet zone b/c it’s driving people crazy. The train is so loud. It was 2 a.m. this morning. I just get up and work half the time.
Thanks, Cody. I really dig Palette FX and I create palettes from nature all the time with this tool. A 250-year-old rail town — I’d like to be there someday – at least to have a look around.
Living in 250 year old rail town I can relate with the sounds of the train. I enjoy the sounds coming from the railroad as well.
Nice color palette you sampled from the graffiti!
I live two streets away from the train tracks. I still have to wear ear plugs at night or I would not sleep. The trains horn all night. It is unbelievable to me that an apartment complex was built right next to the tracks and people pay $2500 rent and must be woken up every hour on the hour with the train rattling their windows. It is not like the poor neighborhoods in big cities or delapidated neighborhoods – we are talking about brand new apartments at $2500!