U
NTILafew years ago the use
ofadrone was usually limited
to militaryapplications, but
miniaturisation, coupled with
portability,affordability and the fitment of a
decent quality camera capable of still and video
images has opened upahost of new options.
Drones aregradually becoming partof
the armouryofrailway photographers in an
attempt to get ‘something different’.
Drones (also called quadcopters) arebeing
used for an increasing number of applications–policing, surveillance, commercial, scientific,
agricultural, as well as illegal activities–but
the amount in civilian use vastly outnumber
militaryversions.
Tomonitor and protect Britain’s rail
infrastructure, Network Rail use drones
for viaduct and bridge surveys as well as
geological surveys. Their use on the fragile
cliffs at Dawlish andTeignmouth has allowed
afar greater assessment of the problems
needing to be tackled than using an expensive
and intrusive helicopter.
The definition ofadrone is ‘an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) which does not carry ahuman operator but can fly autonomously
or be pilotedremotely’. Interestingly,their
historycan be traced back to use by the US
Air Force during theVietnamWar.Above:There’stranquillityoverButterleyrese rvoir as
‘Pacer’No. 141113 crossesthe causewayonFebruary16.Below: Theautumn tintscanbeappreciatedinthis
viewofGBRf No.66788 (ex-DB CargoNo. 66238)
passingBessacarr Junction with 6L61, the 08.52
Thrist lington-ChestertonJunction aggregate trainon
November 8, 2018.DRONING ON!
Theavailability and
affordability of a‘drone’
fortheaverageperson
hasbroughtanew
dimensiontoalltypes
of photography.Geoff
Griffithsshares someof
his stunningexamples
of aerial images.Words
byChris Milner.
PHOTOGRAPHYFEATURE