tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110616542024-03-19T08:00:22.631-04:00Trackside TravelsTravels with photographer Steve Barry along the rail lines of the United States and Canada. Steve has been photographing railroads for over 30 years.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-76968179344166779942018-11-07T17:22:00.000-05:002018-11-07T17:22:08.984-05:00The Spectacular Columbia River Gorge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-66BrFDd/0/405b0499/X2/2018-10-15-0035-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="427" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-66BrFDd/0/405b0499/X2/2018-10-15-0035-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Avery (Wishram), Wash.; October 15, 2018</td></tr>
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Of all the places in the continental United States to take railroad photographs, the Columbia River Gorge between Oregon and Washington easily makes my top three. With spectacular scenery, quaint towns, and railroads on both sides of the river, it is truly a special place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-H7vRnDM/0/c2f4345c/X2/2018-10-12-0059-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-H7vRnDM/0/c2f4345c/X2/2018-10-12-0059-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Straight Point, Wash.; October 12, 2018</td></tr>
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The gorge runs for approximately 80 miles, starting east of the Portland, Ore., suburbs and ending at roughly Arlington, Ore. It was used by Lewis & Clark in 1805. In the 1880s, the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company built through the gorge on the Oregon side; this is now Union Pacific.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-SggNDt7/0/5ba811b4/X2/2018-10-19-0059-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-SggNDt7/0/5ba811b4/X2/2018-10-19-0059-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Mosier, Ore.; October 19, 2018</td></tr>
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Railroads came to the Washington side in the early 1900s when the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads teamed up to form the Spokane, Portland & Seattle. This is now part of BNSF Railway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-whdnmnz/0/61ea5fee/X2/2018-10-19-0087-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-whdnmnz/0/61ea5fee/X2/2018-10-19-0087-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Home Valley, Wash.; October 19, 2018</td></tr>
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Accessing the two railroads is fairly easy. On the Washington side, State Highway 14 parallels the tracks almost all the way. Trains will outrun you on the largely two-lane road, so chasing can be difficult. However, the line is single-track with passing sidings, and trains will often have to stop for meets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-MSCNzCj/0/73843055/X2/2018-10-15-0013-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-MSCNzCj/0/73843055/X2/2018-10-15-0013-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Dallesport, Wash.; October 15, 2018</td></tr>
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The Union Pacific side is a bit trickier, as the line is paralleled by Interstate 84. While this will let you outrun trains at times, it also makes turning around to pursue a train in the opposite direction difficult, as exits are quite a distance apart. However, the UP side has the more interesting towns, with Cascade Locks, Hood River, and The Dalles all worth a visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-QM9Lftp/3/83ead9ff/X2/2016-03-21-0016-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-QM9Lftp/3/83ead9ff/X2/2016-03-21-0016-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; The Dalles, Oregon; March 21, 2016</td></tr>
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The three towns are connected by the Columbia River Highway -- Old U.S. 30 -- which winds its way up in the mountains above the river. While not useful for chasing, there are some great views available including from the overlook above Rowena.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-QHXFx8J/3/8ca07e12/X2/2016-03-21-0119-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-QHXFx8J/3/8ca07e12/X2/2016-03-21-0119-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Rowena, Oregon; March 21, 2016</td></tr>
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Getting back and forth between Oregon and Washington is fairly easy. The Bridge of the Gods connects Cascade Locks and Stevenson, Wash. There is also a bridge between Hood River and White Salmon, Wash. A third bridge will take you between The Dalles and Dallesport, Wash. (The first two bridges are toll; the bridge at The Dalles is free).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-23sN7VC/0/82588b37/X2/2018-10-12-0050-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-23sN7VC/0/82588b37/X2/2018-10-12-0050-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Stevenson, Wash.; October 12, 2018</td></tr>
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The UP has a couple of tunnels, all inaccessible due to the interstate. But on the BNSF side the tunnels are numerous, and many are right along the shoulder of State Highway 14.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-NQ6Mv7f/3/5e3759f4/X2/2017-03-16-0082-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-NQ6Mv7f/3/5e3759f4/X2/2017-03-16-0082-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Hood, Wash.; March 16, 2017</td></tr>
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The Columbia River Gorge is pleasant in almost all types of weather. Sometimes haze will get caught in the gorge, obscuring some of the distant vistas. But if you hit it on a crystal clear day, the region is dominated by Mount Hood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-6fCJbWJ/0/0a175da7/X2/2018-10-15-0028-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-6fCJbWJ/0/0a175da7/X2/2018-10-15-0028-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Dallesport, Wash.; October 15, 2018</td></tr>
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On the other side of the coin, even rainy, misty days can be downright spectacular in the gorge. On its bad days, the Columbia Gorge can still be very reminiscent of Alaska.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-RBCg2f3/6/3ef57fba/X2/2016-03-15-0023-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-RBCg2f3/6/3ef57fba/X2/2016-03-15-0023-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Cape Horn (Washougal), Wash.; March 15, 2016</td></tr>
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Fortunately, with the big railroad photography show Winterail now held in Oregon each year, I have an excuse to get back to the gorge quite often. It is, indeed, a special place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-d44CCt6/3/c7af3e86/X2/2017-03-16-0111-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-d44CCt6/3/c7af3e86/X2/2017-03-16-0111-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Home Valley, Wash.; March 16, 2017</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-81403489798424512622018-11-05T13:51:00.000-05:002018-11-05T14:00:04.962-05:00Exploring Houston's MetroRail<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-ZswFZhh/0/a12655c1/X2/2018-10-08-0057-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-ZswFZhh/0/a12655c1/X2/2018-10-08-0057-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MetroRail; South Fannin, Houston, Texas; October 8, 2018</td></tr>
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Joining the ranks of cities that have returned light rail and streetcars to the streets is Texas' largest, Houston. MetroRail runs from the South Fannin station, just south of the Astrodome (above), northward along Main Street through downtown Houston. The main north-south line is the Red Line that runs to the Northline Transit Center, almost 13 miles from South Fannin.<br />
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At Main Street Square in downtown Houston, the line passes through a block-long water feature, where the cars pass over a small manmade pond with fountains on each side.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-6HMhzRc/0/b47733ec/X2/2018-10-08-0092-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-6HMhzRc/0/b47733ec/X2/2018-10-08-0092-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MetroRail; Main Street Square, Houston, Texas; October 8, 2018</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-rszwS8v/0/83b7e821/X2/2018-10-07-0089-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-rszwS8v/0/83b7e821/X2/2018-10-07-0089-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MetroRail; Main Street Square, Houston, Texas; October 7, 2018</td></tr>
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Just north of Main Street Square is an intersecting east-west line. The line terminates just to the west of Main Street at the Theater District station. To the east, the line splits into two, with the 6.6-mile Purple Line to the Palm Center Transit Center and the 3.3-mile Green Line to the Magnolia Park Transit Center. The two lines are together through the Convention District; in this stretch they pass "The Star," the former Texas Company Building (Texaco) now being developed into condos. The Texas Company Building was designed by Warren & Wetmore, who also designed New York's Grand Central Terminal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-DZ763ZN/0/637aff63/X2/2018-10-08-0113-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-DZ763ZN/0/637aff63/X2/2018-10-08-0113-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MetroRail passing The Star (Texas Company Building), Houston, Texas; October 8, 2018</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-vzJXLS7/0/67cc7561/X2/2018-10-07-0137-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Houston-MetroRail/i-vzJXLS7/0/67cc7561/X2/2018-10-07-0137-X2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houston MetroRail; October 7, 2018</td></tr>
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MetroRail began service in 2004 and carries over 50,000 riders each day. The original 18 cars were built by Siemens as S70 cars. A second batch of 19 S70s came in 2011. The third generation of cars are 39 H3 cars from CAF, delivered in 2015. In addition to the cars being numbered in the series they were delivered in (100-series, 200-series, and 300-series), the newest cars are most easily identified by their silver brows.<br />
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Expansion of the system has been off-and-on for the last several years as various financial issues have come about. Still, the current three lines provide quick and efficient service around Houston, and the downtown has many interesting photo angles for those wishing to explore.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-73469908464000684952018-09-25T11:21:00.000-04:002018-09-25T15:40:24.556-04:00Heading For the Streets of St. Marys<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-6Kmn4bD/0/a98a6197/X2/2018-05-19-0008-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-6Kmn4bD/0/a98a6197/X2/2018-05-19-0008-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St, Marys, W.Va.; May 19, 2018</td></tr>
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CSX Transportation has a very scenic line that runs down the west side of West Virginia along the Ohio River. Trains come from Catlettsburg, Ky., on the west (south) end of the line and follow the river up through Parkersburg, W.Va., and into the small yard at New Martinsville before striking east into the mountains heading for Clarksburg. The photographic jewel of the line is St. Marys, W.Va., located about halfway between Parkersburg and New Martinsville, where trains take to the street for several blocks.<br />
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Unfortunately, the line sees very little traffic; there is only one scheduled train each way each day over the line, along with unit train extras such as coal. Even the scheduled train's times can vary wildly, making photographing the line a crap shoot. Roads follow the tracks closely from around Waverly to New Martinsville, and there are few places where a train can sneak by you, so unless you have some insider information the best strategy is probably follow the tracks east (north) from Waverly and hope you encounter a westbound along the way. This was the case on May 20, 2018, when I drove toward New Martinsville and encountered a westbound train west of Sistersville.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-msJ8BJp/0/84438590/X2/i-msJ8BJp-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-msJ8BJp/0/84438590/X2/i-msJ8BJp-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Sistersville, W.Va.; May 20, 2018</td></tr>
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The chase was on, and the next stop was at a not-so-friendly house (haunted, perhaps) in Friendly. Maybe Casper the Friendly Ghost lives there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-vLLNhSv/0/d3857a57/X2/2018-05-20-0015-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-vLLNhSv/0/d3857a57/X2/2018-05-20-0015-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Friendly, W.Va.; May 20, 2018</td></tr>
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Continuing the chase, our next photo opportunity is at the west end of the siding at Ben's Run. Despite the lack of trains on the line, meets here are not entirely unheard of, as it is one the few places two trains can pass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gnsN4b8/0/3f8cacd0/X2/i-gnsN4b8-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gnsN4b8/0/3f8cacd0/X2/i-gnsN4b8-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Ben's Run, W.Va.; May 20, 2018</td></tr>
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There's time to grab one more shot before heading into St. Marys for the street running. We stop just a few miles outside of St. Marys to get the train passing the Raven Rock Baptist Church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RnntrMJ/0/8fcbc7fa/X2/i-RnntrMJ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RnntrMJ/0/8fcbc7fa/X2/i-RnntrMJ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St. Marys, W.Va.; May 20, 2018</td></tr>
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Our chase finally brings us to Second Street in St. Marys. Most of the cross streets are controlled by traffic lights, and when a train arrives in town all the lights flash yellow simultaneously down Second Street while flashing red for the cross streets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4KWTq9V/0/76277a27/X2/i-4KWTq9V-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4KWTq9V/0/76277a27/X2/i-4KWTq9V-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St. Marys, W.Va.; May 20, 2018</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Vv5nP5Q/0/c250e856/X2/i-Vv5nP5Q-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Vv5nP5Q/0/c250e856/X2/i-Vv5nP5Q-X2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX; Willow Island, W.Va.</td></tr>
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Our chase ends west of St. Marys at Willow Island, with the First Energy Pleasants Power Station in the background. We leave our train here as it makes its way to Parkersburg.<br />
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What I didn't know at the time is the train will encounter a short stretch of median running in Williamstown, just a few miles further west. Those shots will have to wait for the next chase!<br />
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In the meantime, I've done a little more shooting at St. Marys, and we'll finish with a few other scenes from there. The <b>top photo</b> in this post is of an eastbound taken the day before the chase related above on May 19, 2018. Below is a photo taken at night on April 4, 2018.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Z2vGGG8/0/1e74426e/X2/i-Z2vGGG8-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Z2vGGG8/0/1e74426e/X2/i-Z2vGGG8-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St. Marys, W.Va.; April 4, 2018</td></tr>
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A hillside on the east end of town provides a nice perch to shoot a train coming through downtown. The tricky part is to fire the shutter with the least amount of wires cluttering the front of the unit <i>and</i> to get the yellow flashing lights when they are lit!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-kZRZGsS/0/4689f953/X2/2018-04-05-0006-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/CSX-Transportation/i-kZRZGsS/0/4689f953/X2/2018-04-05-0006-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St. Marys, W.Va.; April 5, 2018</td></tr>
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There is also a former Baltimore & Ohio caboose on display in town. Small stores and a nice restaurant are also present. The wait can be long in St. Mary's, but it can be pleasant until a train arrives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J8qSm7V/0/8bb87c60/X2/i-J8qSm7V-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J8qSm7V/0/8bb87c60/X2/i-J8qSm7V-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; St. Marys, W.Va.; May 19, 2018</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-36715883350344903362018-09-18T14:29:00.000-04:002018-09-25T23:23:44.700-04:00Chasing the Finger Lakes Railway<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZC9wnJW/0/524cf25c/X2/i-ZC9wnJW-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZC9wnJW/0/524cf25c/X2/i-ZC9wnJW-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Skaneateles Junction, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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The New York Central's main line once wandered through small towns located at the north end of the Finger Lakes. Once the "Water Level Route" was completed to the north, the original main line became the "Auburn Road" of the NYC, named for one of the villages along the way. The line eventually became a part of Penn Central and then Conrail, then was spun off by Conrail in 1995 when the Finger Lakes Railway (FGLK) was formed. Mindful of its heritage, the FGLK adopted the NYC's lightning stripe paint scheme for its locomotives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VLbJL33/0/8a2e7e13/X2/i-VLbJL33-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VLbJL33/0/8a2e7e13/X2/i-VLbJL33-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Martisco, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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The Finger Lakes Railway is based out of Geneva, N.Y. Its main line, the old Auburn Road, wanders east to a connection with CSX (former New York Central) at Solvay, just outside of Syracuse. From west of Geneva at Canandaigua to Solvay, the railroad runs 76 miles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ggsTpXB/0/b4d23d8c/X2/i-ggsTpXB-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ggsTpXB/0/b4d23d8c/X2/i-ggsTpXB-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Fairmount, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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On September 16, 2018, I went looking for a Finger Lakes freight with Mike Burkhart. Sunday is a good day to find train GS-2 (Geneva-Solvay), and we found the train just leaving Auburn heading east behind GP38-2s 2001 and 2003. Our first decent shot was at Skaneateles Junction (<b>top photo</b>), then we chased on to the overhead bridge near Martisco. The train really wanders through the woods, but as it approaches Solvay and Syracuse it gets back into suburbia. There are several NYC depots still located along the line, but Home Depot in Fairmount is not one of them (<b>above</b>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kMphwwJ/0/a700d58c/X2/i-kMphwwJ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kMphwwJ/0/a700d58c/X2/i-kMphwwJ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Solvay, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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Once at the interchange it didn't take the crew long to drop the inbound cut of cars and pick up the outbound loads. It took just 45 minutes from the time the train passed the fixed-aspect approach semaphore for Solvay for it to return past the signal (<b>above</b>). Next up on the chase was the old depot at Camillus, now part of a car wash complex (<b>below</b>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kdvWHss/0/5aa65e41/X2/i-kdvWHss-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kdvWHss/0/5aa65e41/X2/i-kdvWHss-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Camillus, N.Y.; September 18, 2018</td></tr>
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The depot at Martisco requires a bit of a drive into and out, and that will have to wait for another chase. However, the depot at Skaneateles Junction (pronounced "skinny atlas") provided a nice photo prop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-wdtbXgC/0/aee737b4/X2/i-wdtbXgC-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-wdtbXgC/0/aee737b4/X2/i-wdtbXgC-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Skaneateles Junction, N.Y.; September 18, 2018</td></tr>
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The gondolas on the head end directly behind the locomotives were destined to be dropped at Auburn, requiring the train to briefly work the small yard there. With a pause in the action, there was time to launch a drone for an aerial shot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pS9FxD2/0/f4f9c379/X2/i-pS9FxD2-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pS9FxD2/0/f4f9c379/X2/i-pS9FxD2-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Auburn, N.Y.; September 18, 2018</td></tr>
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With the work done in Auburn, the GP38-2 duo made short work getting out of town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-B8BtxQ5/0/17809ee3/X2/i-B8BtxQ5-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-B8BtxQ5/0/17809ee3/X2/i-B8BtxQ5-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Auburn, N.Y.; September 18, 2018</td></tr>
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For most of the chase, the pattern for the train was run fast between towns, but slow down in towns. With the train carefully negotiating Auburn, there was time to get ahead of the train as it worked uphill through the S-curves along U.S. 20.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BPLk2gR/0/bd2a6970/X2/i-BPLk2gR-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-BPLk2gR/0/bd2a6970/X2/i-BPLk2gR-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Auburn, N.Y.; September 18, 2018</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jN5pQCj/0/1f091079/X2/i-jN5pQCj-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jN5pQCj/0/1f091079/X2/i-jN5pQCj-X2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Cayuga, N.Y.</td></tr>
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Between Auburn and Seneca Falls, the railroad loops north of U.S. 20, then drops south on its approach to Cayuga Lake. Meanwhile, U.S. 20 wanders north to skirt the top part of the lake. As the railroad and highway wander, they cross each other about halfway between the two towns with the highway passing overhead.<br />
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The highway crosses above the top of Cayuga Lake; meanwhile, the railroad leaves the village of Cayuga and crosses the very top part of the lake on a causeway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vdtF6fv/0/fffb55e2/X2/i-vdtF6fv-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vdtF6fv/0/fffb55e2/X2/i-vdtF6fv-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Seneca Falls, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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A wide-angle view shows the puffy white clouds reflected in the blue water of the lake as the train slowly makes its way across the causeway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CmcmWG3/0/762e16ce/X2/i-CmcmWG3-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CmcmWG3/0/762e16ce/X2/i-CmcmWG3-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Cayuga, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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From this point, Seneca Falls is only a couple of miles away, but the train slows down considerably as it approaches the village. There are a ton of neat photo props here, including a NYC passenger station and freight house. We opted to get the scene as the train passed through the town square next to the school.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tLVjDcD/0/87f9f63c/X2/i-tLVjDcD-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tLVjDcD/0/87f9f63c/X2/i-tLVjDcD-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Seneca Falls, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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With the chase almost over, the last village is Waterloo before arriving in Geneva. At Waterloo, the Supreme Court courthouse with its golden dome rises above the town.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-D4D2C7c/0/155ddc6f/X2/i-D4D2C7c-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-D4D2C7c/0/155ddc6f/X2/i-D4D2C7c-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finger Lakes Railway; Waterloo, N.Y.; September 16, 2018</td></tr>
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From here the train only had a few miles to go before arriving at the yard in Geneva. We opted to leave the train in Waterloo, capping a wonderful Sunday on the Auburn Road and Finger Lakes Railway.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-68955234581960529662018-09-13T13:33:00.000-04:002018-09-13T14:48:07.858-04:00Lackawanna F3s Return To the Main Line<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-zmfP5nV/0/7c7af868/X2/i-zmfP5nV-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="425" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-zmfP5nV/0/7c7af868/X2/i-zmfP5nV-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 663; Cobbs Gap, Dunmore, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad rostered a small fleet of F3 diesels, built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, with the units arriving on the railroad in the late 1940s. While the units made it to the Erie-Lackawanna merger in 1960, none would survive by the Conrail merger of 1976.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KFGmPTX/0/c4c47d20/X2/i-KFGmPTX-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KFGmPTX/0/c4c47d20/X2/i-KFGmPTX-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 663; Cobbs Gap, Dunmore, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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With all of the original Lackawanna F3s gone, the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society and the Tri-State Railway Historical Society recreated a set of F3s with two A units and a cabless B unit. Selected as stand-ins for Lackawanna units were Bangor & Aroostook F3 504A (later numbered 44) and BAR F3 506A (later 46); these became Tri-State's DL&W 663 and ARHS's 664, respectively. The B-unit was a bit trickier, as no F3B units survive. ARHS cosmetically modified a Boston & Maine F7B to stand in as Lackawanna 664B.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 663, 664B, 664; Gouldsboro, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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As part of its 2018 convention, the ARHS ran an excursion over the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western main line from Scranton to Tobyhanna, Pa., on September 8, 2018. The line is used by Steamtown National Historic Site for its rail excursions, while short line Delaware-Lackawanna (part of Genesee Valley Transportation) provides freight service. The trip featured the A-B-A set of F3s pulling three former Lackawanna coaches and one former Jersey Central coach. On the rear was Delaware-Lackawanna's business car, Erie Lackawanna 3, with D-L President David J. Monte Verde on board. Several photo stops were made, with 663 leading out of Scranton. The excursion was to celebrate the 70th birthday of the F3s. During a photo stop on private property near Gouldsboro (<b>above</b>), the property owner brought out his 1938 Buick (<b>below</b>), so photos featured two GM products built ten years apart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1938 Buick with 1948 diesels; Gouldsboro, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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The original Lackawanna main line is still full of landmarks. Many of the structures were built from concrete and were meant to last. The tower at Gouldsboro is one example.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 663; Gouldsboro, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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The 663 led the eastbound trip to Tobyhanna. Once there, the units ran around the train, putting the 664 in the lead for the return trip. A wet summer meant yellow goldenrod was abundant.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xdfTFgR/0/9bff2636/X2/i-xdfTFgR-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xdfTFgR/0/9bff2636/X2/i-xdfTFgR-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 664; Tobyhanna, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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Numerous ponds and small lakes dot the upper elevations of the Pocono Mountains. These bodies of water would develop a thick coat of ice in the winter, and ice harvesting was quite common. The ice was stored in insulated ice houses in large blocks and would last well into the warmer months.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 664, 664B, 663; Gouldsboro, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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The trip could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of the train crew, which was provided by Steamtown National Historic Site. Train staffing and photo location planning was provided by the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 664, 664B, 663; Elmhurst, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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Just a couple of weeks before the trip, the Scranton area was hit by heavy rains that caused numerous washouts on the Lackawanna main line. Roaring Brook follows the tracks out of Scranton and during the rain it lived up to its name, overflowing its banks. At the final photo stop of the day, there waas evidence of Roaring Brook's wrath. The train is on the siding, as the bank near the main line (on the left) is heavily eroded. Work equipment is on the main to help put everything back where it belongs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 664; Cobbs Gap, Dunmore, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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Soon the trip was over. After dark, a few intrepid photographers tracked down the units on the Steamtown grounds for some night scenes. It was the conclusion to quite a fun day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware, Lackawanna & Western 664; Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, Pa.; September 8, 2018</td></tr>
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Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-6538064206115938582017-11-22T22:46:00.000-05:002017-11-22T22:46:02.402-05:00People of the Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The railroad is not insular. It interacts with industry and environment. And it interacts with people. As <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2017/11/abingdon-branch-revisited.html" target="_blank">part of the charter on the Strasburg Rail Road</a> hosted by Lerro Productions on November 6, 2017, the trains of the past were enhanced by bringing in some people of the past.<br />
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One of the most interesting times in the era of steam railroading was during World War II. The railroads were busier than ever. Christopher Brang posed as a soldier of the War at the Strasburg shop (<b>above</b>), as well as out on the line with Nicholas Brightbill's Model A Ford (<b>top photo</b> of this post).<br />
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During World War II, women were pressed into service on the home front, taking over some industrial jobs while the men were deployed on two fronts. These women were represented in wartime posters by "Rosie the Riveter." For the charter, we had our own group of "Rosies" working in the Strasburg shop -- left to right we see Erin Kuntz, Cassie Giunta, and Jenny Wiese with Strasburg's ex-Great Western 2-10-0 No. 90.<br />
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Also in the Strasburg shop, but not a re-enactor, was Shelley Hall, an employee of the railroad. She had the unenviable task of working in No. 90's smokebox on this day. Showing how timeless steam railroading is, her 21st-century work looked right at home compared to the 1940s recreations.<br />
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Erin pauses at the door to the Strasburg shop.<br />
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Our group of Rosies certainly gave their all in making the hard shop work come to life. We see Cassie and Jenny looking pretty hardened by the hard labor in the shop.<br />
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Shelley took a break from work to also pose for a few shots. We see her with No. 90 and one of the largest wrenches she could find in the shop.<br />
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After lunch, Jenny and Cassie portrayed a much more pleasant scene from the 1940s as two passengers waiting to depart from the depot. A soldier portrayed by Tim Kuntz leans in to converse with the two ladies.<br />
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Cassie and Jenny also rode the train through the Amish farmland outside of Strasburg. Your photographer had to change his angle just a bit on this shot when another photographer in 21st century clothing and carrying a tripod suddenly appeared outside the window.<br />
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Finally, after dinner, Jenny and Cassie returned to their "Rosie the Riveter" dress for some final shots with Strasburg's ex-Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 No. 475 (made to look like N&W 382, which we <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2017/11/abingdon-branch-revisited.html" target="_blank">chronicled in the last installment</a>). Some railroad photographers only focus on the equipment, but people bring the past to life.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-21925249190121944732017-11-14T17:40:00.002-05:002017-11-14T17:40:54.444-05:00Abingdon Branch Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Abingdon Branch of the Norfolk & Western wandered through the southwest corner of Virginia. It would likely have slipped completely into the dustbin of history if not for one thing, though -- a photographer named O. Winston Link discovered it and documented it on film. Link was more widely known for his night photography on the N&W, but his daytime Abingdon Branch material was just as magical.<br />
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The locomotive used on the Abingdon Branch during Link's visit was N&W 4-8-0 No. 382. Long-since scrapped, it has a sister locomotive still working on the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania, N&W 475. On November 6, 2017, Lerro Productions conducted a photography event at Strasburg that turned the clock back to Link's time, starting before sunrise (<b>above</b>). A Model A, owned by Nicholas Brightbill, was brought in to add to the ambiance of old-time railroading.<br />
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No. 475 was given the identity of the 382 for the day. In addition to changing the number, a sunflower spark arrestor was added to the smokestack, a solid pilot (cowcatcher) was fabricated, and the locomotive was given white trim on the running boards.<br />
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Eras collided at Leaman Place Junction, where the Strasburg Rail Road meets Amtrak's Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg passenger line. The 382 looked a bit out of place as Amtrak ACS-64 No. 625 pushed a train towards Harrisburg.<br />
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The lunch break featured some interesting photos from the past, but that's really another topic for another day (a lot of good imagery came out of the lunch break). After lunch, our N&W mixed freight-and-passenger train caught a bit of sun at the railroad's picnic area, Groff's Grove.<br />
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The rural nature of the Strasburg Rail Road was put to good use. The railroad is located in Amish country, and scenes included an Amish farmer working his team of horses (top of this post). Some pumpkins that escaped Halloween were still in the field at Esbenshade Road.<br />
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Sunset brought a warm blow to the engine and train as it worked its way into the setting sun at Ranck's Crossing.<br />
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Turning the other direction yielded some nice evening glint off the side of the train.<br />
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Even after the sun went down, the sky still had a tinge of color in it. No. 382 made one last pass before darkness moved in.<br />
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Once it was dark, No. 382 posed for a few photos in the Strasburg Rail Road yard (<b>below</b>). Then it was time for Cinderella to vanish back into history and No. 475 return back to its true identity. Alex Merrill of the Strasburg puts No. 382's number plate away as 475 reappears in the background (<b>right</b>).<br />
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All in all, it was a magical day of bringing back O. Winston Link's world. Thanks to Pete Lerro and the staff of Lerro Productions for another outstanding photo charter. As mentioned above, Lerro Productions provided some great photography during the lunch break during this day, and we'll visit that in our next post.<br />
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-57209516890045748292017-11-08T15:22:00.000-05:002017-11-08T15:22:16.211-05:00The Last Logger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On November 7, 2017, Western Forest Products made it official. The company's Englewood Railway -- the last true logging railroad in North America -- would remain closed for good. Located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the railroad has been shut down since April 21 following an accident that killed three employees.<br />
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The Englewood Railway was built in 1917 to serve the growing logging industry around Beaver Cove, British Columbia, operated Beaver Cove Lumber & Pulp, Ltd. The railroad was constructed by a new company to the region, Wood & English, which established its own logging community across the Nimpkish River from Beaver Cove. This new community was called Englewood (a combination of the words Wood and English).<br />
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Wood & English ran its timber operations until 1941, when the mill was closed. In 1944, Canadian Forest Products (Canfor) acquired the logging interests in the Nimpkish Valley and established a new headquarters near the town of Woss. By 1948, the railroad had been extended 24 miles from Beaver Cove to Woss.<br />
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Under Canfor, logs were brought out of the forest by truck and loaded onto railcars for the journey to Woss. At Woss, the logs were dumped into Woss Lake and floated on the next part of their journey. A small flotilla of boats were used to herd the logs on Woss Lake.<br />
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The rail line and logging operations were purchased by Western Forest Products in 2006. Following the purchase, many of the old timber trestles on the railroad were replaced by new steel structures.<br />
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On April 20, 2017, a train being loaded rolled away on its own and crashed into a railroad maintenance vehicle. Three employees were killed in the accident, and two others were injured. Rail operations were immediately suspended, with logs moving from the forest all the way to Woss via trucks.<br />
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The railroad used a small fleet of four EMD SW1200 switcher locomotives, three of which had been re-engined with Caterpillar power plants. The fourth retains its EMD prime mover. Like every logging railroad in history, nothing was thrown away -- every part that could be found was put into storage because "we might be able to use that someday." Over the years, the SW1200s were heavily modified.<br />
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The railroad was quite isolated, and you really had to want to go there to find it. But if you made the trek, you found the employees were quite friendly. Once you checked into the yard office at Woss, you were issued a hard hat. This was your pass to access all areas along the railroad, including the loadouts.<br />
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My visit was in June 2011, and all the images in this post are from that visit. Upon checking in, we were also loaned two large maps that showed all the logging roads in the area, making finding photo locations much easier.<br />
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A relic from the past, steam locomotive No. 12, was located near Woss. Reportedly, it has been cosmetically restored since my trip in 2011.<br />
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The last logging railroad lasted for almost exactly 100 years. With the closing of the line, the last true logging railroad in North America passes into the history books, ending another era of railroading.<br />
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<a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VC3KWhC/0/2830f0bc/X3/i-VC3KWhC-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="536" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VC3KWhC/0/2830f0bc/X3/i-VC3KWhC-X3.jpg" width="267" /></a><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VC3KWhC/0/2830f0bc/X3/i-VC3KWhC-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-VC3KWhC/0/2830f0bc/X3/i-VC3KWhC-X3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-9124069368593882562016-12-29T23:22:00.001-05:002016-12-29T23:22:40.500-05:00Sometimes You're the Bug<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Bowersville, Ga.; December 6, 2016</td></tr>
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Shortline railroads come in all shapes and sizes. Some operate like clockwork, with the crew called at the same time every morning and serving the same customers every day. Others are not quite as organized. When you start to explore the hardscrabble shortlines of the South or of New England, you find some interesting, if not seemingly random, operating patterns. Such was the case when I (along with my brother Bruce) stopped in for a day on the Hartwell Railroad in Georgia.<div>
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The Hartwell at one time operated from its namesake town to a connection with the Southern at Bowersville, ten miles to the west. As time went on, NS shed its connecting line with the Hartwell, which the shortline picked up; it now runs north from Bowersville to Toccoa and south from Bowersville to Elberton. It's primary connection to the outside world is with NS at Taccoa, although a bit of traffic comes off CSX at Elberton.</div>
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Operations on the Hartwell are interesting. The crew comes on duty at about 8:00 a.m. and gets on the train wherever they left it the previous day. This is usually somewhere in the Bowersville area, and the feed mill south of town is a good place to look first. We had tied up in Lavonia, Ga., the previous night, and our motel was just across the street from the Hartwell's line to Toccoa. We set out looking for the train on a gloomy, rainy Tuesday, December 6, and found former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern SD38 No. 654 working a coil steel place just south of town. The unit wasn't accessible so, believing the Hartwell ran to Toccoa every day, we headed there where we planned to wait for the northbound train and chase it back south. In the meantime, the ex-Southern NS mainline could keep us occupied.</div>
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Once at Toccoa, though, something didn't seem quite right. We assumed what we saw was a local shifter, and there might be a road train coming north. But as we thought about it some more, we decided we better get back down to Lavonia and check things out. Once there we saw the 654 was gone, and there were coil cars parked on the mainline. We had followed the railroad down from Toccoa and didn't pass any trains that we knew of, so we continued on south and found 654 working the feed mill south of Bowersville.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Bowersville, Ga.; December 6, 2016</td></tr>
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We caught up with the friendly crew during a pause while they were switching. Yes, this is the only train running today. No, we're not going to Toccoa, but we're heading there tomorrow. Now we had to make a decision...</div>
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Our initial plan called for doing the Hartwell on this day, and once they were finished driving south to the Heart of Georgia Railroad at Cordele for the next day. But we got nothing on the Hartwell on this day, the forecast was for sun tomorrow, and that neat ex-EJ&E engine would be leading the southbound train. We changed our plans and decided to do a second day on the Hartwell.</div>
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The Hartwell has an exotic roster, with power gathered up from a variety of other railroads. And all of those units still wear the last paint job they had before coming to the Hartwell. The crew let us know where the other locomotives were; but since roster shots under thick clouds weren't going to be very good, we decided to pick them off with night shots where we could control the light. First up was a pair of units tied up on the original Hartwell line east of town. We found Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac GP35 136 along with Chicago & North Western GP9R 4556 in the middle of a long string of stored container well cars (top photo of this post). The Hartwell generates a lot of money from stored cars, with long strings on the original Hartwell and south of Royston heading towards Elberton. The railroad still has freight customers on these lines, so the long strings occasionally have to be shuffled and jammed out of the way so the train can get through. Next up was CSX GP38 1973 in Conrail paint at the lumber yard north of Royston.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Royston, Ga.; December 6, 2016</td></tr>
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Next we stopped at the feed mill where the Hartwell crew had tied up EJ&E 654 for the night. We got a shot there with the mill as a backdrop.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Bowersville, Ga.; December 6, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally we headed to Airline on the original Hartwell where the railroad has a small shop. Here we found Bessemer & Lake Erie SD7 454 missing a few pieces. Two other locomotives that we could see were inaccessible -- Denver & Rio Grande Western GP35 3044 behind a chain link fence south of Lavonia and St. Lawrence & Atlantic GP40 3000, tucked away at the steel coil facility also south of Lavonia.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Airline, Ga.; December 6, 2016</td></tr>
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The next morning we found the crew working the feed mill again with EJ&E 654. They had to spot a few cars, then they'd head south by pickup truck to Royston and grab CSX 1973 and head north with two empty centerbeam lumber cars. At Bowersville they'd add EJ&E 654 to the train, along with a bunch of covered hoppers. From there they'd continue north, picking up steel coil cars and maybe the StL&A 3000 at Lavonia, then head to Toccoa. We watched them finish their work at Bowersville, then headed to Royston. Sure enough, they arrived, put the train together, and headed north, stopping at the mill where they would theoretically put the rest of the train together.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartwell Railroad; Canon, Ga.; December 7, 2016</td></tr>
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Well, once stopped at Bowersville the crew vanished and the train sat. And sat. It sat there with the locomotive running and the lights on, and we anticipated a move north at any time. But it sat. And sat some more. </div>
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After we had stared at the train for almost three hours we were joined by two county police officers, each driving a police car. Apparently someone saw us sitting there all that time and phoned us in. The officers were friendly and sympathetic to our plight. One said he would drive down to the mill and see if he could find the crew. If he did, he'd report back to us.</div>
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About ten minutes later, the officer returned. He found the crew inside the mill, and the news wasn't good. The steel coil place hadn't finished unloading a car that needed to head out to Toccoa. If the train moved at all, it was only going to Lavonia and tying up for the night. Toccoa wasn't happening.</div>
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That made our next move easy. We thanked the officer, pointed the car south, and headed for Cordele and the Heart of Georgia Railroad.</div>
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Now don't get me wrong -- we have no ill will towards the Hartwell Railroad. The crew was very friendly and did its best to let us know what was happening. We knew that some of these shortline railroads were high risk/high reward attempts, and on this one the reward just didn't happen. As Mark Knopfler wrote (and Mary Chapin Carpenter sang), "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug." We were definitely the bug for our two days on the Hartwell. All it means is we'll have to try again some other time.</div>
Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-43951025006533841192016-12-28T11:45:00.000-05:002016-12-28T11:45:33.240-05:00Christmastime In South Jersey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2LMdc6K/0/X2/i-2LMdc6K-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2LMdc6K/0/X2/i-2LMdc6K-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Tuckahoe, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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Christmastime brings festivities of all sorts, including some train-themed ones. In recent years there has been a huge growth in the number of trains run by tourist railroads around the holidays, much of it riding the coattails of the movie <i>The Polar Express</i>. There was a time when tourist railroads pretty much shut down after Labor Day in September. Some railroads were blessed to have colorful fall foliage along their lines, expanding the tourist season into October. But now many, many tourist railroads have expanded the season right up to Christmas Day (and sometimes even a few days beyond) to capitalize on Polar Expresses (both licensed from the movie and knockoffs), Santa Trains, and the like.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RH4DhGS/0/X2/i-RH4DhGS-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RH4DhGS/0/X2/i-RH4DhGS-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Dorothy, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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Cape May Seashore Lines in southern New Jersey is one of the railroads that has joined the holiday train rush. Starting just after Thanksgiving, the railroad offered daytime trips with Santa on weekends, as well as night trains during many evenings. The railroad runs over former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines trackage between Tuckahoe and Richland; most of their holiday trains can be boarded at either location.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vhFG2Wp/0/X2/i-vhFG2Wp-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vhFG2Wp/0/X2/i-vhFG2Wp-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Richland, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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The Richland end of the line has seen numerous improvements, including the addition of WI Tower. This tower, built in 1906, once protected a busy junction in Newfield, N.J. After it was decommissioned as a working tower, it was purchased by a private individual in Newfield and moved to his property for use as a storage shed (albeit a big one). Eventually, the tower was donated to Buena Vista Township and it was moved to Richland.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-26CHvxq/0/X2/i-26CHvxq-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-26CHvxq/0/X2/i-26CHvxq-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Richland, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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The trackage used by Cape May Seashore Lines is former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines track owned by the state. Conrail Shared Assets runs freight over the line, although that has been much diminished in recent times. The largest customer on the line was the electric generating station at Beesley's Point, which brought in coal and oil. The plant has been converted to burn natural gas, which comes in via a pipeline. The PRSL line ran from Camden to Cape May, with branches extending to Atlantic City and Ocean City. Other branches served other Jersey shore towns in earlier times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-X83WVFk/0/X2/i-X83WVFk-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-X83WVFk/0/X2/i-X83WVFk-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Milmay, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xd2D7gc/0/X2/i-xd2D7gc-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xd2D7gc/0/X2/i-xd2D7gc-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CMSL; Dorothy, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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Just prior to this year's holiday season, Cape May Seashore Lines added two new locomotives from the leased locomotive market and used them on its Santa Trains. On the south end was GMTX No. 2015, built as a GP38 for Penn Central as its No. 7684 in 1969. It went to Conrail (along with the rest of Penn Central) in 1976. Eventually it found its way to a lessor and was rebuilt to GP38-2 standards. It sports an attractive red, white & blue scheme, and Cape May Seashore Lines added CMSL heralds to the nose and sides.<br />
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At Tuckahoe the tower still stands that controlled the junction between the mainline to Cape May and the Ocean City Branch. The freight trains heading to the Beesley's Point Generating Station diverged here onto the Ocean City Branch (they would diverge one more time outside Ocean City to reach the generating station). No freight customers are currently located south of Tuckahoe. CMSL has leased the line for passenger service all the way to Cape May; it has run an occasional train south as far as Woodbine Junction. From there the track is in place but not up to passenger train standards down to Cape May Court House. In the past, CMSL has run regular passenger trains between Cape May Court House and Cape May, but currently does not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K2zq26b/0/X2/i-K2zq26b-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K2zq26b/0/X2/i-K2zq26b-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Tuckahoe, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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The station still stands in Tuckahoe, located between the mainline and the Ocean City Branch. A local historical society now uses the station.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xpZGN3s/0/X2/i-xpZGN3s-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xpZGN3s/0/X2/i-xpZGN3s-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Tuckahoe, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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The second locomotive recently acquired by CMSL has a much more interesting history. GMTX 2661 was built in 1970 as Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines GP38 No. 2011. It came out of the Electro-Motive Division shop in PRSL paint, but before it could find its way to South Jersey it was diverted to Penn Central. Like GMTX 2015, it went to Conrail in 1976, where it was renumbered to 7671. After Conrail was split up by Norfolk Southern and CSX, No. 7671 went to CSX as No. 1945. It ultimately moved on to Marquette Rail in Michigan as No. 2676. Finally, it found its way into the lease fleet, was upgraded to GP38-2 standards, and renumbered 2661. It wasn't until it was leased to CMSL this year that it finally found its way to the service it was originally intended -- working the PRSL in South Jersey. CMSL has affixed PRSL heralds to the nose and sides of the unit.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-rpj8Fx7/0/X2/i-rpj8Fx7-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-rpj8Fx7/0/X2/i-rpj8Fx7-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Tuckahoe, N.J.; December 4, 2016</td></tr>
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So it's Christmastime and we have a nice blue locomotive on one end of our train and a red, white & blue locomotive on the other, both sporting festive wreaths. In between are six passenger cars full of kids (and adults) all waiting to greet Santa Claus. We'll close our visit to South Jersey with a couple of night shots, starting first at Tuckahoe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-F8nN7HP/0/X2/i-F8nN7HP-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-F8nN7HP/0/X2/i-F8nN7HP-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Tuckahoe, N.J.; December 20, 2016</td></tr>
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And we'll finish our visit at WI Tower up in Richland. Here's hoping you Christmas was merry and bright!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RzRVgQk/0/X2/i-RzRVgQk-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-RzRVgQk/0/X2/i-RzRVgQk-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Seashore Lines; Richland, N.J.; December 20, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-79199617487364535002016-12-21T12:20:00.000-05:002016-12-21T12:20:39.510-05:00A Day In Downtown Atlanta<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-z6NVphd/0/X2/i-z6NVphd-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-z6NVphd/0/X2/i-z6NVphd-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; Henderson Interlocking, Atlanta, Georgia; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Atlanta, Georgia, is a bit of a crossroads of the South. Both CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern enter the city from multiple directions, and both have yards side-by-side northwest of downtown. And both railroads have heavy-duty mainlines that parallel each other just a few feet apart through the downtown area. It's a great place to visit.<br />
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On December 10, 2016, I visited Atlanta with my brother Bruce. We had a few shots plotted out based on morning and afternoon light. One shot we wanted was a morning-only shot on Norfolk Southern south of town. Just below NS's South Yard there is an interlocking known as Henderson, and here you can get NS freights with a water tower (not railroad) in the background. What makes the shot interesting, however, is Chick-Fil-A uses the water tower for advertising and you can get two of the company's famous cows having some fun up on the tank (<b>above</b>).<br />
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Unfortunately on this day, traffic was a bit on the light side (we did see four northbound trains at this location while waiting for a southbound, but the light was not the best for these). This put us into early afternoon already on this short winter day, but a CSX train cooperated as we went just northwest of downtown to the abandoned road bridge off Northside Drive NW. Here CSX and NS run side-by-side, but our CSX train was running on NS tracks. A friendly toot of the horn from the engineer scared up the flock of pigeons living under the bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kbKQ957/0/X2/i-kbKQ957-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kbKQ957/0/X2/i-kbKQ957-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Next up on our hit list was South Tower, the building that controlled the south (west) end of Atlanta's Terminal Station. The short summer days and low sun were already causing shadow problems. Once again, this is a spot where CSX and NS are side-by-side through downtown. Our first train was a northbound on CSX trackage with Union Pacific power. The large white building in the background was the offices of the Southern Railway at one time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4hMSfv6/0/X2/i-4hMSfv6-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4hMSfv6/0/X2/i-4hMSfv6-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific (on CSX); South Tower, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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With South Tower largely shadowed in, we made a move to the northwest side of town. Here CSX's Tilford Yard and NS's Inman Yard are side-by-side. A good view of the CSX engine facility with downtown Atlanta in the distance can be had from Marietta Road NW.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-8RNxTFG/0/X2/i-8RNxTFG-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-8RNxTFG/0/X2/i-8RNxTFG-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Tilford Yard, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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A rail train was making its way out of the yard just before sunset and we were able to shoot it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-s4sZ5Gq/0/X2/i-s4sZ5Gq-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-s4sZ5Gq/0/X2/i-s4sZ5Gq-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Tilford Yard, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Just geographic east (railroad south) of the yards is a pretty complex junction known as Howell's. There is a good viewing location of the junction off West Marietta Street NW that railfans have kept clear for photography. While we didn't get a train coming the proper direction (one coming at us from across the diamond would have been nice), we settled for our rail train heading through the junction. Not visible in the photo is the NS mainline directly below us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kvPBjcM/0/X2/i-kvPBjcM-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kvPBjcM/0/X2/i-kvPBjcM-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; Howell's Junction, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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With the sun now gone, we headed back downtown to South Tower for night shots. Directly across the street from the tower is the Smoke Ring, a great place to enjoy barbecue between trains. Once it was dark, we set up our lights and waited for trains. The bridge over the tracks heading towards the Southern office building is Nelson Street SW; the bridge is now pedestrian-only, making for a convenient place to watch trains. An NS northbound passed by the tower.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-w8JWnN2/0/X2/i-w8JWnN2-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-w8JWnN2/0/X2/i-w8JWnN2-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; South Tower, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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We did get two NS southbound trains during our wait, including a stack train. The building beneath the red Christmas tree in the background is the headquarters of CNN.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2nSpDCX/0/X2/i-2nSpDCX-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-2nSpDCX/0/X2/i-2nSpDCX-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; South Tower, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Our last train of the day was a CSX northbound. It showed up while the NS southbound stack train was passing, requiring a "best guess" shot between the stack cars. With this, our day in Atlanta was over. Perhaps another visit when the sun is a bit higher and the day a bit longer is in order.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M4ndwF9/0/X2/i-M4ndwF9-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M4ndwF9/0/X2/i-M4ndwF9-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CSX Transportation; South Tower, Atlanta, Ga.; December 10, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-11969555523585075472016-11-15T13:03:00.000-05:002016-11-15T13:03:47.073-05:00Chasing the Massachusetts Central<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ncNhsNz/0/X2/i-ncNhsNz-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ncNhsNz/0/X2/i-ncNhsNz-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Barre, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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New England is dotted with small shortline railroads, and most have a certain charm about them. The Massachusetts Central is certainly one of those charming roads. The railroad operates over former Boston & Maine trackage from Palmer, Mass., north through Ware and on to Barre, Mass. The railroad's primary power, a pair of EMD GP38-2s, pays tribute to the line's heritage, as the paint scheme is inspired by the B&M's "bluebird" scheme.<br />
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On November 14 I chased the Massachusetts Central (along with Mike Burkhart) from Palmer. On this day the crew had work to do all the way to Barre (on some days the train only goes as far as Ware), so we got to cover the entire railroad. After a crew meeting at 7:30 the first order of business was to go to the CSX interchange in town and pick up the day's train. The Steaming Tender restaurant is located in the former Palmer Union Station and has a Porter-built 0-6-0 steam locomotive in the parking lot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-FpD7pTq/0/X2/i-FpD7pTq-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-FpD7pTq/0/X2/i-FpD7pTq-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Palmer, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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After dropping tank car it had just picked up from CSX at an industry in Palmer, the train proceeded north. The line twists and turns on the outskirts of Palmer, crossing a marsh adjacent to Forest Lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QJ9V2g2/0/X2/i-QJ9V2g2-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QJ9V2g2/0/X2/i-QJ9V2g2-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Palmer, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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Next up on the switch list was a transload terminal on the Palmer-Ware border. The low winter sun put everything in shadow here, so we skipped it and headed into Ware, where there is an industry that gets plastic pellets in covered hoppers. The locomotive ran around two covered hoppers and pushed them into the industry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Qw4JHWC/0/X2/i-Qw4JHWC-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Qw4JHWC/0/X2/i-Qw4JHWC-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Ware, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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Just north of here, another stop was made at a recycling center. At each stop the crew spotted cars that had just come in from CSX, but left all the outbound cars for the return trip. By the time the train was heading to Barre, there were only three cars left -- a boxcar and two flatcars loaded with pipe. Boxcars are spotted at the old mill in Barre, while a team track is located on the other side of the mill (but on the same track as the mill). Once in Barre, the crew had to head down to the mill with just the engine to pull the cars out of the mill and team track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-F35NSGD/0/X2/i-F35NSGD-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-F35NSGD/0/X2/i-F35NSGD-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Barre, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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After grabbing the cars, the train headed back up the hill to the runaround track on the mainline (top photo of this post). Then the inbound cars were pushed down the hill and spotted. Once that was done, the locomotive returned light past the mill heading back to its train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-52QbBHn/0/X2/i-52QbBHn-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-52QbBHn/0/X2/i-52QbBHn-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Barre, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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The short winter day was quickly bringing in long shadows as the train rounded the curve and headed up the hill to the mainline.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pGrNgxJ/0/X2/i-pGrNgxJ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-pGrNgxJ/0/X2/i-pGrNgxJ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Barre, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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With the train back together, it was time to take the several cars that were lifted from Barre back to Palmer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-hZL3swL/0/X2/i-hZL3swL-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-hZL3swL/0/X2/i-hZL3swL-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Barre, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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One of the few places where trees didn't block the low sun was the open crossing at Wheelwright.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-r8Pv2VP/0/X2/i-r8Pv2VP-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-r8Pv2VP/0/X2/i-r8Pv2VP-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Wheelwright, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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The crew paused to retrieve outbound scrap cars from the recycler north of Ware, then dropped down past the industry where they spotted plastics cars earlier in the day, heading into the very low sun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DdsFK9N/0/X2/i-DdsFK9N-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DdsFK9N/0/X2/i-DdsFK9N-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Ware, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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The train did not stop at Ware to pick up covered hoppers, but continued on. With the sun just about gone, our last shot was of the train passing through Ware.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HGdnMCS/0/X2/i-HGdnMCS-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-HGdnMCS/0/X2/i-HGdnMCS-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Ware, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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We headed back into Palmer to the railroad's shop. After thanking the folks in the office for their hospitality, we snapped a quick night shot of the railroad's other GP38-2, then headed for home. It was certainly an enjoyable day of New England shortline railroading.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fwKgSPQ/0/X2/i-fwKgSPQ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fwKgSPQ/0/X2/i-fwKgSPQ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts Central; Palmer, Mass.; November 14, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-29205318706043939852016-11-11T13:04:00.002-05:002016-11-11T13:04:39.912-05:00A Visit To Vermont<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-TRfvSbk/0/X2/2016-09-09-0006-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-TRfvSbk/0/X2/2016-09-09-0006-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; West Rutland, Vt.; September 9, 2016</td></tr>
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Vermont is a really neat state for railroading. Amtrak serves both sides of the state with the <i>Vermonter</i> going up the west side and the <i>Ethan Allen Express</i> serving Rutland on the east side. There are a few shortlines, including Vermont Rail System (Vermont Railway and Green Mountain Railroad) and Genesee & Wyoming's New England Central. And each year railroading is celebrated in White River Junction at the Glory Days of the Railroad.<br />
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It was the Glory Days celebration that got me to Vermont (and some close-by neighboring areas) back in September. First, we paused in New York just west of the Vermont state line to see the <i>Ethan Allen Express</i> making its station stop at Saratoga Springs on a gloomy day. Storms would shortly move in. This train had left Rutland earlier in that morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-nXff7hb/0/X2/2016-09-08-0032-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-nXff7hb/0/X2/2016-09-08-0032-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; September 8, 2016</td></tr>
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The train's counterpart, the northbound <i>Ethan Allen Express</i>, made its way into Vermont after dark. The train turns east off the former Delaware & Hudson (now Canadian Pacific) at Whitehall, N.Y. It passes through Fairview, Vt., which was at one time an Amtrak stop (<b>below</b>). The station structure there was never used by Amtrak; a plastic bubble served that purpose. All that's left of the Amtrak station in a green sign with Amtrak's "pointless arrow." The train would turn back the next morning, heading back to Whitehall and ultimately New York City (<b>top photo</b> in this post).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-LhqxhjF/0/X2/2016-09-08-0054-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-LhqxhjF/0/X2/2016-09-08-0054-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Fairview, Vt.; September 8, 2016</td></tr>
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Once Amtrak is out of the way in Rutland, Vermont Rail System sends a freight out from Rutland to Whitehall. On this particular evening a leaser locomotive that obviously worked recently for the Natchez Railway led the way at the Green Mountain Baptist Church at Center Rutland.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-5Zw2xgC/0/X2/2016-09-08-0063-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-5Zw2xgC/0/X2/2016-09-08-0063-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Rail System; Center Rutland, Vt.; September 8, 2016</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-pP3xx6S/0/X2/2016-09-09-0030-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-pP3xx6S/0/X2/2016-09-09-0030-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Rail System; Cuttingsville, Vt.</td></tr>
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The next day Vermont Rail System sent two trains south from Rutland. The first was destined to cover the Green Mountain Railroad side of the system, heading to Bellows Falls. The second was destined for North Bennington, where it would interchange with Pan Am Railways. Our first catch was of the Bellows Falls-bound train crossing Cuttingsville Trestle.<br />
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The train to North Bennington was led by SD70M-2 No. 432, which had been purchased by VRS from Florida East Coast. The locomotive had been pressed into service still wearing its FEC blue and yellow paint. Alas, Pan Am Railways couldn't make the grade out of Hoosick Junction, N.Y., to get to North Bennington for the interchange, so the VRS train had to head south to Hoosick Junction to get its cars. The train crossed the Walloomsac River at North Hoosick on its way there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-4ZG8Vhp/0/X2/2016-09-09-0105-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-4ZG8Vhp/0/X2/2016-09-09-0105-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Rail System; North Hoosick, N.Y.; September 9, 2016</td></tr>
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With its interchange cars in tow, the train returned back to North Bennington and ultimately on to Rutland. Once again, it crossed the Walloomsac River, this time near the small village of Walloomsac.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-zTj5fRw/0/X2/2016-09-09-0113-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-zTj5fRw/0/X2/2016-09-09-0113-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Rail System; Walloomsac, N.Y.; September 9, 2016</td></tr>
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At White River Junction, preparations were being made for the next day's event. That evening, a New England Central train headed south. Trains going south from White River Junction to Bellows Falls have to cross into New Hampshire for a short distance. The New England Central train met a Pan Am Railways train heading north at Charlestown, N.H., just north of Bellows Falls (and once again, just a short distance from the Vermont border).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Pan-Am-Railways/i-tK98cHZ/0/X2/2016-09-09-0136-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Pan-Am-Railways/i-tK98cHZ/0/X2/2016-09-09-0136-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan Am Railways; Charlestown, N.H.; September 9, 2016</td></tr>
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As part of the Glory Days celebration, Vermont Rail System ran a murder-mystery train from White River Junction north to Fairlee, Vt. Just south of Fairlee is the former Boston & Maine station at Ely, restored and owned by Frank Barrett. He posed one of his antique automobiles at the grade crossing just north of his station as the murder-mystery train returned. Rumor has it the butler did it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-PC83QpV/0/X2/2016-09-10-0110-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Vermont-Rail-System/i-PC83QpV/0/X2/2016-09-10-0110-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vermont Rail System; Ely, Vt.; September 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally, a night photo session wrapped up Glory Days of the Railroad. The session was coordinated by Kevin Burkholder. Two of the Pan Am locomotives that came up on the previous evening's train were on hand to pose by the Vermont Rail System yard office to cap off Glory Days and our visit to Vermont and the surrounding area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Pan-Am-Railways/i-7rnVvck/0/X2/2016-09-10-0159-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Pan-Am-Railways/i-7rnVvck/0/X2/2016-09-10-0159-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pan Am Railways; White River Junction, Vt.; September 10, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-22758672873138124262016-11-03T10:52:00.000-04:002016-11-03T10:52:23.235-04:00Remembering Tower 16, Sherman, Texas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9QJ7ZQt/1/X2/i-9QJ7ZQt-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9QJ7ZQt/1/X2/i-9QJ7ZQt-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Sherman, Texas; March 2001</td></tr>
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The railroad interlocking tower (or signal tower) was ubiquitous at one time in the U.S. They could be found every few miles along major mainlines, and guarding even the most rural junction where two railroads met or crossed. They were a place where railfans could stop by to find out what trains were nearby, or simply spend time with the tower operator shooting the breeze. Today there are entire states without a single active tower located in them.<br />
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One of the last of the classic towers that I visited was in Sherman, Texas, in March 2001. Tower 16 was built in 1903 to protect crossings of the Texas & Pacific, the Houston & Central Texas, and the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco). By the time I got there, the Frisco and H&TC had become a part of Burlington Northern & Santa Fe, while the T&P was operated by shortline Texas Northeastern.<br />
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I had business in Grapevine, Texas, which is what brought me to the Lone Star State. With a free evening, I drove north from the Metroplex to Sherman, climbed the steps to the tower, and knocked on the door. The operator answered and I said, "I'm from New Jersey and I heard there's this really cool wooden tower that I just had to visit." He said, "You found the right place. Come on in." I spent the better part of the next two hours talking to the operator and exploring the tower. It was a mix of early 20th century railroad technology with modern computers and accessories scattered within.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-G8v7kRc/0/X2/i-G8v7kRc-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-G8v7kRc/0/X2/i-G8v7kRc-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Sherman, Texas; March 2001</td></tr>
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The operator's desk was well-worn from decades of recording trains and writing orders for movements through Sherman.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-wPmZxjF/0/X2/i-wPmZxjF-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-wPmZxjF/0/X2/i-wPmZxjF-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Sherman, Texas; March 2001</td></tr>
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The rudimentary model board above the desk showed Burlington Northern (by this time BNSF) in green, and the Texas Northeastern in red.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vCkB7tw/0/X2/i-vCkB7tw-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vCkB7tw/0/X2/i-vCkB7tw-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Sherman, Texas; March 2001</td></tr>
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The operator was hanging out until the Texas Northeastern needed to cross BNSF on the diamond located in front of the tower; otherwise, everything was left aligned for BNSF movements. A couple of hours into my visit, he got word the Texas Northeastern train would not arrive until after his shift was over. With nothing more for him to do, he said, "I'm heading home." I got a portrait of my host, he locked the door, and we descended the stairs. The third trick operator would come in at 11:00 p.m. and line things up for the Texas Northeastern.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6V3vWBZ/0/X2/i-6V3vWBZ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6V3vWBZ/0/X2/i-6V3vWBZ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Sherman, Texas; March 2001</td></tr>
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Tower 16 was locked for the last time just a few months after my visit, on October 23, 2001. The diamond was removed, eliminating the need for an operator to guide the movements where two railroads crossed.<br />
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As I said earlier, I had business in Grapevine, which is why I was in Texas. The business I had was a preview of Royal Caribbean's new passenger car for Alaska service, which was on display at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. Ironically, after Tower 16 was closed, it was preserved -- it was cut in half (between the first and second story) and moved. And the place it was moved to? The Grapevine Vintage Railroad! The tower now resides just several feet from where I had toured the passenger car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-NDZSR9N/0/X2/i-NDZSR9N-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-NDZSR9N/0/X2/i-NDZSR9N-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower 16, Grapevine, Texas; June 19, 2008</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-30472744089601191512016-10-31T22:58:00.001-04:002016-11-01T14:46:07.991-04:00The Last Providence & Worcester Passenger Train?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xhxqVzw/0/X2/i-xhxqVzw-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-xhxqVzw/0/X2/i-xhxqVzw-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Webster, Mass.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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The Providence & Worcester, a regional railroad based out of Worcester, Mass., has maintained a small passenger car fleet for occasional excursions. Many of those trips have been sponsored by the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, a group based in the Boston area. The railroad and group announced the "Two Rivers Steam Special," scheduled for October 29. The trip would run from Worcester to Groton, Conn., on P&W rails, get onto Amtrak's Northeast Corridor from Groton for the trip across the Thames and Connecticut Rivers (the two rivers in the trip's name) to a connection with the Valley Railroad at Old Saybrook, Conn. From there the P&W diesels would be taken off and a Valley Railroad steam locomotive would take the train up the Valley to Haddam, Conn. Once there, the whole trip would be done in reverse to get back to Worcester.<br />
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The October 29 trip sold out rapidly, and a second trip was added for October 30. But after the trips were scheduled the news broke that the P&W had been sold to shortline conglomerate Genesee & Wyoming Industries. Judging by GWI's other railroads, passenger operations are frowned upon. With a transfer date of November 1, it was apparent the October 29 trip could very well be the last P&W long-distance passenger trip (GWI has committed to running previously announced short Santa trains out of Woosocket for the holiday season).<br />
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Since I was in Connecticut for another event on Saturday the 29th, I decided to stick around and chase that last train on the 30th (along with my brother Bruce). Our first stop was at a causeway just north of the village of Webster, Mass. (<b>above</b> and <b>below</b>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bsZf68H/0/X2/i-bsZf68H-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bsZf68H/0/X2/i-bsZf68H-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Webster, Mass.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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The train made a stop at Putnam, Conn., to pick up additional passengers. This gave us enough time to get ahead of the train just south of the stop at Attawaugan. The telephoto view showed the train emerging from the woods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fKzvbRD/0/X2/i-fKzvbRD-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fKzvbRD/0/X2/i-fKzvbRD-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Attawaugan, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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From the same spot, the wide angle view showed just a hint of color on this late autumn day. P&W B40-8W No. 4005 had the honor of leading this day's train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kGhsS9K/0/X2/i-kGhsS9K-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kGhsS9K/0/X2/i-kGhsS9K-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Attawaugan, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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Getting ahead of the train again, our next shot was from what is left of the freight depot in Plainfield, Conn. The structure has been removed, leaving only the foundation and floor.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fmjN76X/0/X2/i-fmjN76X-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fmjN76X/0/X2/i-fmjN76X-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Plainfield, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6Ltss7p/0/X2/i-6Ltss7p-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6Ltss7p/0/X2/i-6Ltss7p-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P&W; Plainfield, Conn.</td></tr>
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We knew the train had to go slow for the next few miles due to track conditions, so we were able to get ahead of it again just below Plainfield (<b>left</b>).</div>
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From here the train rolled through Jewett City and Norwich. We were unable to find any decent photo angles on this stretch, so we went further south and checked out some of the coves off the Thames River that the railroad crosses on causeways. We settled on Mill Cove just north of the Naval Submarine Base at Groton (<b>below</b>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gkLnv6m/0/X2/i-gkLnv6m-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gkLnv6m/0/X2/i-gkLnv6m-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; Mill Cove, Groton, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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Just below the submarine base (the railroad passes right through it) the train needed permission to get onto Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Once there it would cross the Thames, pass the New London station, and cross Colt's Cove. We set up on the west end of the movable bridge over Shaw's Cove. A telephoto lens let us shoot the train as it snaked along the Thames just west of the New London station.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K7s3XD8/0/X2/i-K7s3XD8-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K7s3XD8/0/X2/i-K7s3XD8-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; New London, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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A wide-angle view shows the train coming off the swing bridge.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6qQRpzr/0/X2/i-6qQRpzr-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6qQRpzr/0/X2/i-6qQRpzr-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence & Worcester; New London, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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From New London the train would go to Old Saybrook, where the diesels were taken off the train. Here the train would get onto the Valley Railroad and the motive power would be the Valley's 2-8-2 No. 3025, lettered for the New Haven Railroad. No. 3025 is actually a fairly new locomotive, built in China in 1989 and imported to the U.S. We headed north up the Valley and waited for the train at the depot at Deep River, along the Connecticut River.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GLq4d59/0/X2/i-GLq4d59-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GLq4d59/0/X2/i-GLq4d59-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Deep River, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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The passengers had been on the train since its 8:30 a.m. departure from Worcester, and it was now after 2:00 p.m. Finally, the passengers got a break when they were let off for a photo runby at Chester.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QTGkDkK/0/X2/i-QTGkDkK-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QTGkDkK/0/X2/i-QTGkDkK-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Chester, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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It was obvious the locomotive crew was enjoying the runbys -- they really made No. 3025 work as it stormed past the assembled photo line. A second runby was performed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Z79FLw9/0/X2/i-Z79FLw9-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Z79FLw9/0/X2/i-Z79FLw9-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Chester, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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The second runby was just as good as the first, so the railroad personnel asked the crowd if they wanted a third runby! The response was an enthusiastic "Yes!!!!"</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-k3vwDhH/0/X2/i-k3vwDhH-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-k3vwDhH/0/X2/i-k3vwDhH-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Chester, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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The observation car rolled past the Chester depot. Sadly, it might be the last time this car -- and the rest of the passenger consist -- would be visiting a foreign railroad. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-shj77mh/0/X2/i-shj77mh-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-shj77mh/0/X2/i-shj77mh-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Chester, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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After the passengers reboarded, the train continued another few miles up the Valley to the end of the line. Our final look would be at the first grade crossing north of the runby location, watching No. 3025 accelerate the consist northward. Encroaching clouds and approaching rain would end our day; for those on board, there was still half the trip to go to get back to Worcester.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DDZTqVJ/0/X2/i-DDZTqVJ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DDZTqVJ/0/X2/i-DDZTqVJ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valley Railroad; Chester, Conn.; October 30, 2016</td></tr>
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It won't be long before we know if Genesee & Wyoming will continue the tradition of passenger trips on the Providence & Worcester; as stated above, GWI will honor previously scheduled short holiday trips out of Woonsocket later this year. But beyond that? Who knows... This trip may have very well been the last long-distance passenger train on the Providence & Worcester.</div>
Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-19351204522418405402016-10-27T14:58:00.000-04:002016-10-27T14:58:22.169-04:00Chasing Union Pacific 844<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CFpNtkL/0/X2/i-CFpNtkL-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-CFpNtkL/0/X2/i-CFpNtkL-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Blackwater, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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It's been an unusual year -- the mainline steam locomotive I've chased the most has been Union Pacific's recently restored 4-8-4 No. 844. The funny thing is, a month before chasing the locomotive each time, I had no idea I'd even be seeing it. The railroad announced plans to run it after I had made arrangements for trips, and it was just coincidence that my trip and the locomotive coincided. I saw it a few times in Colorado in July as it ran back and forth in conjunction with the annual trip for the Denver Post's run to Cheyenne Frontier Days (all of which was covered <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/10/the-great-western-trip-part-five.html" target="_blank">in this post</a> on my big western trip).<br />
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I was just getting on the road back from Colorado when I found out I'd need to make a trip to Kansas City in October, needing to be there on the 15th. It was quite a bit later I found out 844 would be traveling from Cheyenne to Memphis, making an overnight stop in Kansas City after it arrived. On the 15th! I had planned on leaving KC on the 16th, but the locomotive was going to continue east on the 17th to Jefferson City, Mo., so I added a day to my trip to work in an extra day of chasing.<br />
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I arrived in Kansas City on October 14, spending the night there. On the morning of the 15th I headed west to intercept the big Northern along with Otto Vondrak. Kevin Gilliam, who was shooting video for <i>Trains</i> magazine, and Mike Noonkester followed behind us. It had a servicing stop in Marysville, Kan., so I arrived at the small town of Winifred and waited. An old grain elevator made a nice backdrop as the locomotive came through on the gray day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4LspDZh/0/X2/i-4LspDZh-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-4LspDZh/0/X2/i-4LspDZh-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Winifred, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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The short train had a servicing and display stop just ahead at Frankfort, Kan., so we buzzed just a mile or so ahead out of town and caught it crossing the Black Vermillion River.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JTqpP52/0/X2/i-JTqpP52-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JTqpP52/0/X2/i-JTqpP52-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Frankfort, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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With its next servicing/display stop well over an hour away at Topeka, we thought we might have a chance to get ahead of it before the stop. The roads are laid out in a grid pattern -- and unfortunately the railroad runs diagonally through it all, giving it a much shorter route. Still, we got ahead of it at Emmett, Kan., but not by much.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JzDjXKv/0/X2/i-JzDjXKv-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JzDjXKv/0/X2/i-JzDjXKv-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Emmett, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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The train beat us into Topeka, but we wheeled into town for a quick shot of it as it stopped among the crowd at the large Union Pacific depot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mbSVJn7/0/X2/i-mbSVJn7-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-mbSVJn7/0/X2/i-mbSVJn7-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Topeka, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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The next servicing/display stop would be at Lawrence, Kan. Lawrence was the home of a noted rail photographer (and one of my early photographic heroes), the late Don Ball, Jr. He shot a lot of photos on the big curve near the station, and that curve has been unofficially dubbed "Don Ball Curve." Wanting a shot there, we headed into Lawrence and once again got the large crowd greeting the train as it arrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PSgDnxg/0/X2/i-PSgDnxg-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PSgDnxg/0/X2/i-PSgDnxg-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Lawrence, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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After the servicing stop, the train accelerated away, passing the large grain elevator that borders Don Ball Curve. From here we gave up the chase and headed into Kansas City for our evening appointment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-qCqpTVK/0/X2/i-qCqpTVK-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-qCqpTVK/0/X2/i-qCqpTVK-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Lawrence, Kan.; October 15, 2016</td></tr>
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After spending Sunday, October 16, in Kansas City (perhaps more on that in a future post), it was time to chase 844 again as it ran to Jefferson City. It's first stop would be at Buckner. I was driving solo this time, with Kevin and Mike still chasing in their car. Since they had a navigator, I opted to follow them. The first point we picked was just west of the town of Buckner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5g3rfhn/0/X2/i-5g3rfhn-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5g3rfhn/0/X2/i-5g3rfhn-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Buckner, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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The weather was much better on this day, with mostly sunny skies. Grain elevators are a part of the U.S. Heartland, so the next stop would be at one. Our next shot was in the small community of Levasy, Mo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K9wHTrN/0/X2/i-K9wHTrN-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-K9wHTrN/0/X2/i-K9wHTrN-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Levasy, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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The train rolled along the Missouri River, stopping at Lexington. We used that stop to find a perch overlooking the railroad and river at Waverly, Mo.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PJQFQcR/0/X2/i-PJQFQcR-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PJQFQcR/0/X2/i-PJQFQcR-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Waverly, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-cP99xJL/0/X2/i-cP99xJL-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-cP99xJL/0/X2/i-cP99xJL-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Blackwater, Mo.</td></tr>
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The train's next stop was in the historic community of Blackwater, Mo. We wandered the dirt roads east of town and set up on an overhead bridge for a telephoto view of the train swinging through a curve (top photo of this post). Then came the wide-angle view looking down at the train from the same location.</div>
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The end of the run at Jefferson City was now on the horizon. Our last shot of the locomotive on the road would be just west of Jeff City at Marion.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nXFRjFR/0/X2/i-nXFRjFR-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nXFRjFR/0/X2/i-nXFRjFR-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Marion, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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At Jefferson City the train had to be put on its display track near the UP yard. As the train moved back and forth, engineer Ed Dickens (who just happens to be UP's Senior Manager of Historic Operations) was joined by his wife Nancy in the cab.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DQC6rL8/0/X2/i-DQC6rL8-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DQC6rL8/0/X2/i-DQC6rL8-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nancy and Ed Dickens; Jefferson City, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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Speaking of the cab, I had a chance to take a quick look inside during the Jeff City stop. The 844 is one tall locomotive, and it's probably the highest gangway I've ever had to hoist myself up.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QkdHCmQ/0/X2/i-QkdHCmQ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-QkdHCmQ/0/X2/i-QkdHCmQ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Jefferson City, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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After dinner, a small group gathered in Jefferson City for a night shot of the big 4-8-4. For many, the chase would continue -- for some, all the way to Memphis. But for me, it was farewell (for now) and I continued to head east that night, wondering if 844 and I would have another chance encounter at some point.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Jm7ZbPG/0/X2/i-Jm7ZbPG-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Jm7ZbPG/0/X2/i-Jm7ZbPG-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Jefferson City, Mo.; October 17, 2016</td></tr>
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Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-54135047160424000372016-10-25T11:46:00.000-04:002016-10-25T11:46:26.757-04:00Fall On the Former Pennsy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-SzcFbVh/0/X2/2016-10-19-0024-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-SzcFbVh/0/X2/2016-10-19-0024-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; Summerhill, Pa.; October 19, 2016</td></tr>
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One of the best places to enjoy the colors of fall is western Pennsylvania, especially along the route of the former Pennsylvania Railroad. Now operated by Norfolk Southern, this scenic line climbs its way over the Allegheny Mountains, with landmarks such as Horseshoe Curve and the tunnels at Gallitzin along the way. But there is more to this line than the famous landmarks -- the route is lined with distinctive position light signals installed by the PRR. These signals are slowly being replaced, but make good lineside props. Our day starts in Summerhill, Pa., west of Altoona, where we see manned helper units pushing a stack train towards Pittsburgh (<b>above</b>).<br />
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Summerhill has a unique signal bridge with PRR position lights -- the signal heads for eastbound trains are on high posts to get them above a highway bridge so they can be seen by train crews. Once again we see manned helper units, this time on an eastbound train, passing under the distinctive signal bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-js6ZBwG/0/X2/2016-10-19-0039-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-js6ZBwG/0/X2/2016-10-19-0039-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; Summerhill, Pa.; October 19, 2016</td></tr>
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Moving to the other (east) side of Altoona, we pause at the small town of Fostoria. Here we find another interesting signal bridge -- a relatively modern bridge with older PRR signal heads mounted to it. We catch a westbound train slowing for the yard in Altoona passing under the signals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-WMpfSW5/0/X2/2016-10-19-0046-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-WMpfSW5/0/X2/2016-10-19-0046-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; Fostoria, Pa.; October 19, 2016</td></tr>
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It's been a strange fall -- the colors seem to be all over the place, with colorful leaves in some places, green in others. But even the leaves that have changed seem to lack a lot of vibrance. Continuing our tour east, we find mostly green colors in Huntingdon. The former Pennsylvania Railroad interlocking tower in town has been preserved and is used by the Chamber of Commerce. We catch a westbound train passing the classic structure.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-742XwFh/0/X2/2016-10-19-0054-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Norfolk-Southern/i-742XwFh/0/X2/2016-10-19-0054-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norfolk Southern; Huntingdon, Pa.; October 19, 2016</td></tr>
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The sun is beginning to set behind the mountains as we get our last shot just east of Huntingdon at Mill Creek. Amtrak's <i>Pennsylvanian</i> splits the PRR signals as it heads west towards Altoona and Pittsburgh, with Philadelphia and Harrisburg behind it. There is some color on the mountains as the train rolls along the Juniata River. There's more to explore, but we're out of time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-f3wrsS8/0/X2/2016-10-19-0086-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-f3wrsS8/0/X2/2016-10-19-0086-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Mill Creek, Pa.; October 19, 2016</td></tr>
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Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-46246686128109569592016-10-21T13:35:00.001-04:002016-10-21T13:35:37.134-04:00The Great Western Trip -- Part Five<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-nPtQj6v/0/X2/2016-07-23-0150-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-nPtQj6v/0/X2/2016-07-23-0150-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denver Union Station, Denver, Colo.; July 23, 2016</td></tr>
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<i><a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">In the first part</a> of the trip we went from New Jersey to Kansas City and on to Crawford Hill in Nebraska. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-two.html" target="_blank">In the second part</a> we went to South Dakota to chase steam and diesel, then headed into the Powder River Basin and Sherman Hill in Wyoming. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-three.html" target="_blank">In the third part</a> we hit a variety of short lines in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona including Deseret Power, Navajo Mine, Apache, and Copper Basin. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/10/the-great-western-trip-part-four.html" target="_blank">In the fourth part</a> we hit New Mexico, including the Rail Runner commuter trains into Albuquerque and Amtrak's </i>Southwest Chief<i>. In this fifth and final part, we head into Denver before heading back to New Jersey.</i><div>
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The first day in Denver was Day 17 of the trip -- July 19, 2016. I was in town for the National Railway Historical Society convention, but the convention's first day was spent riding the Royal Gorge Scenic brunch train. With no photo opportunities available on that trip, I opted to do my own thing around Denver. The day was spent getting acquainted with the new commuter rail system between Union Station and the airport on the parts near the convention hotel, but in mid-afternoon I headed into the mountains to catch Amtrak's <i>California Zephyr</i> coming out of Moffat Tunnel. The shot I wanted was from an overlook reachable by driving the former roadbed of a long-abandoned railroad over Rollins Pass. I thought the shot was from the first switchback on the road, but after driving a long way in and encountering a road that was more and more rough, I turned around well short of my goal. As I drove back out, I discovered I had actually passed the overlook (only about a half-mile up the hill) and just didn't see it because I was concentrating on the road. I paused at the overlook and was rewarded with the <i>Zephyr</i> coming out of the tunnel.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-R7bSvVV/0/X2/2016-07-19-0056-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-R7bSvVV/0/X2/2016-07-19-0056-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Moffat Tunnel, Tolland, Colo.; July 19, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 18 of the trip had the convention heading for a light rail tour of Denver's RTD system. Once again, with limited photo opportunities on the convention trip, I headed out onto the new heavy rail system, this time riding it end-to-end. At the airport I found a large platform from which to shoot trains as they emerged from the Westin Hotel and terminals.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-g7CfZKv/0/X2/2016-07-20-0033-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-g7CfZKv/0/X2/2016-07-20-0033-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional Transportation District; Denver International Airport, Denver, Colo.; July 20, 2016</td></tr>
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The other end of the line is at Denver Union Station downtown. The airport line is the first heavy rail line to open, but two more were undergoing testing for opening later in 2016. The cars used are Silverliner V cars built by Hyundai Rotem similar to those operating in Philadelphia. Just as these photos were being taken, Philly's Silverliners were being taken out of service for a manufacturing defect; the Denver cars were apparently unaffected.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-qvx5qSz/0/X2/2016-07-20-0067-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-qvx5qSz/0/X2/2016-07-20-0067-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional Transportation District; Denver Union Station, Denver, Colo.; July 20, 2016</td></tr>
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Day Three of the NRHS convention (and Day 19 of the trip) had the NRHS heading to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden for an afternoon of activities and a night photography event. There was time in the morning, however, to get Union Pacific's freshly restored 4-8-4 steam locomotive, No. 844, as it traveled from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Denver to get ready to power an excursion in a couple of days. The big Northern was coming out of Cheyenne as it headed through Speer, Wyo., on its way south.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-6GmZD6B/0/X2/2016-07-21-0019-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-6GmZD6B/0/X2/2016-07-21-0019-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Speer, Wyo.; July 21, 2016</td></tr>
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Once the chase with 844 was done, it was time to head to the Colorado Railroad Museum. Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 No. 346 was powering a passenger train every half hour on the museum's narrow gauge loop.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-LrRJb6s/0/X2/2016-07-21-0083-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-LrRJb6s/0/X2/2016-07-21-0083-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado Railroad Museum; Golden, Colo.; July 21, 2016</td></tr>
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That evening, No. 346 was the star of the night photo session. Four different scenes using the Consolidation (and three additional scenes using other museum equipment) were shot during the event.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-37g8sSp/0/X2/2016-07-21-0109-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-37g8sSp/0/X2/2016-07-21-0109-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado Railroad Museum; Golden, Colo.; July 21, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 20 of the trip was unusual -- no photos were taken! I am on the board of the NRHS and the day was spent with meetings and the banquet that night. It was back to photos for Day 21, however. with the NRHS venturing to Leadville, Colo., to ride the Leadville, Colorado & Southern railroad. But first there was time to catch UP 844 as it powered the <i>Denver Post's</i> Cheyenne Frontier Days train out of Denver.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-M3VZfm6/0/X2/2016-07-23-0007-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-M3VZfm6/0/X2/2016-07-23-0007-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Commerce City, Colo.; July 23, 2016</td></tr>
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Back in Denver, the convention attendees boarded buses for the ride to Leadville. Once there, everyone got on the train for a ride on the former Denver & Rio Grande Western branch from Leadville to Climax, Colo. This line hits an elevation of over 11,000 feet, making it the highest standard gauge railroad in North America. A photo stop was held at French Gulch water tank at an elevation just shy of 11,000 feet.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6BWRMrV/0/XL/i-6BWRMrV-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-6BWRMrV/0/XL/i-6BWRMrV-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leadville, Colorado & Southern; French Gulch Tank, Climax, Colo.; July 23, 2016</td></tr>
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An alternate angle at the photo stop location shows the water tank at French Gulch.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DjWCrvL/0/X2/i-DjWCrvL-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DjWCrvL/0/X2/i-DjWCrvL-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leadville, Colorado & Southern; French Gulch Tank, Climax, Colo.; July 23, 2016</td></tr>
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Once the buses had returned everyone to Denver, I headed out with Nick Hovey to photograph around Union Station at night. The train from the hotel to the station was packed -- the line is certainly well-used and the area around Union Station has a vibrant night life. We spent about an hour shooting around the station (including the top photo in this post) before heading back to the hotel near what was Stapleton Airport.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-8wcKJbx/0/X2/2016-07-23-0162-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-8wcKJbx/0/X2/2016-07-23-0162-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional Transportation District; Denver Union Station, Denver, Colo.; July 23, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 22 of the trip would feature something unusual -- a chase of UP 844 by bus for the NRHS convention. But that trip didn't leave until noon, so I had one final morning in Denver to get some shots I wanted. First up was heading back to Union Station to get the westbound California Zephyr leaving town.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-XcbTnFJ/0/X2/2016-07-24-0005-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-XcbTnFJ/0/X2/2016-07-24-0005-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Denver, Colo.; July 24, 2016</td></tr>
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From downtown I headed out towards Golden to get some light rail shots. The highlight was a train crossing the unusual basket-handle arch bridge over U.S. 6 at Lakewood.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-MDxShmj/0/X2/2016-07-24-0021-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Denver-Regional-Transportation/i-MDxShmj/0/X2/2016-07-24-0021-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional Transportation District; Lakewood, Colo.; July 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, the Colorado Railroad Museum had its "big" engine operating, 2-8-2 No. 491, so it was back to Golden to get the Mikado making the loop around the museum grounds.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-84zkJD9/0/X2/2016-07-24-0064-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Colorado-Railroad-Museum/i-84zkJD9/0/X2/2016-07-24-0064-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado Railroad Museum; Golden, Colo.; July 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally it was back into town for the bus chase with 844. I drove my own car as a support vehicle for the chase, while 50 NRHS attendees were on the deluxe motor coach. After shooting the train in the yard prior to departure, our convoy headed north (the bus, me in my car, and two other support cars) where we actually caught the train three times. Our final shot was of the train roaring through Ault, Colo., on its way back to Cheyenne.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-SZ5Fj3t/0/X2/2016-07-24-0099-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Main-Line-Steam/Union-Pacific-Steam/i-SZ5Fj3t/0/X2/2016-07-24-0099-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific 844; Ault, Colo.; July 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Once the final shot was done, I broke away from the convention to start the long drive eastward. In some of the last sun of the day I caught a Union Pacific freight heading west out of Limon, Colo. From here it was a run to somewhere in Kansas where I stopped for the night (back to car camping after enjoying six nights in a real bed).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-JXDB3kq/0/X2/2016-07-24-0110-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-JXDB3kq/0/X2/2016-07-24-0110-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Limon, Colo.; July 24, 2016</td></tr>
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It was not much but driving for Day 23 of the trip, heading across Kansas and Missouri. The interstate goes near Granite City, Ill., and by late afternoon what had been mostly cloudy skies gave way to sunshine. The Port Harbor Railroad (operated by Respondek Rail) serves a port (obviously) near Granite City, and I have a few friends that work for the railroad. Knowing they usually run in the afternoon, I swung by and found friends (and brothers) Mark and Mike Mautner working the ground with Scott Nauert running the locomotive.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Respondek-Rail/i-RnZWmbk/0/X2/2016-07-25-0029-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Respondek-Rail/i-RnZWmbk/0/X2/2016-07-25-0029-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Harbor; Granite City, Ill.; July 25, 2016</td></tr>
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They had a lot of work to do on the maze of track, providing some nice photo angles. But I had miles to knock off still, so after a couple of final shots I bid them farewell and continued east.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Respondek-Rail/i-VgjFcbR/0/X2/2016-07-25-0057-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Respondek-Rail/i-VgjFcbR/0/X2/2016-07-25-0057-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Harbor; Granite City, Ill.; July 25, 2016</td></tr>
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That night I pulled into a rest area on the Indiana/Ohio border for some sleep. Day 24 was strictly a driving day (the third day of the trip where no photos were taken), arriving back in New Jersey in early evening. Finally the trip was done, with 9,827 miles on the odometer. But while I was on the trip, my boss set up a business meeting in Kansas City for two months hence. Head back west again? Sure!</div>
Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-24819872459500478972016-10-06T21:00:00.000-04:002016-10-06T21:00:28.665-04:00The Great Western Trip -- Part Four<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-6Mk7ppX/1/X2/2016-07-15-0011-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-6Mk7ppX/1/X2/2016-07-15-0011-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">New Mexico Rail Runner; Los Lunas, N.M.; July 15, 2016</td></tr>
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<i><a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">In the first part </a>of our adventure we traveled from New Jersey to Kansas City and on to Crawford Hill in Nebraska. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-two.html" target="_blank">In the second part</a> we chased trains in South Dakota, then hit the Powder River Basin and Sherman Hill in Wyoming. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-three.html" target="_blank">In the third part</a>, we hit a variety of short lines including Deseret Power, Navajo Mine, Apache, and Copper Basin. We start this part waking up south of Albuquerque, N.M.</i><br />
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With 5,788 miles put away since leaving New Jersey on July 3, Day 13 started with a commuter operation -- the New Mexico Rail Runner, which sports possibly the best paint scheme of any commuter railroad in the country. The trains run both north and south out of Albuquerque -- north to Santa Fe and south to Belen. Since the trains would be in "push" mode heading north into Albuquerque, I needed a location that would be a broadside photo (since the engine would be on the rear of the train and wouldn't have its headlight on). The best shot of the morning was of a northbound train passing a small airport near Los Lunas (<b>above</b>).<br />
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With some time to kill and the trip about half over, it was time to take Sparky (my 2004 Ford Explorer) to a garage for an oil change. There isn't much rail activity around Albuquerque without going south to Belen to hit BNSF's transcontinental line, so I spent the day poking around for potential shots for the evening commuter rush, as well as hitting the Wheels museum in old Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe shops in downtown Albuquerque. One shot high on my hit list would be of a Rail Runner coming down the median of I-25 as it heads south from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, and that shot was accomplished near La Cienga.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Jz68Rpw/0/X2/2016-07-15-0032-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Jz68Rpw/0/X2/2016-07-15-0032-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mexico Rail Runner; La Cienga, N.M.; July 15, 2016</td></tr>
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I found a really nice shot I wanted near Rosario, but the remaining daylight Rail Runners came after clouds had built up, making for a less-than-stellar photo. Defeated by clouds for the day, I set up my lights at a different location near Rosario and got the last train from Santa Fe to Albuquerque crossing a small bridge. I then went into Santa Fe and grabbed a motel for the night.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-ddQjCxt/0/X2/2016-07-15-0093-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-ddQjCxt/0/X2/2016-07-15-0093-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mexico Rail Runner; Rosario, N.M.; July 15, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 14 was a Saturday, so Rail Runners wouldn't be running as often as they would on a weekday. I started the day by visiting the worksite of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society, which is restoring massive Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 2926. I spent almost four hours with the crew, watching the work that was being done on the engine. The quarters were cramped and the sun was at the wrong angle, so photography was challenging, but I did like the way the light came into the cab and illuminated the water sight glass warning sign. Scenes of the workers working will probably make a decent post at some point in the future. I was impressed with the plan the group has, both for restoring the Northern and eventually operating it (perhaps as early as 2017). When the crew broke for lunch, I departed the worksite and headed back trackside.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-fLZCsPk/0/XL/2016-07-16-0060-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-fLZCsPk/0/XL/2016-07-16-0060-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Fe 2926; Albuquerque, N.M.; July 16, 2016</td></tr>
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One of the reasons I was in the Albuquerque area was to photograph Amtrak's <i>Southwest Chief,</i> since the line used by the <i>Chief</i> is protected by semaphore signals. At one time these types of signals were common throughout the U.S.; now the line from the Colorado border down to just below Lamy (near Santa Fe) is the last place to find these relics. I found a lone semaphore near Los Cerrillos and waited for the <i>Chief</i>; it did not disappoint.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-GnjjtNr/0/X2/2016-07-16-0079-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-GnjjtNr/0/X2/2016-07-16-0079-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Los Cerrillos, N.M.; July 16, 2016</td></tr>
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With the southbound <i>Chief</i> now gone (and the northbound had run earlier in the day while I was in Albuquerque) I turned my attention back to the Rail Runners. I still wanted that shot at Rosario that I missed the day before, so I went back and <i>finally</i> got it in sun.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Wp5xWTm/0/X2/2016-07-16-0096-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Wp5xWTm/0/X2/2016-07-16-0096-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mexico Rail Runner; Rosario, N.M.; July 16, 2016</td></tr>
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Annoying afternoon clouds were once again building, so I headed into Santa Fe where I could shoot stationary stuff when I got a sunny break. Santa Fe was originally on a branch line of the mighty Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, connecting to the main at Lamy -- so the railroad was most commonly known by the name of a town located at the end of a branch! Later, the Santa Fe Southern tourist operation took over the branch. Rail Runner trains use the Santa Fe station, but when service was extended north of Albuquerque the Rail Runners were largely put onto a new right-of-way. The Santa Fe Southern is now dormant, but some of its equipment still shares the Santa Fe station with the Rail Runners.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-nv2SQhZ/0/X2/2016-07-16-0103-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-nv2SQhZ/0/X2/2016-07-16-0103-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Fe Southern and New Mexico Rail Runner; Santa Fe, N.M.; July 16, 2016</td></tr>
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As night moved in, I hung around downtown Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Railyard hosts some night life, and I listened to a bad ensemble band waiting for the last Rail Runner of the night to depart for Albuquerque. Once I got that, I headed out to a rest area on I-25 and found a quiet spot to sleep.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Fzkk3fb/0/X2/2016-07-16-0130-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/New-Mexico-Rail-Runner/i-Fzkk3fb/0/X2/2016-07-16-0130-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Mexico Rail Runner; Santa Fe, N.M.; July 16, 2016</td></tr>
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For Day 15, I started focusing on those semaphore signals. The <i>Southwest Chief</i> can really move along, so the key to getting multiple shots of signals is to get a set north of Las Vegas, N.M., then use the train's stop there to get ahead of it for a set south of Las Vegas. One chase can easily rack up 50 or more miles between shots. The line is only used by Amtrak, so only two trains go past the signals each day -- the <i>Chief</i> in each direction. I got the southbound train at Wagon Mound, N.M., then easily beat it during its stop at Las Vegas to get it again at Chapelle. I waited at Chapelle and got the northbound <i>Chief</i> there as well.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-LJ9VV35/0/X2/2016-07-17-0046-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-LJ9VV35/0/X2/2016-07-17-0046-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Chapelle, N.M.; July 17, 2016</td></tr>
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Using the Las Vegas station stop, I got the train again at the ghost town of Colmor, about 60 miles later.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-xFvGrHp/0/X2/2016-07-17-0059-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-xFvGrHp/0/X2/2016-07-17-0059-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Colmor, N.M.; July 17, 2016</td></tr>
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Somewhere north of Wagon Mound the string of semaphores end. After clearing the town of Raton, N.M., the line crosses into Colorado while climbing and descending Raton Pass. After a high-speed chase through the semaphores, the chase over Raton is anything but... I was able to catch the northbound Chief multiple times on the pass, including at Gallinas, Colo.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-ZGNrzS8/0/X2/2016-07-17-0067-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-ZGNrzS8/0/X2/2016-07-17-0067-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Gallinas, Colo.; July 17, 2016</td></tr>
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For the second night in a row I headed into the semaphores to get shots of them under the stars. The first night I did okay with them, but I did better the second night, especially the set at Levy, N.M. It was the only semaphore set I found that had one of the signals lit. After finishing with night shots, I headed to a truck stop on I-25 that had a nice, large, quiet parking area for autos.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-ZqhtPJk/0/X2/2016-07-17-0117-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-ZqhtPJk/0/X2/2016-07-17-0117-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Levy, N.M.; July 17, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 16 started with driving into Colorado in search of a ghost. Way back when, grade crossings were protected by devices called wigwags -- a target that moved back and forth like someone waving a flag when a train was approaching the crossing. The rumor was there was still a surviving, functioning wigwag in the ghost town of Delhi, Colo. Arrival there proved the rumors were true -- for no apparent reason there is a wigwag guarding a dirt crossing in a ghost town. Like the semaphores south of it, only Amtrak's <i>Southwest Chief</i> passes here. I got the southbound <i>Chief</i> and commenced the chase back towards the semaphores.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-PS3QXgD/1/X2/2016-07-18-0008-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-PS3QXgD/1/X2/2016-07-18-0008-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Delhi, Colo.; July 18, 2016</td></tr>
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Using the train's stop at Trinidad, I got the train as it began its ascent of Raton Pass. Almost as rare as semaphore signals are searchlight signals, which have one lens that displays the three colors. There are a couple of sets of searchlight signals on ex-Santa Fe cantilever signal bridges near Gallinas. I couldn't find a good way to track level here, and settled for a view from the adjacent dirt road.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-hpHHfvt/0/X2/2016-07-18-0020-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-hpHHfvt/0/X2/2016-07-18-0020-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Gallinas, Colo.; July 18, 2016</td></tr>
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I used the train's slow climb up and over Raton Pass to get ahead of it again, beating it easily to the overhead bridge just before entering the town of Raton.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-nc3GWL5/0/X2/2016-07-18-0027-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-nc3GWL5/0/X2/2016-07-18-0027-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Raton, N.M.; July 18, 2016</td></tr>
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Once again I wound up chasing the <i>Southwest Chief</i> down through the semaphores, getting it on either side of the Las Vegas stop. I then chased the northbound <i>Chief</i>, once again getting it once on each side of Las Vegas. Sun angles and clouds meant my results weren't as good as the previous day, so the next shot I was happy with was from the same bridge as above, getting the train as it pulled out of Raton and headed for Raton Pass.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-FWt3z2P/0/X2/2016-07-18-0056-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Passenger-Railroads/Amtrak/Diesel-Trains/i-FWt3z2P/0/X2/2016-07-18-0056-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak; Raton, N.M.; July 18, 2016</td></tr>
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Once out of Trinidad, it was time to head for Denver. The convention of the National Railway Historical Society was taking place in a day or two, and -- after all -- that was the primary reason I was out here. I headed into Denver and went to my motel -- one I would have for the duration of the convention, meaning I'd have a real bed for more than one night in a row for the first time on the trip. The long drive to Delhi in the morning, the long chase of the Chief both ways, and the drive to Denver made this 16th day one of the longest of the trip -- 741 miles of driving in one day. But things would now slow down a lot for the convention. I hit the sack in Denver with 7,435 miles so far logged in on the road.</div>
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Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-71694402338615516732016-10-04T23:49:00.001-04:002016-10-04T23:49:41.291-04:00Railfan Day at Steam Into History<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GhJFSzB/0/X2/i-GhJFSzB-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GhJFSzB/0/X2/i-GhJFSzB-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Steam Into History held its second annual Railfan Day on September 24 on its Northern Central Railroad in Pennsylvania. The line heads north from New Freedom to Hanover Junction, where the surviving station saw President Abraham Lincoln change trains on his way to Gettysburg in November 1863.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tjfp5GZ/0/X2/i-tjfp5GZ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tjfp5GZ/0/X2/i-tjfp5GZ-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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The star of Steam Into History is 4-4-0 No. 17, <i>William H. Simpson</i> (formerly <i>York</i>). Despite its 1860s appearance, it was constructed by Kloke Locomotive Works in Iowa in 2013. The locomotive is based on blueprints used in constructing the replica locomotives at the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M5mpNKg/0/X2/i-M5mpNKg-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M5mpNKg/0/X2/i-M5mpNKg-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.</td></tr>
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The Railfan Day festivities kicked off with a daytime trip heading north from New Freedom. No. 17 pushed the train the ten miles north to the restored Hanover Junction station. There was enough time here to do a few static photos, and Christopher Brang and his crew of Civil War reenactors (Curtis Keester, William Keith Kesler, Christiana Bredbenner, and Kitty McKellips) were put to good use. The locomotive crew of Steve Meola and Stephen Lane also posed for photos, as did Steam Into History volunteer Will Horowitz. A runby was held (top photo in this post), and it was time to head south.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KmfQc2w/0/X2/i-KmfQc2w-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KmfQc2w/0/X2/i-KmfQc2w-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Another runby was held in a cornfield just south of Hanover Junction, followed by a stop in Glen Rock where the historic inn was used as a backdrop for a runby. The inn has an 1880s Wrigley’s gum sign painted on it, and even though the advertisement is a bit late for our 1860s era it did make a nice scene.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-rhD6fHX/0/X2/i-rhD6fHX-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-rhD6fHX/0/X2/i-rhD6fHX-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J2tPLdM/0/X2/i-J2tPLdM-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J2tPLdM/0/X2/i-J2tPLdM-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Glem Rock, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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The reenactors were used again for a photo runby at the tastefully named town of Railroad, with a final runby held at New Freedom. The final two runbys were exceptionally good, as Steve and Stephen really had the locomotive working.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KzzC7Jk/0/X2/i-KzzC7Jk-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KzzC7Jk/0/X2/i-KzzC7Jk-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Railroad, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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The final runby was short (the train didn't back very far) but the request was made for smoke. The locomotive crew certainly came through.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M5HNHKr/0/X2/i-M5HNHKr-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M5HNHKr/0/X2/i-M5HNHKr-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; New Freedom, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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The fun wasn’t over yet, however. After dinner, a night photography train headed north, with No. 17 once again pushing all the way to Hanover Junction. Once it got dark, the strobes were brought out (provided by Michael Burkhart and yours truly) and the first two night scenes were recorded at Hanover Junction. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vSMckgd/0/X2/i-vSMckgd-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-vSMckgd/0/X2/i-vSMckgd-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nD7KkCR/0/X2/i-nD7KkCR-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-nD7KkCR/0/X2/i-nD7KkCR-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Hanover Junction, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Next up was a night shot at the Glen Rock Mill Inn in Glen Rock. The building features a vintage advertisement for Wrigley gum. Even though Wrigley's gum wasn't invented until the 1880s (about 20 years too late for our Civil War-era scenes) it still made a nice prop.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WMRrr8R/0/X2/i-WMRrr8R-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WMRrr8R/0/X2/i-WMRrr8R-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Glen Rock, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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The gentlemen tipped their hats to the ladies during the next night photo scene at Railroad.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-smtbC2b/0/X2/i-smtbC2b-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-smtbC2b/0/X2/i-smtbC2b-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; Railroad, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally, the train returned to New Freedom for one last scene in front of the old Pennsylvania Railroad depot in town. Thanks to the crew of Steam Into History and all the actors that made for a memorable day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-LPRnsp6/0/X2/i-LPRnsp6-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-LPRnsp6/0/X2/i-LPRnsp6-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam Into History; New Freedom, Pa.; September 24, 2016</td></tr>
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Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-14737406243137795982016-09-29T21:52:00.000-04:002016-09-30T13:50:23.217-04:00The Great Western Trip -- Part Three<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-K6v6rfd/0/X2/2016-07-13-0127-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-K6v6rfd/0/X2/2016-07-13-0127-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Basin; Kelvin, Ariz.; July 13, 2016</td></tr>
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<i>Note: <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">In the first installment</a> of our western trip we ventured from New Jersey through Kansas City and on to Crawford Hill in Nebraska. <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-two.html" target="_blank">In the second installment</a> we headed into South Dakota for a couple of railroads and then down to the Powder River Basin in Wyoming before heading to Sherman Hill near Cheyenne. We concluded camped out along the tracks of the Deseret Power Railroad near Dinosaur, Colo.</i><br />
<br />
Day 9 of the trip found me awake at 6:15 a.m. in the middle of nowhere. Pre-trip intelligence said the Deseret Power Railroad would make its first trip from the coal mine near Dinosaur, Colo., to the power plant near Bonanza, Utah, sometime after 6:30 a.m. I drove the short distance from where I had parked for the night to the grade crossing and waited. The railroad operates Monday-Thursday, and usually a track inspection is made on Monday morning before the first train of the week runs. This was a Monday...<br />
<br />
Around 7:30 a track inspection truck went past on the railroad. The friendly driver told me the train should be about an hour later. I could have gotten more sleep, but at least there was something coming. But 8:30 came and went, as did 9:30... Finally, at 10:30 there was a headlight and the chase was on as three E60 electric locomotives led a string of coal cars past me. The shot at the grade crossing was okay, but a better shot was to be found just south of the town of Blue Mountain (the highway sign says its a town; there is one house there) as the train crossed the highway on a high fill.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-N3BQx9H/1/X2/2016-07-11-0019-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-N3BQx9H/1/X2/2016-07-11-0019-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deseret Power; Blue Mountain (Dinosaur), Colo.; July 11, 2013</td></tr>
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The Deseret Power Railroad is isolated -- it has no railroad connection with the rest of the U.S. rail system. All it does is shuffle coal from the mine to the power plant. Passing through the town of Dinosaur, my next shot was where the railroad heads south before hitting Mormon Gap.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-BsS7xpj/0/X2/2016-07-11-0021-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-BsS7xpj/0/X2/2016-07-11-0021-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deseret Power; Dinosaur, Colo.; July 11, 2016</td></tr>
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The railroad is about 35 miles long, and the trains move right along at a decent pace. Unfortunately, the road and tracks separate after Mormon Gap, and you have to drive into Utah to the power plant to get ahead of the train again. Except... The road between Bonanza and the power plant has collapsed, and the detour is long and dusty. It is no longer possible to beat a train from Mormon Gap to the power plant, and if you went to the power plant to shoot the train leaving (it takes about two hours to unload), you would get one shot there and wouldn't be able to get anything else on the east end near Dinosaur. Thus, I let the train go and caught up on sone sleep for a couple of hours. About three hours after I saw the train receding west at Mormon Gap, it returned heading back towards Dinosaur.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-cD7Qpqd/0/X2/2016-07-11-0026-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Deseret-Power/i-cD7Qpqd/0/X2/2016-07-11-0026-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deseret Power; Dinosaur, Colo.; July 11, 2016</td></tr>
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The normal operating pattern has the morning train getting back to the mine sometime around noon, where the crew will reload the train and a second crew will make a round trip starting at about 4:30. However, because of the late start in the morning, it was already closing in on 3:00 and there was no way the train would be loaded in time for 4:30. Figuring it would be a couple of hours no matter what, I stopped for a Brontosauras burger in Dinosaur (what did you expect?). I then headed towards the mine, where the entrance road gives a nice overview of the complex. It was now 4:30 and I could see the train was sitting under the loader, not moving. No second train today... It was time to move on, so I headed through the barren desert (I didn't pass a gas station for 168 miles) through Colorado and Utah, heading for New Mexico (including a spectacular drive into Moab). My next destination was near Farmington, N.M., and I pulled into the tourist information center in that town for the night.<br />
<br />
The quarry for Day 10 was going to be the most elusive railroad on the trip, the Navajo Mine Railroad. Like the Deseret Power Railroad, it is an isolated operation that moves coal from the mine to the power plant. This railroad, however, is nowhere near as accessible at the Deseret Power. It is deep in the Navajo nation. There is only one public grade crossing on the railroad, and some views near the power plant. By early morning I was camped out at the public grade crossing. After some visits by mine security (which led to securing a photo release), I was soon rewarded with the shuttle train heading north from the mine to the power plant behind a heavily-modified E60 electric locomotive.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ghBChJg/1/X2/i-ghBChJg-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ghBChJg/1/X2/i-ghBChJg-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navajo Mine; Ojo Amarillo, N.M.; July 12, 2016</td></tr>
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The railroad operates with an E60 on one end of the train and an Alco C425 diesel on the other. The coal dust blowing off the train obscured a going-away shot of the Alco, so I decided to wait at the grade crossing (knowing it would be a couple of hours at least) to get the train's return. After waiting for awhile, a couple of railroad employees stopped by. I found out from them that the train was still about 90 minutes away. Hmmm... I decided to use that time to head up to the power plant to see what was going on.<br />
<br />
As I arrived at the power plant, I saw the train had just finished loading and was moving out to head south. I got a shot of the C425 passing the power plant, just before I was visited by security. They made it plain that they'd prefer it if I moved on, and I had every shot you can possibly get on the railroad anyhow, so I headed on out.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bwnpPc3/0/X2/i-bwnpPc3-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bwnpPc3/0/X2/i-bwnpPc3-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navajo Mine; Waterflow, N.M.; July 12, 2016</td></tr>
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Wandering down into Arizona, I crossed the busy former Santa Fe Railway mainline at Holbrook. Not on my original itinerary was the Apache Railway that runs between Snowflake, Ariz., to interchange with Santa Fe successor BNSF Railway in Holbrook. With the loss of its biggest customer, a paper mill near Snowflake, Apache operations are infrequent and hard to plan for -- thus, the reason they weren't on my itinerary. But when I crossed the tracks in Holbrook and looked into the yard, there were Apache's nicely painted Alcos doing some interchange work. Alas, access points on the Apache are few and far between -- all the dirt roads intersecting the tracks are gated and marked private. I was able to get the train leaving Holbrook from a public grade crossing, however.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Apache-Railway/i-VWXZWtw/0/X2/2016-07-12-0047-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Apache-Railway/i-VWXZWtw/0/X2/2016-07-12-0047-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apache Railway; Holbrook, Ariz.; July 12, 2016</td></tr>
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After an unsuccessful chase almost all the way to Snowflake, I headed back into Holbrook, then turned towards Winslow. The Santa Fe had a string of Harvey Houses along it, restaurants and hotels run by Fred Harvey, and Winslow's Harvey House, La Posada, has been nicely restored. I pulled up a chair on the patio behind La Posada and watched trains as the sun set.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-JJHnwdZ/0/X2/2016-07-12-0071-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-JJHnwdZ/0/X2/2016-07-12-0071-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; La Posada, Winslow, Ariz.; July 12, 2016</td></tr>
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The Santa Fe closely follows old U.S. Highway 66 across Arizona, so as darkness fell I headed out to a Route 66 landmark outside Winslow, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post. I got a couple of trains passing the famous "Here It Is" sign before heading back into Winslow and a real motel for the night.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-ffwnQrg/0/X2/2016-07-12-0085-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-ffwnQrg/0/X2/2016-07-12-0085-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Jack Rabbit, Joseph City, Ariz.; July 12, 2016</td></tr>
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On Day 11 the target was the Copper Basin Railway near Hayden, Ariz. The Copper Basin supports a large copper smelter near Hayden, bringing ore cars from a mine near Ray. Unlike the Deseret Power and Navajo Mine Railroads, though, the Copper Basin is connected to the outside rail world. I arrived just after noon and a quick check at the office at Hayden Junction told me a train had just left for the mine. I quickly overtook the train, chased it to the mine and back to the unloader at Hayden, fighting bad sun angles most of the way. However, there would be a second train on this day, a train that delivers sulphuric acid to the mine. This train ran in much better light, and I caught it as it wound its way down from the smelter.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-hJJ6qGz/1/X2/2016-07-13-0079-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-hJJ6qGz/1/X2/2016-07-13-0079-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Basin; Hayden, Ariz.; July 13, 2016</td></tr>
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This would prove to be a pretty decent chase, and I knew the roads pretty well from chasing the train earlier in the afternoon. The scenery in the area is punctuated by saguaro cactuses (cactii?) and I was able to get the train passing through valleys filled with them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-MSjBpNb/1/X2/2016-07-13-0097-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-MSjBpNb/1/X2/2016-07-13-0097-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Basin; Hayden Junction, Ariz.; July 13, 2016</td></tr>
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Chasing along, I caught the train a few more times, including at Kelvin (top photo in this entry). Once the train reached the mine I knew it would be a few hours before it would be back and it would be after dark. I set up at a small bridge near Ray Junction and waited for the train to come back. Incidentally, the mine at Ray would mark the westernmost point on the trip. After the night shot, I found a nice spot to park outside Hayden and watched the fire from the smelter occasionally light up the entire valley.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-KqVs8X5/0/X2/2016-07-13-0146-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Copper-Basin/i-KqVs8X5/0/X2/2016-07-13-0146-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Basin; Ray Junction, Ariz.; July 13, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 12 found the trip continuing south. After letting the rush hour traffic die down a bit, I ventured into Tucson to shoot the new light rail line there. After following the entire line by car, I decided to start my shooting on the University of Arizona campus. The university bookstore on Park Avenue made a nice backdrop.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-9Gh6zSP/0/X2/2016-07-14-0009-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-9Gh6zSP/0/X2/2016-07-14-0009-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Link; 2nd & Park, Tucson, Ariz.; July 14, 2016</td></tr>
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The Sun Link system opened in July 2014 and runs almost four miles, using cars built by United Streetcar in Oregon. Looking the other way at the same spot on Park Avenue, there is a sign with a warning for bicyclists.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-ftPSdMB/0/X2/2016-07-14-0014-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-ftPSdMB/0/X2/2016-07-14-0014-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Link; 2nd & Park, Tucson, Ariz.; July 14, 2016</td></tr>
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A parking garage on 2nd Street where it crosses North Mountain Avenue provided a nice elevated view of one of the line's modern streetcars.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-HRtShMK/0/X2/2016-07-14-0064-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-HRtShMK/0/X2/2016-07-14-0064-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Link; 2nd & Mountain, Tucson, Ariz.; July 14, 2016</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-sPtstqh/0/X2/2016-07-14-0094-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/Sun-Rail/i-sPtstqh/0/X2/2016-07-14-0094-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Link; Congress Street, Tucson, Ariz.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
Finally, I followed the line downtown, past the old Southern Pacific station and out Congress Street. The place where the streetcar line dives under Interstate 10 would mark the southernmost point on my trip (after hitting the westernmost point the previous day on the Copper Basin).<br />
<br />
<br />
It was only early afternoon, but I wanted to get to Albuquerque, N.M., that night to be in position to get commuter trains there in the morning. A pleasant surprise was finding an In-N-Out Burger location just east of Tucson. The highway followed the former Southern Pacific "Sunset Route" for much of the way, but the line was largely quiet; the couple of trains I did see I couldn't get off the interstate in time to get down to the tracks and catch. I finally arrived in suburban Albuquerque well after dark and found a Denny's parking lot to catch a bit of sleep before the next morning's commuter rush, now 5,788 miles into the trip since leaving New Jersey.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-25088219183591246932016-09-22T23:22:00.000-04:002016-09-23T08:31:31.790-04:00The Great Western Trip -- Part Two<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-GrTHrSs/0/X2/2016-07-08-0169-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-GrTHrSs/0/X2/2016-07-08-0169-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Gillette, Wyo.; July 8, 2016</td></tr>
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<i>In the <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">first part of our trip, </a>we ventured from Kansas City to Crawford Hill in Nebraska, finally stopping at Sturgis, S.D., for the night. We pick up the trip there.</i><br />
<br />
The morning of Day 5 of the trip wasn't good -- a peek out the window showed rain. Lots of rain. After a few extra minutes of sleep, I rousted myself up and head out of the Sturgis Super 8. Today's quarry would be the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern shortline. Pre-trip intelligence told me there was a reliable train that left Belle Fourche, S.D. (just a few miles to the north) each weekday morning. Upon arrival at Belle Fourche (which would mark the northern-most point of the trip), I couldn't find the locomotives. Was the intel wrong? I hung out near the yard office, and finally a crewman showed up. A quick chat with him and I discovered the power was just north of town. Whew! And they would be running to Rapid City today. Double whew!<br />
<br />
As they switched an industry in Belle Fourche I noticed a distinct clearing line to the north. The weather would be improving. The only question was would it improve fast enough? The key shots I wanted were two back at Sturgis. The rain let up and I began the southward chase. One shot was at a campground just south of Belle Fourche. The train was in complete clouds, but you can see the clear sky behind the train. The first several shots would be like this.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-VWVNJR5/0/X2/2016-07-07-0017-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-VWVNJR5/0/X2/2016-07-07-0017-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern; Belle Fourche, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
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One of the shots I wanted to get was passing the former Chicago & North Western station in Sturgis. The second shot I wanted to get was at the Black Hills National Cemetery, just a couple of miles south of Sturgis. Getting out of the station would involve some city streets -- it would probably be close beating the train to the cemetery. But fortune favors the bold! The skies did clear by the time the train got to Sturgis and I got it passing the station.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-TvhzFzv/0/X2/2016-07-07-0044-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-TvhzFzv/0/X2/2016-07-07-0044-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern; Sturgis, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
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I jumped back into Sparky (my 2004 Ford Explorer, to refresh your memory) and high-tailed it out of town. By the time I got to the I-90 interchange on the south end of Sturgis I was even with the train. This might work...<br />
<br />
I wheeled into the cemetery (I had actually checked the shot out in the rain earlier in the morning so I knew exactly where I had to go). I wheeled to the spot, jumped out of the car and waited... And waited... The train shouldn't be more than a mile away... And waited... Finally, after about 20 minutes the train showed up. I don't know if they worked an industry back in Sturgis or went to breakfast, or what. But the bottom line was I got both shots.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-wt23CCK/0/X2/2016-07-07-0054-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-wt23CCK/0/X2/2016-07-07-0054-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern; Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I would catch the train a few more times, finally breaking off as the train approached the outskirts of Rapid City.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-HdCsXjn/0/X2/2016-07-07-0068-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/Rapid-City-Pierre-Eastern/i-HdCsXjn/0/X2/2016-07-07-0068-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern; Piedmont, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had allotted all day to do the shortline, but it was only just past noon when I gave up the chase. The run back to Belle Fourche would be largely against the sun, and I had done pretty darn good with the southbound chase. I made a decision to forego the northbound chase and headed over to the Black Hills Central Railroad, a steam-powered operation that wasn't on my original itinerary. Of interest was the railroad's cool 2-6-6-2T locomotive. I would have time to chase the last two trips of the day.<br />
<br />
I found the train in Hill City ready to go, and got a shot of it leaving town. I should have stopped somewhere on the six percent grade coming out of Hill City, but instead pushed farther ahead. The road between the railroad's end points at Hill City and Keystone crosses the tracks about a dozen times, providing plenty of photo opportunities.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-psnDZTd/0/X2/2016-07-07-0110-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-psnDZTd/0/X2/2016-07-07-0110-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Hills Central; Keystone, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
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The train runs with the locomotive's butt end leading back to Hill City, so I didn't chase that part of the trip. On the second run out of Hill City, I made sure I was camped out on the six percent grade -- the locomotive sounded awesome thundering through the forest.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-X6GLp6s/0/X2/2016-07-07-0129-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-X6GLp6s/0/X2/2016-07-07-0129-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Hills Central; Hill City, S.D.; July 7, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is one spot where the tracks head straight south past a rock wall at one of the grade crossings. I knew this would be a good shot and made sure I was there well ahead of the train. After the train's arrival in Keystone, I hopped on the interstate and headed for the Powder River Basin coal fields.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-mHPxZbG/0/X2/2016-07-07-0154-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-Hills-Central/i-mHPxZbG/0/X2/2016-07-07-0154-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Hills Central; Keystone, S.D.; June 7, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since I had enjoyed a motel the previous night, I decided to rough it again with some car camping. I pulled over into a rest area just east of Gillette, Wyo. Unfortunately, the truck traffic here was extremely noisy. Sleep was hard to come by.<br />
<br />
To start Day 6 I turned south at Gillette and headed down to Wright, Wyo., then made a left at Wright to head east into the coal fields. While rail traffic was busy, it wasn't as busy as a couple of years ago but certainly busier than my last visit to the basin (in 1994!). The first mine encountered heading east from Wright is Black Thunder West along the mainline. A Union Pacific train was coming out of Black Thunder's main mine, while a set of distributed power units (DPUs) pushed a train out on the mainline past Black Thunder West's massive silo.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-bb5CN6X/0/X2/2016-07-08-0022-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-bb5CN6X/0/X2/2016-07-08-0022-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Reno Junction, Wright, Wyo.; July 8, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Powder River Basin was busy enough to require four tracks to handle all the train traffic. That's probably not the case now, but it's still pretty busy. Two southbound trains, one from UP and one from BNSF Railway, raced each other south north of the town of Bill. In the background is a rail defect detector car also waiting to go south.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-t8x3TjF/0/X2/2016-07-08-0110-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-t8x3TjF/0/X2/2016-07-08-0110-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway and Union Pacific; Bill, Wyo.; July 8, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Near the Antelope Mine at Converse Junction, two more coal trains -- one from each railroad -- were heading south as well. As I said, it's still pretty busy here.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-fZ7Q6KP/0/X2/2016-07-08-0136-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-fZ7Q6KP/0/X2/2016-07-08-0136-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway and Union Pacific; Converse Junction, Bill, Wyo.; July 8, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Night was approaching, and it was time to figure out where to sleep. Like the previous night, there were no obvious night photo opportunities, and I was tired since I didn't sleep well the previous night. What I really wanted was a nice sunset silhouette -- it seems everybody that goes to the Basin comes home with one. Alas, my attempts at a silhouette were not terribly spectacular. No motels were within an easy drive (up in Gillette, or the railroad hotel down in Bill), so it was car camping again. Some people like to camp near the tracks; I wanted sleep. So I headed back into Wright to the visitors' center, which had ample dark parking -- and wifi! It was a better night's sleep.<br />
<br />
For Day 7, I <i>finally</i> broke out my drone, SkyRail1 (I name things...). The previous days I was either too busy to fly (it does take some set-up time, so if you're in a run-and-gun chase it slows you down too much) or I really wanted to concentrate on the scene with my real camera (it's hard to shoot with both simultaneously). But there were plenty of trains in the Powder River Basin, so the drone would give me some different angles. I broke it out, started to fly it -- and immediately discovered I couldn't see what I was doing with my phone (which you use to get a drone's-eye view for composition) in the bright western sun. I did manage to kind of guess when to shoot for one shot where the drone allowed me to get some mining operations in the background. Alas, this would be my only attempt at flying for the rest of the trip (I have subsequently ordered a sun shield for the phone).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-S9knT6j/2/X2/2016-07-09-0006-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-S9knT6j/2/X2/2016-07-09-0006-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Wright, Wyo.; July 9, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most of the day was spent getting similar shots to what I had gotten the previous day. But as it got late in the day, there was one shot I wanted that I hadn't gotten yet -- a train coming through S-curves with the Coal Creek Mine in the background. I was determined to get this shot, so I pulled Sparky off the road, broke out my sports chair, lit up a cigar, and decided to wait it out. While I didn't get a train heading south, Union Pacific bailed me out with a northbound train with a DPU pushing on the rear.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-bLmDh4k/1/X2/2016-07-09-0092-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-bLmDh4k/1/X2/2016-07-09-0092-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Gillette, Wyo.; July 9, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Driving back south, I encountered a BNSF northbound. Since the sun wouldn't be good for the standard "comin' at ya" shot, I went for a broadside near the Black Thunder mines.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-6pp6cVQ/0/X2/2016-07-09-0120-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-6pp6cVQ/0/X2/2016-07-09-0120-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Wright, Wyo.; July 9, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, I wound up back at Black Thunder West where I found a train loading at the immense silo as a southbound train went by on the mainline.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-WfDzsvw/1/X2/2016-07-09-0125-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-WfDzsvw/1/X2/2016-07-09-0125-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Reno Junction, Wright, Wyo.; July 9, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally it was time to leave the Powder River Basin and head for my next destination. I was still a bit miffed that I didn't get my silhouette shot. The setting sun was looking good, but I hadn't found the right location... As I drove south towards Douglas, Wyo., though, I saw it -- the perfect place for a silhouette shot. All I needed was a train... I continued south, keeping a watch as the tracks and the road separated. After a couple of miles I saw something moving -- a northbound train? I wheeled Sparky around and raced back to the spot I spotted. Unfortunately the train had a much shorter way to go than I did, so the front of the train beat me to the spot. I had to settle for the DPU pushing on the back. But I got my shot! I was heading for Sherman Hill for the next day, and found a Super 8 motel in the great railroad town of Cheyenne, Wyo.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-HQrVkbs/0/X2/2016-07-09-0139-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-HQrVkbs/0/X2/2016-07-09-0139-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Douglas, Wyo.; July 9, 2016</td></tr>
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Day 8 found me packing up Sparky as Union Pacific trains headed to and from Sherman Hill, just to the west. But first I decided to head east to the other hill in the area, Archer Hill. Alas, the best shot here is a short walk-in from the road, but the area is all posted as private property. This wasn't going to work, so I headed west, back into Cheyenne. After a quick stop at Union Pacific's steam shop (sorry, no photos, as the crew was way too busy getting 4-8-4 No. 844 ready) I went further west to Sherman Hill.<br />
<br />
I wanted a shot at the summit of Sherman Hill at the ghost town site of Sherman. Google Maps and my GPS gave conflicting information as to the location of Sherman, but finally I just followed my nose to the tracks and was soon shooting trains passing a sign marking the highest point on the transcontinental railroad.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-L5B4PSD/1/X2/2016-07-10-0006-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-L5B4PSD/1/X2/2016-07-10-0006-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Sherman, Wyo.; July 10, 2016</td></tr>
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I also wanted to shoot trains at Dale Junction on Sherman Hill, which features some unusual rock formations. Alas, all of Dale Junction is now on private property and (despite asking nicely) I was denied permission to access the junction. I had to settle for a somewhat distant shot that really doesn't do the rock formations justice. The same ranch also controls the area around Hermosa Tunnel, making that also off-limits.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-jMnWtDh/0/X2/2016-07-10-0032-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-jMnWtDh/0/X2/2016-07-10-0032-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Dale Junction, Wyo.; July 10, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally, I wound up at Tie Siding east of Laramie, which is at a public grade crossing. The shot here isn't bad in either direction, and among the trains I got was an eastbound (once again a reminder -- not every train I shot on the trip is presented here; this is only the highlights).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-dGjXg6v/0/X2/2016-07-10-0042-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-dGjXg6v/0/X2/2016-07-10-0042-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Tie Siding, Wyo.; July 10, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-rKrFxwh/0/X2/2016-07-10-0059-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-rKrFxwh/0/X2/2016-07-10-0059-X2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deseret Power; Dinousaur, Colo.; July 11, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />
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<br />
My next destination was pretty much in the middle of nowhere -- somewhere near Dinosaur, Colo. Leaving Sherman Hill, I headed down some remote highways to Dinosaur, where I found the tracks of the Deseret Western. Reportedly there would be a train on the line sometime after 6:30 a.m. With no motels nearby and a very early wake-up call, it would be another car camping night. I found the tracks of the Deseret Western around midnight and did some shots of the star-studded western sky at a grade crossing. I then found a flat spot to park and set my alarm for 6:15. I was now 3,993 miles into the trip. We'll pick it up here next week.Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-45703996889685451122016-09-19T14:18:00.002-04:002016-09-19T14:22:19.432-04:00A Day On the New York Cross Harbor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/New-York-Cross-Harbor/i-bX2kmMs/4/X2/NYCH%20Greenville%20float-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/New-York-Cross-Harbor/i-bX2kmMs/4/X2/NYCH%20Greenville%20float-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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<i>Note: We'll get back to the big <a href="http://blog.railroadphotographer.com/2016/09/the-great-western-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">Western Trip</a> in the next post later this week. In the meantime, we're going to set the clock back to July 2000.</i><br />
<br />
Much of New York City is located on islands, and back when the city was largely industrial the only way to get railroad service to many places was by barge, usually from New Jersey across New York Harbor. Times have changed, and much of the industrial base has vanished. There are still some industries in Brooklyn, however, that still rely on rail service. And those industries continue to get their railcars by way of the lone remaining carfloat operation from New Jersey, the New York Cross Harbor Railroad. In July 2000 I spent a day on the NYCH, accompanied by noted railroad photographer Joe Greenstein (who, sadly, has passed away since).<br />
<br />
The morning started in Brooklyn at the NYCH float bridge. On this day there were no outbound cars heading for New Jersey, so we were greeted by an empty carfloat barge.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bS39p8P/0/X2/i-bS39p8P-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bS39p8P/0/X2/i-bS39p8P-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Soon the tug <i>Huntington</i> was tied to the barge. It was time to untie from the dock and set sail across New York Harbor.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-S5sgXCG/0/X2/i-S5sgXCG-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-S5sgXCG/0/X2/i-S5sgXCG-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Captain Mike expertly guided the <i>Huntington</i> and its barge out of the dock and into open water. Moran's tug <i>Diana L. Moran</i> is sitting nearby. While the <i>Huntington</i> could be steered using joystick controllers, Captain Mike preferred the old-fashioned use of the wheel to guide the boat.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/New-York-Cross-Harbor/i-87CcBtJ/0/X2/NYCH%20Tug%20pilothouse-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Regional-and-Short-Line-Railro/New-York-Cross-Harbor/i-87CcBtJ/0/X2/NYCH%20Tug%20pilothouse-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-scM2qGf/0/X2/i-scM2qGf-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-scM2qGf/0/X2/i-scM2qGf-X2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N.Y. Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.</td></tr>
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Soon we were out on the harbor on a very pleasant day. It wasn't long before the float bridge on the opposite side of the harbor at Greenville, N.J., was in view and we steered towards it.<br />
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Our boat was built by Ira S. Bushy & Sons of Brooklyn in 1951 as the <i>Huntington</i> for Red Star Towing. By the time of this trip, it had been purchased by Kosnac Floating Derrick Corporation, retaining its name. Subsequent to this trip, it was sold and renamed <i>Nathan S.</i> It is said to be currently laid up in the Great Lakes. The <i>Diana L. Moran</i> (pictured above) was built in 1956 for Moran Towing Company and was scrapped 50 years later in 2006.<br />
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Approaching the Greenville float bridge, we get lined up for the middle berth. It looks like some tank cars and a boxcar are awaiting our arrival.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XM7mv6h/0/X2/i-XM7mv6h-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XM7mv6h/0/X2/i-XM7mv6h-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Once docked and tied down, cars are carefully placed on the carfloat. It is a delicate operation to keep the barge balanced as heavy railcars are shuffled onto three tracks.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Wgqn4Z7/0/X2/i-Wgqn4Z7-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Wgqn4Z7/0/X2/i-Wgqn4Z7-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Last car on is a boxcar from Kansas City Southern. A graffiti-splattered switcher from General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) has the honor of performing the switching for the railroad on the New Jersey side.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XB9mZN9/0/X2/i-XB9mZN9-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-XB9mZN9/0/X2/i-XB9mZN9-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Once everything is loaded, we pull out of the dock and spin around for the trip back to Brooklyn. Looking ahead through the July humidity we see the skyline of lower Manhattan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PndqcTh/1/X2/i-PndqcTh-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PndqcTh/1/X2/i-PndqcTh-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Looking back along the side of the Huntington we see the receding Greenville floatbridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ngf4mPd/0/X2/i-Ngf4mPd-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-Ngf4mPd/0/X2/i-Ngf4mPd-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Greenville, N.J.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Back on the Brooklyn side, a switcher from the American Locomotive Company (Alco) comes out to unload the barge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZjvGqd9/0/X2/i-ZjvGqd9-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZjvGqd9/0/X2/i-ZjvGqd9-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
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With our boxcar in tow, the Alco and its crew negotiate the busy streets of Brooklyn. The train does not have to dodge traffic, as it cannot move from its rails -- instead, traffic had to dodge the train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GqQLJST/0/X2/i-GqQLJST-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GqQLJST/0/X2/i-GqQLJST-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
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Finally we get to the customer. The locomotive runs around the boxcar and pushes it into the customer's siding. With this task complete, the work is done for the day and it is time to head back to the engine house, concluding a land-and-sea day on the New York Cross Harbor Railroad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-7PBPgzT/0/X2/i-7PBPgzT-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-7PBPgzT/0/X2/i-7PBPgzT-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York Cross Harbor; Brooklyn, N.Y.; July 2000</td></tr>
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<br />Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-51970022897875446792016-09-14T22:58:00.000-04:002016-09-14T22:58:23.315-04:00The Great Western Trip -- Part One<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-VqFPR94/0/XL/2016-07-06-0003-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-VqFPR94/0/XL/2016-07-06-0003-XL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Lusk, Wyo.; July 6, 2016</td></tr>
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It started out as a simple trip from New Jersey to Denver to attend the 2016 Convention of the National Railway Historical Society. But then a friend showed me some photos of the Rail Runner commuter trains in Albuquerque, N.M., and I had to add a week to venture south. Then I saw shots from a shortline railroad in South Dakota and had to add another week to venture north. Okay, so it grew into a three-week trip with two big loops out of Denver. Then I priced a rental car for those three weeks -- $1300 for a basic small car and I needed an SUV for some of the places I wanted to see. Suddenly it became more economical to use my own car and drive the entire way. Add two more days out and two more days back, and the trip had swelled to 24 days and maybe 8,000 miles. But it would be a dandy of a trip...<br />
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On July 3 I pointed Sparky (that's my 2004 Ford Explorer) west from New Jersey. My first stop wouldn't be until Kansas City and I wanted to spend as much time as possible there the following day. So I drove and drove. When I topped 800 miles I thought it would be cool to top 1,000 miles of driving in one day. So I pushed onward until the odometer had clicked off 1,006 miles and I finally pulled over into a truck stop somewhere west of St. Louis for a few hours of shuteye. Along the way I had hit parts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, before sleeping in Missouri.<br />
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The next morning I finished off the drive to Kansas City and hit one of my favorite photography locations in town, the West Bottoms. Here the railroads mingle with old brick buildings, forming one of the best urban backdrops to be found anywhere in the U.S. I did get a few trains here before moving on, including a BNSF coal train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-vtzdHF8/1/X2/2016-07-04-0021-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-vtzdHF8/1/X2/2016-07-04-0021-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; West Bottoms, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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From here I headed over to 27th Street in Kansas City. Trains heading east pass an old abandoned brewery as they leave Kansas (somewhere just beyond the brewery).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-45WwkT9/1/X2/2016-07-04-0071-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-45WwkT9/1/X2/2016-07-04-0071-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; 27th Street, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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The real attraction at 27th Street, however, is looking the other direction -- the triple crossing at Santa Fe Junction. BNSF goes overhead on the highest bridge, with Union Pacific on the middle level. BNSF and Amtrak use the tracks at ground level. While it's not unusual to get two (and sometimes three) trains in one shot, this was a holiday (July 4) and while I eventually got trains on all three levels, it was only one at a time.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-PkNsNLN/1/X2/2016-07-04-0083-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-PkNsNLN/1/X2/2016-07-04-0083-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Santa Fe Junction, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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One reason I had picked Kansas City as my first stop was the presence of the new streetcar system in town. I eventually left the freight railroads and hit the city streets, getting a modern streetcar passing an old hotel not far from Union Station.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-L7WMxjd/0/X2/2016-07-04-0091-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-L7WMxjd/0/X2/2016-07-04-0091-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kansas City Streetcar; 20th & Main, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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From here I headed down to the streetcar's southern terminus at Union Station. An overhead walkway provides a nice vantage point to see the streetcars coming south down Main Street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-3FTqP35/0/X2/2016-07-04-0100-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-3FTqP35/0/X2/2016-07-04-0100-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kansas City Streetcar; Main Street, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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At Union Station the end of the line is served by a single track. Streetcars departing north have to leave the single track and pass completely across Main Street to get to the northbound track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-s44rCt9/0/X2/2016-07-04-0105-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Commuter-and-Transit-Railroads/KC-Streetcar/i-s44rCt9/0/X2/2016-07-04-0105-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kansas City Streetcar; Union Station, Kansas City, Mo.; July 4, 2016</td></tr>
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Once done with streetcars it was time to push further west. My plan was to do some night photography every night if the situation was right. I headed west, clipping parts of Kansas and Iowa before entering Nebraska. The Union Pacific mainline across the state is very busy, so I knew if I set up somewhere along it I would eventually get a train. The grain silos in Gibbon looked like they would make a good backdrop, so I paused there a bit past midnight. Not unexpectedly, I got a couple of trains in fairly short order before getting back onto the interstate, finally pausing for the night at a rest area somewhere east of North Platte.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-qPPjTrG/0/X2/2016-07-04-0142-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-qPPjTrG/0/X2/2016-07-04-0142-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Gibbon, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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My next destination was coal country, specifically the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, so it was no surprise that coal trains started to dominate the rail traffic I was seeing. On Day 3 I followed UP's line through Nebraska, getting a westbound coal train at Lisco, Neb.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-x6PWxjg/0/X2/2016-07-05-0008-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-x6PWxjg/0/X2/2016-07-05-0008-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Lisco, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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At Bridgeport, Neb., I found a UP train coming from the Powder River Basin loaded with coal. I also noticed that a tooth I broke two weeks earlier was starting to hurt. A lot. This wasn't going to be good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-26h6C7j/0/X2/2016-07-05-0015-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-26h6C7j/0/X2/2016-07-05-0015-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Bridgeport, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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I wanted to enter the Powder River Basin by following BNSF Railway's line over Crawford Hill in northwestern Nebraska, so I swung north off the UP and picked up BNSF's line through Alliance. Among the trains I saw on BNSF was a loaded coal train coming through Hemingford.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-mDSDWwv/1/X2/2016-07-05-0048-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-mDSDWwv/1/X2/2016-07-05-0048-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Hemingford, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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My research on Crawford Hill showed the area around the most scenic part of the railroad was on private property owned by the Ponderosa Ranch. It also showed the Ranch sold day passes to photographers to access the area. Upon arrival at Crawford, however, I found no signs pointing to the ranch, other than a sign to the "Ponderosa Land Management Area." It seems the ranch had shut down and/or been sold. A check of the ranch's website yielded a phone number, but when I called the person on the other end (who had apparently been asleep) had no idea what I was talking about. It looked like I would be limited to the very west end of Crawford Hill. It wasn't as spectacular as I had hoped, but was still scenic nonetheless. A very nice shot could be had from the overhead bridge near downtown Crawford.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-5jmbZZb/1/X2/2016-07-05-0085-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-5jmbZZb/1/X2/2016-07-05-0085-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Crawford, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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The curves at the very west end of Crawford Hill were accessible before entering the former Ponderosa property, and a brief storm in the late afternoon provided some dramatic dark skies just before sunset. An eastbound train headed up the hill as the storm cleared.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-jrbXrXs/1/X2/2016-07-05-0112-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-jrbXrXs/1/X2/2016-07-05-0112-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Crawford Hill, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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A downhill train with a distributed power unit (DPU) on the rear pushing made for a nice sunset shot. Meanwhile, my tooth was <i>really</i> beginning to hurt and I started calling dentist offices to see if I could get an appointment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-dkrmHXz/2/X2/2016-07-05-0129-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/BNSF-Railway/i-dkrmHXz/2/X2/2016-07-05-0129-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Crawford Hill, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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The nearest dentist office with an opening for the next day was in Wheatland, Wyo., some 120 miles away. Not good. I made the appointment and stuck around the lower curves of Crawford Hill for a 13-minute exposure of a train going away around the curve.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-2LT8jxN/1/X2/2016-07-05-0145-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-2LT8jxN/1/X2/2016-07-05-0145-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BNSF Railway; Crawford Hill, Neb.; July 5, 2016</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, over on Union Pacific's ex-Chicago & North Western line into the Powder River Basin, there is an old water tank in the town of Lusk, Wyo. I was hoping to get a motel on this night, but my tooth hurt so much I figured I wouldn't get any sleep no matter what, so there was no point in wasting money on a motel. I headed to Lusk (which put me 40 miles closer to the dentist) and spent the night taking photos under the stars. Lights on the horizon would make taking photos with stars difficult (the lights would be too bright for the 40-second exposure I needed), so I used a train to screen the lights. At some point midnight came and went. Also at some point, the right side of my face swelled up. Good thing I made that dentist appointment...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-X2LJWC8/1/X2/2016-07-05-0157-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Stations-and-Scenes/Scenes-1/i-X2LJWC8/1/X2/2016-07-05-0157-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Lusk, Wyo.; July 6, 2016</td></tr>
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After getting shots with stars, I broke out my strobes and did some synchronized flash work, including the DPUs of a coal train heading towards the Basin.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-TqSB3JN/0/X2/2016-07-05-0159-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-TqSB3JN/0/X2/2016-07-05-0159-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Lusk, Wyo.; July 6, 2016</td></tr>
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After a fitful night of sleep, Day 4 started with sunrise at the water tank (photo at the top of this entry). From there, it was off to the dentist at Wheatland (now a mere 80 miles away). The dentist looked me over, prescribed some antibiotics (and a pain killer/sleeping aid to get me through the nights), and sent me on my way. I headed back to Lusk and went almost back to the Wyoming/Nebraska line to get a westbound train at Van Tassel, Wyo. I should note that not every train I saw is posted here -- these are just the highlights.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-b8r8M8Z/0/X2/2016-07-06-0022-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-b8r8M8Z/0/X2/2016-07-06-0022-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Van Tassel, Wyo.; July 6, 2016</td></tr>
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Finally, as the afternoon sun got lower, I headed back to Lusk for a daytime shot of a train passing the restored water tank.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-mMWhbkw/0/X2/2016-07-06-0031-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Class-One-Railroads/Union-Pacific/i-mMWhbkw/0/X2/2016-07-06-0031-X2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Pacific; Lusk, Wyo.; July 6, 2016</td></tr>
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From here it was on to the Powder River Basin, but not before a slight detour. As evening approached I headed into the Black Hills of South Dakota. My face was de-swelling thanks to the antibiotics, and I passed through Deadwood, S.D., before finally popping my pain pills and crashing on a real bed (for the first time this trip) at a motel in Sturgis, S.D., some 2,849 miles after leaving home. We'll pick up the trip here in about a week...Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11061654.post-83953409892635463172015-12-15T16:38:00.000-05:002015-12-15T16:38:47.205-05:00Three States, Three Steam Locomotives<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Strasburg-Rail-Road/i-7NgVP7j/0/X2/2015-12-04-0025-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Strasburg-Rail-Road/i-7NgVP7j/0/X2/2015-12-04-0025-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strasburg Rail Road; Paradise, Pa.; December 4, 2015</td></tr>
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Tourist railroads all across the U.S. and Canada are benefitting from the commercialization of Christmas (okay, let's not open all the negatives of that can of worms and focus on the positive) and that means Santa Claus trains or something similar are a huge part of a railroad's bottom line. And for the railroads that rely on steam, that means steam operations at night. And for the railroad photographer, that opens up a lot of photo possibilites (see, I told you we'd get to the positive).<br />
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I had the chance to photograph three steam operations in three adjacent states -- all on one weekend. The Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania operates one "The Night Before Christmas" train each Friday evening in December. The Wilmington & Western in Delaware doesn't run night steam powered trains, but its locomotive is necessary to keep the steam-heated coaches on the daytime trains warm, and that means the locomotive is fired up over the weekend. And the Black River & Western runs several "The North Pole Express" trains each Saturday and Sunday in December, including one departure each day after dark. Let the photography begin!<br />
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The Strasburg Rail Road only operates one train a night on one day a week, so that meant I needed to make more than one trip to Lancaster County. On Friday, December 4, I photographed the train (<b>above</b>) as it passed through Cherry Hill (the sign on the station says "Population 17 More or Less;" the onboard narration explains that it's more when the train gets there and less when the train leaves, although the popularity of the corn maze Cherry Crest Farm keeps the population pretty high in the fall). This was actually my second choice of where to shoot that night, as I had wanted to do the shelter at the railroad's picnic area at Groff's Grove; alas, winter track work had the area around Groff's all torn up.<br />
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The next weekend I had a three-railroad strategy all in place. Friday found me back at the Strasburg for the prime shot on the railroad -- the bridge over Pumpkinville Turnpike (actually a dirt farm lane) near Paradise. I checked in with the landowner during the day and got permission to be on his property, and began my set-up at about 6:30. Like the previous week, the power was Strasburg's ex-Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 pulling a monster 11-car train. The engine runs tender-first on the outbound trip, giving me a chance to test my flashes and set-up. On the return to Strasburg, No. 475 put on quite a show climbing the grade out of Paradise. As it crossed the bridge I fired the shot and had the first steam locomotive of the week in the bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Strasburg-Rail-Road/i-QTFqtBk/0/X2/2015-12-11-0034-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Strasburg-Rail-Road/i-QTFqtBk/0/X2/2015-12-11-0034-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strasburg Rail Road; Paradise, Pa.; December 11, 2015</td></tr>
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Wilmington & Western's ex-Mississippi Central 4-4-0 No. 98 was next on the list, scheduled for Saturday night. The locomotive has a mechanical issue that keeps it from moving under its own power, but the railroad needs the steam it produces to charge the steam lines in the coaches for its daytime runs. With No. 98 needed to provide steam on Saturday and Sunday, it would be hot overnight on Saturday, so the railroad scheduled a night photography event. Volunteer Tommy Gears rounded up antique trucks and actors and it created quite the scene. The shoot took place at the W&W's shop in Marshallton.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/photos/i-V5RckGJ/0/X2/i-V5RckGJ-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/photos/i-V5RckGJ/0/X2/i-V5RckGJ-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilmington & Western; Marshalltown, Del.; December 12, 2015</td></tr>
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A second view shows the combine loading, a passenger boarding, and the railroad crew chatting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/photos/i-8DZv7kp/0/X2/i-8DZv7kp-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/photos/i-8DZv7kp/0/X2/i-8DZv7kp-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilmington & Western; Marshallton, Del.; December 12, 2015</td></tr>
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With the wide shots out of the way, we moved in closer for some detailed shots. The locomotive crew looks on as some female workers tend to the 4-4-0. During World War II it was not uncommon to find women working in rail yards while many men were away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Wilmington-Western/i-Tw366Sc/0/X2/2015-12-12-0082-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Wilmington-Western/i-Tw366Sc/0/X2/2015-12-12-0082-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilmington & Western; Marshallton, Del.; December 12, 2015</td></tr>
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With the women decked out in their railroad worker attire, we retreated into the railroad's shop for some more "Rosie the Riveter" scenes using an under-restoration 0-6-0 as a backdrop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Wilmington-Western/i-scW6jkP/0/X2/2015-12-12-0108-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Wilmington-Western/i-scW6jkP/0/X2/2015-12-12-0108-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilmington & Western; Marshalltown, Del.; December 12, 2015</td></tr>
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That brings us to Sunday night. Black River & Western has "The North Pole Express" running throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, but three moves are done after dark. The 5:00 train leaves Flemington for the North Pole (actually, Ringoes where the railroad's shop is located). It then departs the North Pole at 7:00 to head back to Flemington, although the locomotive runs tender-first, making the shot less than desirable. Finally, the empty train deadheads from Flemington back to Ringoes sometime after 7:30. I had done some static night photography with a diesel at the abandoned Hunterdon Concrete plant just outside Ringoes, and set up there for a non-static steam shot on December 13. Black River & Western uses an ex-Great Western 2-8-0 that used to haul sugar beets in Colorado.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-River-Western/i-3mNBhsm/0/X2/2015-12-13-0007-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-River-Western/i-3mNBhsm/0/X2/2015-12-13-0007-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black River & Western; Ringoes, N.J.; December 13, 2015</td></tr>
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When doing night photography, you really need a "prop" of some sort so you don't have just the train peeking out of the darkness. The Black River & Western is not loaded with props -- a couple of nice bridges are either hard to access or blocked by trees -- so you have to improvise. For the 7:30 deadhead move I wound up at Toad Lane, once again just outside Ringoes, where a convenient grassy knoll gave me some elevation for a shot coming across the grade crossing.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-River-Western/i-VBcWFWj/0/X2/2015-12-13-0019-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-River-Western/i-VBcWFWj/0/X2/2015-12-13-0019-X2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black River & Western; Ringoes, N.J.; December 13, 2015</td></tr>
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With only one weekend left before Christmas, I may not get many more opportunities to shoot steam at night this year. But I have enjoyed getting some fun images this year!</div>
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<a href="http://www.railroadphotographer.com/Trackside-Travels-Photos/Three-States-Three-Steam-Locom/" target="_blank">Photos from this post can be purchased here.</a><br /><br /></div>
Steve Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05661294446139637687noreply@blogger.com0