Although Norfolk Southern's most active traffic artery in the Northeast is the former Pennsy mainline, it continues to operate portions of the former EL and LV. The subject of this thread will be my chases of NS on those lines. I will also incorporate interchanges with local shortlines and activity on the old NKP mainline if the opportunity arises.
Speaking of shortlines, I will begin with the Bath & Hammondsport RR. Here we see the the B&H local WACH-78 coming off the NS wye at Painted Post, NY:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/059_59.jpg)
Picture taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
The car sitting on the tracks was nuisance! It took several blasts from the horn of B&H #423 (an ex-EL C424m) and some prodding from the employees at the Dresser Rand plant to get the car's owner to move it.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/061_61.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Painted Post, NY.
Here we see the westbound Bath & Hammondsport local clearing the gates at the Dresser Rand plant, which is the point where the B&H takes ownership of the line:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/062_62.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Painted Post, NY. The owner of the car seen in the previous 2 pictures cleared out in a huff. Apparently he didn't realize who really had the right-of-way!
Here is one final shot of the B&H passing a cherry picker that hoistd a worker servicing the windows at the Dresser Rand plant. The tail end of the 9 car consist (2 covered hoppers and 7 tankers) is still on NS turf, though we can't quite see it.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/063_63.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Painted Post, NY.
The rest of the B&H chase reallydidn't involve NS, so it won't be included in this thread. After I broke off the chase of the B&H about 25 minutes later, I headed east to Sayre... the home of a yard beloved by Lehigh Valley fans.
The Lehigh Railway is supposed to be taking over operations on the former LV between Sayre and Mehoopany, there was no sign of that shortline while I was in Sayre. Nor did the local residents know anything about it- not even a woman whose had an uncle (supposedly) working for NS.
No worries, though! I spied a former CR SD40-2 idling in the yard near the old LV station:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/077_77.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Although the sun was almost behind me in the previous shot, there were alot of obstructions on the west side of the ex-LV yard. It was hard to get a good shot of the old EMD without trespassing on NS property (which I don't recommend) so I drov over to the east side of the yard. Thankfully, clouds kept the sun from ruining pictures like this one:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/079_79.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
The old LehighValley RR station is a local landmark and a great subject to photograph:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/080_80.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
After a while, a crew entered the SD40-2 and backed her up a short distance.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/083_83.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA. Notice the LV caboose in the background.
Some of the empty space here belies the fact this was once a much bigger and busier yard:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/085_85.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
The old LV station is a local museum, but it was closed that day. The number onthe station indicates the year it was built.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/089_89.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
Looking south at the LV mainline, which is much quieter than it was during the days of my youth... back in the 1970s!
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/090_90.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
Looking down at the old the LV mainline from a bridge near the station:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/094_94.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/095_95.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/096_96.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/097_97.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/098_98.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/100_100.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/101_101.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/102_102.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/103_103.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009. I will hopefully resume this tour over the weekend. Enjoy!!!
Thanks for sharing those. I love the old station.
The guy who parked that car there must've thought those tracks were never used. I drive across tracks all the time. But I sure don't park on them. Sheesh.
Steve
Quote from: ssmith1627 on February 06, 2009, 01:18:34 PM
Thanks for sharing those. I love the old station.
It's one of my favorite stations. The Lehigh Valley was a class act from start to finish.
Quote from: ssmith1627 on February 06, 2009, 01:18:34 PM
The guy who parked that car there must've thought those tracks were never used. I drive across tracks all the time. But I sure don't park on them. Sheesh.
Funny thing is... the inbound B&H run arrived about half an hour (at most) before the driver parked his car on the tracks. The B&H engines ran light to retrieve 9 cars from NS:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/057_57.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009. Not sure why he did it but I agree it's something that should NEVER happen.
Getting back on track (tee hee), we will continue with switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/104_104.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009. What a cold day to be a crewman riding a tank car!
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/107_107.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/109_109.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/110_110.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/111_111.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/112_112.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Switching at Sayre, PA:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/115_115.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
As I saw the old CR SD40-2 heading down the track towards the small cut of cars on the other side of the station, I realized the crew was about to take the train out of the yard. But where would it go? We will see when I resume this series again.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/117_117.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Sayre, PA.
Picking up where I last left off, I figured the SD40-2 was running around the consist at the south end of the former LehighValley yard to take it somewhere. Gang Mills seemed a logical choice, based on the tank cars to be moved. The yard in Elmira was another possibility. Either way, it was time to head west. I drove to Wellsburg, NY. I barely even had time to set up when my hunch was rewarded:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/118_118.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009.
Sure enough, it the same SD40-2 headed west, running long hood forward.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/123_123.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
This crossing in Wellsburg has been a favorite location to see trains since my youth. It was the bustling Erie Lackawanna mainline back then. I am glad to see NS has been rehabilitating the ROW.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/125_125.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY. For those who don't know, the NS local used an old connecting track to run from the LV yard in Sayre to the EL main in Waverly, NY.
One final shot of the same local from Sayre, taken from crossing at State Route 427:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/127_127.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
About 30 minutes after the local passed, this symbol freight roared through the Route 427 crossing:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/128_128.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
This train was monstrous- I figure it was about 150 cars long. Thus three widecabs were the head end power:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/129_129.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
At least half of this train consisted of auto racks:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/130_130.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
There was also some general (mixed) freight tacked on the rear of the train:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/131_131.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
The tail end of the symbol freight heading east, rapidly moving away from the Route 427 crossing:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/134_134.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 1/30/2009 in Wellsburg, NY.
I saw no fruther trains on the 30th. The following day I headed to CP Cass in Hornell. An important junction back in the Erie/EL eras, this is where the Buffalo Extension split from the mainline. With the Western New York & Pennsylvania RR (a shortline affiliated with the Bath & Hammondsport) rehabilitating the former Erie/EL mainline west of Hornell a few years back, CP Cass is a true junction again. Here is an eastbound symbol freight coming off the Buffalo Extension:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/157_157.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
The symbol freight running next to Buffalo Street as it approaches CP Cass:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/158_158.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Love the shot of the ex-CR loco running LHF. That is awesome. I didn't realize they could even do that. Shows how little I know about the cab of a locomotive. But I thought they had to be set up to run one way or the other.
Great catch !
Steve
Quote from: ssmith1627 on February 08, 2009, 10:06:17 PM
Love the shot of the ex-CR loco running LHF. That is awesome. I didn't realize they could even do that. Shows how little I know about the cab of a locomotive. But I thought they had to be set up to run one way or the other.
In most cases, the control stand (throttle, gauges, etc.) is set up because one direction will be preferred. In the case of this SD40-2, it is short hoot forward. However, that doesn't mean an loco can't run backward. I have been in the cab of an SW9 and a GP38-2 when they have been run backwards. The engineer merely swivels his/her seat and looks in the other direction It is something of a pain as the engineer must hold the throttle at an awkward angle and occasionally glance backward at the gauges.
In rare cases, locomotives have been built with dual control stands for ease of bi-directional running. This included some u33Cs that N&W financed for the Erie Lackawanna during the Dereco years.
Getting back to the SD40-2, I found it odd that it had no ditch lights at the end of the long hood. I'm guessing it had only recently been transferred to local service, as "rear" ditch lights would not be necessary when the EMD was part of an MU lash-up.
Let's continue my recent trip to CP Cass. I could hear the brakes squealing even as that train passed by:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/159_159.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
The locomotives came to rest right before the Cass Street crossing which gives the junction its name:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/160_160.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Notice the snow caked up on the third locomotive- clearly a byproduct of those lake effect snows which so frequently hit Bison Yard in the winter months.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/161_161.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
I was able to run ahead while the train was stopped (briefly). Thus I was able to catch it crossing Cass Street:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/162_162.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Heading toward Taylor Street crossing:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/164_164.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Crossing Taylor Street:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/165_165.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
As the train headed off towards points east, I took one final look back at it as I retreated to the warmth of my car:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/167_167.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
About 45 minutes later, I saw something I've never photographed at CP Cass until now... a westbound freight train:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/168_168.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
A former Conrail widecab was in the mix, too.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/169_169.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Soon the end of the train passed by this crossing, which is West Street.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/171_171.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY. I was standing with the ex-EL mainline (now WNYP) to my back and the Buffalo Extension in front of me. CP Cass was to my right.
That was my last train for the weekend, but I got one more treat. Shortly after 2 PM, this hi-rail truck came down the WNYP. After they stopped to ask me if I was OK (they thought I was stuck in the snow), they drove away on West Street.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/173_173.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Without intending to do so, I captured the WNYP hi-rail truck as I photgraphed the crossing signal for the Buffalo Extension at West Street.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/174_174.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY. The Buffalo Extension was a 2 track line until Conrail intalled CTC in the early '90s. Thetruck is turnong from West Street onto Buffalo Street.
Looking up the Buffalo Extension one more time, it is easy to see this was a 2 track ROW once upon a time:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/175_175.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY.
This is the final look at CP Cass... for now. The signals look like they are lit, but they are not. We are looking east from West Street:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jan09/176_176.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 1/31/2009 in Hornell, NY. I hope everyone has enjoyed this tour of NS. The former EL and LV certainly have their charms. I will add more pictures from my neck of the woods to this thread as future trips permit.
Well, it's been a while since I've had a chance to visit here. It's been a busy spring and (what passes for) summer, which included a number of train chases.
Let's resume with a return to Hornell on Easter weekend. Here is a westbound freight passing through the junction at CP Cass:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/006_6.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
The same train heading up the ex-Erie/EL Buffalo Extension:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/007_7.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
Tail end of the same train crossing West Street:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/009_9.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
About an hour later, an eastbound manifest freight entered Hornell on the Buffalo Extension:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/011_11.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
The same train entering the former Erie/EL mainline:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/012_12.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
Running next to Buffalo Street in Hornell:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/013_13.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
That train had an usual treat tacked onto its tail, a caboose!
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/017_17.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
This caboose is property of GVT, which owns a collection of shortlines. The hack was in transit from the Falls Road (FRRR) near Niagara Falls to the Delaware-Lackawanna RR in Scranton, PA.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/018_18.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
As the afternoon deepened, a westbound CP/NS transfer freight approached CP Cass:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/023_23.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
With the recent closure of SK yard in Buffalo, the CP/NS transfer freight would terminate at Bison Yard that evening. Seen at Hornell, NY:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/024_24.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009
heading west on the Buffalo Extension:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/026_26.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
With the sun about to set, the CP/NS transfer was the last train I saw that day:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/027_27.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
The following day, I was visting family in Corning... which was a convneinet opportunity to photograph in the Gang Mills area. Here is the well-known Gang Mills yard, as seen from across Route 15:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/039_39.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009.
A coal train was also idling on a siding west of the Gang Mills yard.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STierApr2009/045_45.jpg)
Photo taken by me Saturday 4/11/2009. It was Easter- so I saw nothing else that day.
Oh boy, I've been away for a while! I guess it will take a while to get caught up here... but I promise to make the wait worthwhile. Let's move forward to last summer. This was an eastbound coal train idling on the former EL at Binghamton, NY:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jul10112009/DSC01646.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 7/10/2009.
The NS line in Binghamton is notoriously difficult to photograph, as most of the ROW is is bordered by private property to the south. Thus I had to settle for shooting into the sun when this CP transfer freight arrived:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jul10112009/DSC01648.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 7/10/2009.
While the CP freight slowly crept westward, this westbound NS freight was waiting at the junction of the former Erie and DL&W mainlines:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jul10112009/DSC01650.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 7/10/2009 in Binghamton, NY
Later that same afternoon, this eastbound NS freight rumbled through Wellsburg, NY- a small town on the former Erie/EL mainline between Elmira and Binghamton.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jul10112009/DSC01656.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 7/10/2009.
The train at Wellsburg had alot of covered hoppers. NS handles both salt and grain traffic in upstate NY.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/Jul10112009/DSC01658.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 7/10/2009. It's getting to be time for the Super Bowl, so I will resume sharing my pictures another day... hopefully soon!
Let's move foward into August of last year. I spent a warm, humid day at CP Cass in Hornell. Much of the day was quiet, with this MOW sprayer being the only activity before 5 PM.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00054.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009.
As I found out later, NS was hard at work doing some maintenance ot the former Erie/EL Buffalo extension until late afternoon. When the MOW work ended for the day, the floodgates opened... and this eastbound freight was the first train to pass through CP Cass after my arrival.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00082.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2010 in Hornell, NY.
The same eastbound freight:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00084.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
A little over an hour later, this CP Transfer freight rumbled down from Buffalo:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00089.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
The CP freight came to a stop about a mile down the tracks:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00098.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thrusday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
With the eastbound CP freight stopped for a few minutes, I jumped in my car and drove a couple miles down the road. Thus I was able to intercept the PC frieght when it resumed its journey:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00105.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Notice the odd paint job on the trailing CP locomotive:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00108.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
Pac Man lives! I was quite happy to see the old CP covered hopper in consist:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00114.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY. When I resume this series, we'll take a look at a rare treat coming out of the setting sun.
As for the odd paint job... Can anyone say turbo fire?
Quote from: NSMoWandS on February 09, 2010, 09:42:47 PM
As for the odd paint job... Can anyone say turbo fire?
I'm figuring it was fire or minor collison damage to the body of the locomotive... but I have no conclusive evidence to prove either theory.
The sun was already getting low in the sky when that CP freight passed through Hornell. I had thinking about calling it a day... but I heard from a fellow railfan that the Western New York & Pennsylvania RR local was due to arrive shortly. I decided to stay and was rewarded by this handsome red C430 leading a train into town just before sunset.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00128.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009
The WNYP leases a portion of the old Erie/EL mainline west of Hornell from NS. They usually send three locals into Hornell per week. One such run occurs on Thursday nights, as we see here:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00129.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009. Yes, that's an old Erie station in the background.
I was getting a bit nervous about the weather, too. There had already been a couple of brief downpours during the day... and the growing clouds in the west were a sign of strong thunderstorms that would arrive after dark.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00155.jpg)
Photo taken by me 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
I didn't follow the WNYP local down to the yard in Hornell, as that area is difficult to photograph. I chose to wait up by CP Cass. About an hour after the WNYP local arrived, I was rewarded by two sets of headlights in the east. The first train to head west through CP cass was this NS mixed freight, which had interchanged with the WNYP during the journey to Buffalo.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00158.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009.
Train meets are not common on NS in upstate NY... but the WNYP local pulling up next to the NS mixed freight certainly qualifies as a meet for me!
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Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009.
After the NS train cleared the junction at CP Cass, the crew in the C430 turned on the ditch lights and the WNYP local began to head west again:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00175.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
WNYP #432 had been refurbished and road tested on the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville RR (an affiliated shortline) at the beginning of last year, so it was nice to see the big Alco handling a train on her own.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00178.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
The WNYP local paused a few hundred feet from the junction at CP Cass until NS gave clearance for the train to proceed through the interlocking.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00183.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thursday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY.
After a few minutes, the junction at CP Cass was aligned for the WNYP local to depart Hornell and #432 led her train west... bound for Olean, NY. Both darkness and storm clouds were growing, so I drove to the safety of Bath (NY) after the train left.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/STier082009/DSC00188.jpg)
Photo taken by me Thusday 8/20/2009 in Hornell, NY. Number 432 was not the only Alco I saw on NS rails last summer, as we will see when I resume this series.
Just 4 days after my trip to Hornell, I spent a day chasing the Bath & Hammondsport RR. Like the WNYP, the B&H is affiliated with the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville RR. In addition to the business relationship, all three shortlines favor Alcos, operate former EL routes and interchange (either directly or indirectly) with NS.
In the case of the the B&H, it runs on the former EL Wayland branch and interchanges with NS near Corning, NY. Here we see a pair of ex-EL C424ms running light into Painted Post. The local, dubbed WACH-77, will pick up freight cars from NS at the Gang Mills yard.
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Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009.
The B&H crew left their freight cars about two miles up the tracks (at the edge of Painted Post) so NS normally sends 1 or 2 engines to retrieve those freight cars. On this occasion, this venerable GP40-2 had that duty.
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Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009.
Number 3046 returning with the freight cars dropped by the B&H:
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Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009 in Painted Post, NY.
Belching smoke in classic Alco fashion, the B&H C424ms have returned from Gang Mills with a train to take west:
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Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009 in Painted Post, NY.
The B&H C424ms have been associated with the NS and N&W for over 40 years. Originally as C424s built for EL in 1963, they were active during the Dereco years. Conrail sold them to the D&H in 1980. After GE rebuilt the C424s at Hornell, the D&H used them in the Apollo/Mercury TOFC runs that interchanged with N&W/NS in Buffalo. The LA&L purchased the C424ms from Guilford in 1996. Two of them went to the B&H in 2001 and a third C424m arrived in Cohocton last year. They are used in the local run to Painted Post to interchange with NS. Here we see #423 coming off NS rails and onto B&H rails at the Hamilton Street crossing:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/BH08242009/DSC00574.jpg)
Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009 in Painted Post, NY.
The B&H services the Almstom facility in Kanona (NY), so it interchanges passenger cars with NS. On this trip, the B&H picked up 4 passenger cars from NS:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Amtrak_Matt/BH08242009/DSC00585.jpg)
Photo taken by me Monday 8/24/2009 in Campbell, NY. When I resume this series, we'll take a look at my final visit to NS for 2009.
My next trip to see NS in 2009 was in September. Although I did attempt a chase on December 26th, I saw no moving trains that day, so these photos from the greater Buffalo area represent my final NS chase for 2009.
After a quick check on a connecting shortline (the Buffalo Southern) which didn't operate day, I decided to check out Bison Yard. I definitely got a sense of deja vu when I was up on the Harlem Road bridge. The sky was cloudy and there was some brief rain... just like my previous visit to Bsion Yard in may.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02186.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2010 in Cheektowaga, NY.
This high nose GP38-2 was switching the yard and preparing a local for departure. Number 5113 is a long way from her original home on the Southern Railway!
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Cheektowaga, NY.
A bird's eye of #5113 as she led the local under the Harlem Road Bridge in Cheektowaga. To clear up some previous confusion about the location- Harlem Road sits right on the town line. Thus, shots on the east side of the bridge (like this one) are in Cheektowaga... and shots on the west side of the bridge (like the next one) are in Sloan.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02210.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Cheektowaga, NY.
Number 5113 leading a short local west of Harlem Road in Sloan, NY:
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
I never saw #5113 again on that trip to the Buffalo area. After a failed attempt to find that local, I gave up and settled dow near Buffalo Creek Junction in Blasdell. This was a major interchange point between the B&O (BR&P), Erie, NKP, NYC and Pennsy sixty years ago. CSX, the Buffalo Southern, the Buffalo & Pittsburgh and NS were using the junction last year. Here we see a low nose GP38-2, #5640, returning after dropping another local at the Ford plant in Hamburg... which is just a few miles away.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02233.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
Number 5640 is crossing Lake Avene in Blasdell, NY.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02235.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
Number 5640 rounds the bend, heading into Buffalo Creek Junction. The other track in the diamond is the Buffalo Southern's mainline, an ex-Erie/EL branchline spun off by Conrail in 1981.
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
The Norfolk Southern line in Blasdell is the ex-NKP mainline that runs from Buffalo to Chicago. It is connected via "Cadillac Curve" to Bison Yard and the Southern Tier Mainline, so the former NKP sees alot action in Blasdell. This mixed freight showed up about 20 minutes after I saw #5640.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02242.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
Note the ex-CR unit in dress blue with a patched nose.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02243.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Blasdell, NY.
The mixed freight had alot of covered hoppers. Some of them had GNWR markings, so I assumed they were headed for the Rochester & Southern interchange in Silver Springs, NY.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02245.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 at Lake Avenue in Blasdell, NY.
The train activity paused for a little while and I got a quick lunch. This westbound freight rounded the curve not long after I finished.
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
Crossing Lake Avenue in Blasdell, NY:
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009.
The final train of the day showed up just minutes before I planned to leave.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02274.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Blasdell, NY.
NS does run some intermodal traffic into the Buffalo area, owing to the facilities at Bison Yard as well as the new partnership with Pan Am Railway in New England.
(http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab139/Erielackawanna/BUF09182009/DSC02279.jpg)
Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Blasdell, NY.
The last car disappeared around the curve... ending both my chase for the day and successful NS chases for 2009.
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Photo taken by me Friday 9/18/2009 in Blasdell, NY. I hope everyone has enjoyed my NS pictures from 2009. I have already had a pair of chases in 2010 and I will share those in a new thread soon.