The decline in the coal market and NS's announcement that they will eventually close the Ashtabula coal dock rpompted me to make a trip out there a few days back. The results were worth the effort.
Before I went to the dock, I checked out some action inland. My frist sighting was NS 14M backing down the Youngstown line to get onto the Lake Erie District:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520%2520AMPM%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSC07924.jpg&hash=4c9a9770a261153d87e2126bdc008b0d752313f0) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20%20AMPM%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSC07924.jpg.html)
A local on the former NKP:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520%2520AMPM%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSC07926.jpg&hash=e7bf350868f4d5f9a7938470ae771cd80b4ba45d) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20%20AMPM%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSC07926.jpg.html)
NS 22K heading east on the Lake Erie District at jefferson Avenue:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520%2520AMPM%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSC07942.jpg&hash=9580f507d4dee3b6d18a0ba183291511ab3680ac) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20%20AMPM%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSC07942.jpg.html)
After NS 22K passed, NS 14M go under way to head for Buffalo:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520%2520AMPM%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSC07975.jpg&hash=e41c8ebaf947d725af11409b14cf997aacd2a00d) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20%20AMPM%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSC07975.jpg.html)
A slide show of all 3 trains:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0513%20%20AMPM%20%20Ashtabula%20OH
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Friday 5/13/2016 in Ashtabula, OH.
After NS 14M passed, I headed up the harbor itself. The East 6th Street bridge is a great location to take shots.
NS and CP power in the yard:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM1%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSCN2381.jpg&hash=c79d3b4f57002ce77930b73a51f519d9ed57bc10) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSCN2381.jpg.html)
NS GP38-2s shuffle a string of empty hoppers:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM1%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSCN2384.jpg&hash=4df62aaec7f2a3f73796053022cdacc82c8265f4) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSCN2384.jpg.html)
I think this coal train is NS 580:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM1%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSCN2404.jpg&hash=4bf7d189b521a2d7c9927e8a324fab63f07a3edf) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSCN2404.jpg.html)
CSX is a tenant in the yard. They definitely haul stone here, and posssibly salt, too:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM1%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSCN2409.jpg&hash=7a84a09fdf999e6741821cdf734393cd745ab616) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSCN2409.jpg.html)
I also took a look at the maritime museum on the other side of the river:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM1%2520%2520Ashtabula%2520OH%2FDSCN2443.jpg&hash=becd30f66d96305b80d8ba0868b3dd471505ffbd) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH/DSCN2443.jpg.html)
For a complete look at the harbor, include the coal pile and more museum shots, please check out my slide show:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM1%20%20Ashtabula%20OH
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Friday 5/13/2016 in Ashtabula, OH.
I also wandered over to COnneaut, which a short drive east of Ashtabula and has a small yard. Note thetransfer hack with the EMDs:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM3%2520Conneaut%2520NY%2FDSCN2467.jpg&hash=30777e6bfe6dbe255e3620bee5ea750b0f7648d3) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY/DSCN2467.jpg.html)
The was also a bit of varnish in the yard:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM3%2520Conneaut%2520NY%2FDSCN2473.jpg&hash=00d204fb10cd23e8a4e91035bd90d9e62c8f79ca) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY/DSCN2473.jpg.html)
NS 316 departing for Buffalo:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM3%2520Conneaut%2520NY%2FDSCN2486.jpg&hash=6fee2894034fa40d89baded87bb83371b4e5ea32) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY/DSCN2486.jpg.html)
The tail end of NS 316 passes the signals east of Chesnut Street:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM3%2520Conneaut%2520NY%2FDSCN2507.jpg&hash=7b726b2de3d01d4599dcd5401721ccfd34277035) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY/DSCN2507.jpg.html)
NS 310 leaving the yard for Buffalo:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FMay%25202016%2F0513%2520PM3%2520Conneaut%2520NY%2FDSCN2511.jpg&hash=6179268294ad80f45011ffaacd3777a7a1ebb19b) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY/DSCN2511.jpg.html)
A complete slide show of both trains and the yard:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/May%202016/0513%20PM3%20Conneaut%20NY
All photos in this post were taken by me Friday 5/13/2016 in Conneaut, OH. I headed to Buffalo for dinner after NS 310 passed, wrapping up a successful day of railfanning in the Buckeye State for just the 2nd time ever.
I have subsequently discovered that the transfer caboose and #3311 shown in Conneaut have been working in MOW service. NS does have a tie replacement program on the Lake Erie District, slowly working eastward towards Buffalo.
Thanks, Steve! What is your take on the future of the Ashtabula dock?
Since coke is still loaded on to lake ships or barges for Ecorse Mi. and Gary I think it will stay open. There really is no else to unload it unless an agreement to use Conneaut Dock which is B&LE and is owned by CN.
That's great news! Thanx again, Steve!