Alcos are a rare breed these days. Thankfully, one of the best Aclo strongholds is just a short drive from my house. The lvionia, Aovn & lakeville RR is active 5-6 days per week in the northwestern croner of the FInger Lakes region in upstate NY.
I started the day at the LA&L's main yard and shop. RS36 #418 is a rare NKP suvivor:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8587.jpg&hash=320f7db8fe1a9d966351876842091eb739affa78) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8587.jpg.html)
At age 75(!), s2 #72 is the oldest locomotive on the LA&L:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8586.jpg&hash=962f65050bc247458fec6ba8040cd20608a84495) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8586.jpg.html)
C425 #428 was in the shop:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8590.jpg&hash=c2982000d63983d1a092b156f6049d25372efcd9) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8590.jpg.html)
Number #319 has a unique history. She was built as the only C424 for the Pennsylvania RR. After working hard for PRR, PC and Conrail, #319 was rebuilt as a C424m and sold to the Green Bay & Western RR in 1980. The LA&L purchased her 15 years ago. The prime mover and traction motors are working. The LA&L plans to refurbish the old Century so she be used in revenue freight service.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8595.jpg&hash=3797b64f373271c23d64e92d7df41d015ce47cb7) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8595.jpg.html)
All photos in this post were taken by me Friday 7/22/2016 in Lakeville, NY. Property accessed with the permission of the LA&L.
Mnewhile, the LA&L had sent a local north. I intercepted it at the Rochester & Southern RR yard in Chili:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8643.jpg&hash=1b8902b7a1b8f0bb898058a2ce350311e56f675a) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8643.jpg.html)
The power for the local was C425 #425 and high-nose C420 #420, seen switching at Genesee Junction in Chili:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8659.jpg&hash=36c24ae946e9e10a1113df4db264f0bbb8781f04) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8659.jpg.html)
After building a new train, the Alcos led it southbound. This location is East River ROad in West Henrietta:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8730.jpg&hash=98e231a07a49d514517a583858f6cb2f6372dace) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8730.jpg.html)
Switching at the former Erie RR/ EL yard in Avon:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8778.jpg&hash=7febec903ebac8cf222d410597812428eb7ce63d) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8778.jpg.html)
The LA&L sent out an MOW crew to check a switch in Avon:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8838.jpg&hash=d73840a7093dd74e96ea41da6f6ad21d3be78719) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8838.jpg.html)
With the work done, the local departs Avon for the day:
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8851.jpg&hash=4c1ec2b0fac0ba0a3266a89df2136b5d1086bfac) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8851.jpg.html)
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi857.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab139%2FErielackawanna%2F2016%2FJuly%25202016%2F0722%2520LAL%2FDSCN8863.jpg&hash=a057334c14f94f4090f2a4a61d2a8bee902f637b) (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/media/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL/DSCN8863.jpg.html)
A complete slide show of my with the LA&L:
http://s857.photobucket.com/user/Erielackawanna/slideshow/2016/July%202016/0722%20LAL
All photos in this post and the link were taken by me Friday 7/22/2016 in upstate NY. A big thanks goes out the employees of the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville RR for their friendliness and professionalism.
Great stuff!!
Thank you! Now that I have a scanner, it is interesting to hear the LA&L and R&S crews discussing what (if anything) NS dropped off at Silver Springs. The R&S acts a bridge carrier, so the LA&L interchanges indirectly with NS. I will also have an excursion announcement regarding the LA&L soon.