I had a free Saturday back in September and took my kids out for a ride. Of course we had to stop in Hershey to see what was running around on the old Reading mainline.
NS train 34A was setting off loads for the Hershey shifter and picking up empties. While this was going on, the Hershey shifter was gathering up a string of tank cars with corn sweetener and refined chocolate for the main Hershey Chocolate plant . . . .
http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1832065
After pulling the empties and tying back onto the rest of their train on the main, NS westbound intermodal train 23M came blasting by on the other mainline . . . .
http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1832066
The trainline is all pumped up and the dispatcher has given his permission to leave, so, with a mighty blast of oily black diesel smoke, 34A continues on its way to Enola . . . .
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=304088
Meanwhile, a hirail weed sprayer passed through eastbound. We followed it and caught it as it met westbound NS train H68 in Palmyra . . . .
http://rgkitchen.rrpicturearchives.net/editPicture1.aspx?id=1832064
Rob Kitchen
Harrisburg, PA