From July 1980, a CR westbound is working hard at Bennington, PA as it nears the summit at Gallitzin. The former four track PRR main was still intact then, soon to be reduced to three.
Got the last Commemorative Military Unit I needed. Dakota, MN-CP River Sub. November 4, 2020 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got a tip that there was a maintenance block on the mainline til around 1400. Took three hours to travel to LaCrescent, MN area to catch it then go back home. Was worth the trip. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
NS 18N, autoracks from Conway, PA to Doremus AV, NJ, had some surprises in the consist today, 11/05, as it entered Wyomissing Jct. on the NS Harrisburg Line. DSC05766 by Sepp K posted Nov 5, 2020 at 7:57 PM DSC05772 by Sepp K posted Nov 5, 2020 at 7:57 PM DSC05780 by Sepp K posted Nov 5, 2020 at 7:57 PM DSC05791 by Sepp K posted Nov 5, 2020 at 7:57 PM
A closer look at the crumpled hopper reveals something reading "Do not hammer on car". Would hammering wake up the alien beast inside? Was it some overenthusiastic hammering that bent its fender? Auto-racks: If you need to hide something in transit, there's your solution! Both cabeese have "Do not hump - instrumented car" on them. Once my tinfoil hat is off, I figure the DOD must have something to evaluate on this line. And someone needs to move a dented hopper on the rail equivalent of a tow truck.
Signals on NS and CSX mains at Farmington Rd grade crossing south of Miamisburg, Ohio, looking south. NS main includes "long" passing siding/double track.
There are apparently 6 of these cabooses, all painted different colors. They are used as mobile guardhouses for high security or high value shipments. I believe these were unoccupied as there's insulation on the inside of the cupola windows.
"Last Light at Coulee" The Northgate local crosses a short wood pile trestle and cruises into the tiny hamlet of Coulee, North Dakota at the last light of the day. Blue hour has begun and thick clouds rolling in have blotted out the sunset and brought an end to my adventure. The Northgate crew still has a couple of hours to go, and might even need a dogcatch. The Glasgow Sub dispatcher called the crew to see how long they've got left before they die on the law; if they have a straight shot into Gavin Yard, they might just make it. A straight shot from Berthold (where the branch meets the main) to Minot is a tall order with increasing traffic levels.
Entirely possible. But also possible such railcars were merely in transit. Then, also, they have been known to send out such things simply to mislead the general unknowing public...
Both the 8126 and the 3352 behind it still exist as NS units. The 8126 is NS 5309 and the 3352 is NS 3043.
I did a Bing Maps "flyover" and the C&NW mainline solidly remains. The lesser north/south line that once ran from Elgin, IL through Crystal Lake to Williams Bay, WI (see old Official Guide illustration from the '40s below) is gone from Elgin north to a few miles south of Crystal Lake, but still exists north of Crystal Lake to around McHenry. I think I see where I stood for the photo, but its hard to say for sure because the surroundings have changed so much. The line between Elgin and Williams Bay held great intrigue when I as a kid, with its rural scenes, wig-wag grade crossing signals and light tonnage. The C&NW still ran commuter trains between Chicago and Williams Bay via Crystal Lake in the latter '60s. That must have been an exceptionally interesting ride.
L&N GP-38-2s in fall and winter. The 4081 is at Tullahoma, TN in November 1978 and the 4067 is chillin' at Knoxville, TN in February 1979.