Well, here are some photos I have taken along the Selkirk Sub in NY. All with a Nikon N50, Nikor AF 75-240 lense f/4.5-5.6, Fuji slide film of varying types. Starting off is Selkirk yard itself, the power set-up area. The UP power will be for the Q351 later that day, headed for Chicago. Labor Day Weekend, 2001. Moving about 20 minutes west, we come to the abandoned highway overpass at French's Mill Road. These overpasses offer a great overhead view without having to worry about traffic. Here we find eastbound Q620 (Conrail's CNSE) down from Montreal via Syracuse inbound to Selkirk. The train is in the "high track" having just come off the flyover at Fullers, NY. Late September of 2001. Just west (actually northwest, but it is RR west) of the flyover at Fullers, and a quick 3-5 minutes from French's Mill Road we are now on the Old State Road overpass, another abandoned bridge. Here you can see where the split begins for the flyover, and this eastbound autorack train is also on the high track. Gotta love those SD40-2s. Labor Day weekend, 2001. Further northwest, about half an hour out of the yard, we are now crossing the Mohawk River at dawn in April of 2001. A repeat for those of you following the sunrise topic in the Photography forum, but it puts the shot in perspective. Finally, on the north side of the river, we are entering the town of Amsterdam and approaching the end of the Selkirk Sub, about 45 minutes to an hour out of the yard. Behind me is the interlocking that ends the siding in the foreground and marks the beginning of the Mohawk Sub. Here is a westbound autorack train, again led by an SD40-2, rounding the curve at MP NY 175. Afternoon in late April, 2001. Well, there's a quick jaunt through the Selkirk Sub. Left some spots out, but that should give you a pretty good idea of it. Enjoy! [ 17. February 2003, 14:17: Message edited by: Harron ]
Corey, You bring back memories of my many inspections of cab signals at the diesel shop in Selkirk and signal inspections along the right of way in your photos. That was in the mid 70's when it was PC.
Gotta agree, yard shots, especially busy ones are among my favorites. That's not to take anything away from the other great photos.
Corey, It sure looks different from the days I remember of the four track mainline, through Amsterdam, Fonda et al. How did you get that yard shot? Armour yellow in Selkirk? Al Perlman is turning over in his grave.
What would I give to see that view of the yard and all those locomotives! Those abandoned bridges are an excellent way to watch and photograph trains in safety, and without the noise of road traffic. I have recently watched a videotape loaned to me by a friend who is a CSX fan, and it looks very much like that area, with the abandoned bridges, and the fly-over track. Must check to see if it is the same place. Thanks for your consistently excellent photographs Corey, and for sharing them with us
Corey - I have been studying the photo of the Selkirk ready track area and wonder if you took the photo from the highway bridge crossing the yard. If you did then the diesel shop must be directly behind you and the first building on the left should be the headquarters for the track and signal departments as the hump tower is in the right background.
Corey, I too like above said an noted, LOVE the yard shots! Post all ya got! Seeing C-S-X- in any yard of today is a thrill! Being ya can't get into the Cumberland yard to any railfanning... Even tho I'd get stuck on the serive facilies an all with everything sitting around for "detail" shots for the layout! GREAT pictures!!!!!
You are absolutely correct here. I am on what is known as "Ben's Bridge" which carries Albany County route 55 over the heart of Selkirk Yard. The shops are behind me on the left, receiving yard behind on the right, fuel & sand pad is on the right, Hump in the background (with a train going over). I think the building in the middle left is a crew building now. There is a new regional HQ office (from CR days) behind me to the right next to the receiving yard, with 16 dispatchers and most of the offices, I would assume signalling is there as well. I'll have to look for some more yard shots, I haven't taken many with my new camera. Oh, and there is a new fueling facility that is going in behind the shops (on the west end) - next time I get out there I'll have to take another look.
Thanks Corey. There were three ways to get into the yard from roads that crossed the tracks on bridges at the east and west ends and the middle of the yard. As I remember from the bridge you were on you went west and turned to the left toward the hump and then went through the tunnel under the hump to drive to the diesel shop. There was a traffic light there so you didn't run into a train movement in the tunnel.
There are actually four bridges if you count the bridge at CP-SK at the east end of the yard. They are as follows, east to west: - CP-SK, NYS Route 9W overpass - East End Drill, NYS Route 396 overpass - Engine Shop, Albany County Route 53 overpass (my mistake earlier, 55 parallels the yard on the north side between 9W and 32) - CP-FB, NYS Route 32 overpass. A large map of the yard can be found here. And you are correct about the tunnel under the tower. It is still there, as well as the traffic light.
Corey - Thanks for the link to the plan for Selkirk yard. It sure helps the memory. I had forgotten about CP SK. The CPs from Selkirk back to Rotterdam Jct had signal equipment from Siemans (sp?). It was all relay but used a non standard signal relay and NYC was issued a waiver from ICC to install the system. I don't believe this system was ever used at any other location in the US.
