I'm hoping someone out there could give me some info on this unit. It's a small old switcher now working at the NY CROSS HARBOR RAILROAD in Brooklyn, NY.
BDLX 2295 is an EMD SW 1500. It was acquired (or leased - I am not sure) from the BDL Company in December of 2000 to replace their old #11. I do not know what it looked like when you saw it Johnny, but I remember it to be painted grey with a red nose and stripe. Also, it was purchased for use on the brooklyn side but from what I know , has actually been over in Jersey more. Russ
It's still in red/grey and it's alive and well on the streets of Brooklyn. I was following it last Thursday down 43rd St. from the South Brooklyn yard to the CHRR yard, and I was driving not much more than 10 feet behind them! Of course I had my 4-ways on! If that loco should blow it's prime mover or whatever in an instant, who would be the first to send an emergency switcher to help? Possibly the New York and Atlantic???????? CSX? I know they are running a lot during the week.....they would be in trouble since that's the only working engine on their roster........ Or maybe another question would be how fast can anyone get another privately owned leased engine onto the property?
That is a good question, especially since I do not recall that ever happening. I would assume that NYAR would be first choice as it already has the smaller SW's to handle that trackage. In fact, unless the MTA has it in it's heart to lend out something (like it's n-1's)it would probably be the only choice until they shipped something over from Jersey. Russ
Russ, I've been past the SBRR quite a few times in the last year or so, granted a lot of times from up on the Gowannus (with a good but quick view of the SBRR yard) and I haven't seen the SBRR engines in ages!
If by SBRR yard you refer to 65th street, this was ordered cleared by the NY EDC (Economic Development Corp). This yard is supposed to be awaiting bids from someone to be able to run it in conjuction with the Cross Harbor.(CP Rail was said to have had an interest in conjunction with NYAR) However, if you refer to 39th street, I have not seen any SBK locos there since august of last year. That of course does not mean that they are not there, just that I have not seen them. Russ
Russ, the 65th St. yard is empty. The Cross Harbor seems to be busy and they have been moving (empty?) gondolas into the SBRR yard at leat twice in the last two weeks. I haven't seen the SBRR engines in a long time either. I wonder if they are involved in moving debris out of Ground Zero's stations. Just a wild guess.........
http://www.trainweb.org/subwaymark/transit/US%20East/NY%20Subway/ny-hr-sbrr082601-04.jpg Russ, I stumbled upon this shot of a special excursion on the SBRR last year. Wish I had know about this!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must be cars from the Transit Museum.
http://rush2ny.users5.50megs.com/nya.html Russ, I was going through some favorite places and never realized these were your shots of the New York and Atlantic!!!!!!!!
Yep, that be them! I am glad that you enjoyed them, though I have not updated them in quite some time. I will let you know when I do as I have some good pics of the repainted gp38 #271 with 9-11 memorial scheme. Russ
Thanks russ! Are you working Monday? I know the cross harbor is working, and I was thinking of doing some railfanning if the weather is good.
Sorry for the long wait on a reply. No I am not working monday but my kids are off from school the entire week. With the wife working, that leaves me trying to entertain them and the only one into trains is my 2 year old. Thanks for the invite however. Perhaps another time. Russ
OHHHHHHHHH how I know that feeling! I had my hands full with one! Still do and she'll be 18 this summer! Enjoy the kids while they are young. It goes all too fast!
And finally, what you have all been waiting for, drum rooolllll, please, a PHOTO of Cross Harbor 2293 from Johnny Trains, via fitz's digital processing laboratory. Ain't the internet grand? Johnny sent me the pic via email, New York to Oregon, I do a little processing and send it to TrainBoard (Florida?). Ya gotta love it. Hmmm, kinda looks like Brooklyn, doesn't it? There is a whole series of photos to follow, probably tomorrow, and I expect Johnny will provide commentary.
Photo No. 2. Johnny says this is on 2nd Avenue, Bush Yard, Brooklyn. Talk about your street running, eh?
WOW! THANKS FITZ! This man has the patience of a saint. 1/30/02 BUSH TERMINAL, BROOKLYN, NY: That's the SW1500 2293 running along 2nd ave from the South Brooklyn RR yard back to their own yard. They will turn down 41st st and go right through a building and will run down 41st in the middle of the street! (I was following them in my office van, with 4 way flashers going, and shooting through my windshield and driver's window between the swipes of the wipers! And also racing ahead of them and jumping out and shooting photos as they caught up to me. LOL!) Next the engine will turn left onto 1st ave and continue a couple of blocks into their own yard. I wish I had more film with me, but there were only a couple of shots left. The carfloats are at the opposite end of the yard, (near the Bay Ridge 65th st yard), and continuing past the yard riding the main on 1st ave, the tracks go directly into the Brooklyn Army Terminal to the other end where they connect with the New York and Atlantic. During WW2, along with many other RR operations along the Brooklyn waterfront, there were as many as 750 cars being moved across the river every day just by the NYCHRR alone! Often two tugs would have to move the barges when the winds were high! I love this railroad. Can't ya tell?
The images were so huge they came out a little fuzzy (and crashed someone's computer......oh oh........) but if you notice that traffic light in the background, it's they only signal on the railroad!!!!!!!!!!!! And they obey it, because there is heavy duty traffic coming off the BQE at 39th st, right onto their tracks! You can't believe what traffic there is along the mainline. On 1st ave there is a recycling place, and at any daylight hour, there are dozens upon dozens of trailers parked all over the place, including on the tracks! That area is very busy and the railroad must deal with a hundred vehicles each time they pull out into the street! And pedestrains! And crazed railfans too!
Johnny/Fitz - Awesome pics! Let's play chicken with that! Johnny- Is that you in the first pic following behind with your hazards on? (LOL) Russ
