Railfanning Cumberland

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chessie:
Great photo! I wish Cumberland was closer to me!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cumberland is a must-see for any CSX fan. I was fairly excited about photographing CSX trains around the DC area, but it was nothing compared to the experience of blowing roll after roll of film around Baltimore Ave(?) in downtown Cumberland, the main yard, and at Mexico Tower.

I stayed in the Cumberland Holiday Inn this past September - if you ask, they will give you a track-side room on one of the top floors. I only had a little automatic with me, but you can get a great top view of the mainline. This photo is a little fuzzy, but shows you the view (former EMD demo, ex-Conrail SD60):



I went through two rolls of film in my excitement as soon as I walked into my hotel room - about 4 trains went by in 10 minutes - until I realized it was way too dark to be taking pictures. The next morning, I went across the street to the Amtrak platform and took these pictures:





You can see the hotel in the background to get an idea of the great location. The western end of the yard is just to the left - these units were cutting off an intermodal train and returning to the diesel shops.

I also took two rolls of photos of Mexico Tower, which I fear is probably in danger of being torn down sometime in the next couple years, now that it's no longer operational:

http://www.trainweb.org/marcrailfan/mexico.html


I'm hoping to eventually make detailed drawings of the tower and scratchbuild a model in HO scale.

If any of you haven't been there, I would definitely recommend a long weekend trip to Cumberland if you can find the time. It really renewed my interest in CSX - unfortunately it took place during my move out to Colorado...

Have a great holiday everybody!

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Dave
Railfanning & modeling modern CSX

The MARC Railfan and Modeler Site

[This message has been edited by drolsen (edited 23 December 2000).]

 

Dave,
Those are terrific shots! The Holiday Inn definately gives you a great vantage point over the tracks.

Chessie

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Harold Hodnett
Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors!
Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site
http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/

 

I was wondering that myself.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
Wonderful shots, Dave! What was the locomotive behind 8756? I don't recognise the paint scheme.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Alan - It's one of Morrison Knudsen's lease SD40s - I believe number 9044. It's a nice looking paint scheme, and I was excited to catch one. The symbol on the end of the long hood is a circle with "MK" in the middle. I have a photo back home (I'm visiting the parents for the holidays) which I'll try to scan in the next couple weeks. I'm going to be really busy with work, so I might not have a chance, but I will definitely add it to this thread eventually.

I haven't quite figured out what the deal is with MK - I know they are under a new name now, but it looks like most of their lease fleet is continuing on in their same paint schme. I guess they haven't gotten around to repainting them.


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Dave
Railfanning & modeling modern CSX

The MARC Railfan and Modeler Site

[This message has been edited by drolsen (edited 24 December 2000).]

 

Here's a better shot the the "original" M-K paint scheme:

I think the locos were rebuilt originally by M-K for the purpose of leasing them; I also think the Utah RR had a bunch years ago. M-K took a bunch of 6 axle SD40's, 45's, etc. and totally rebuilt most of them before leasing them out. (Most were in the 9xxx series). I can't remember the exact story, but it was covered in Diesel Era magazine.

Chessie

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Harold Hodnett
Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors!
Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site
http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chessie:
Here's a better shot the the "original" M-K paint scheme:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good photo - looks like a former CSX/Chessie unit with the mailslot battery box cover. I know CSX sold off a lot of their old GP40s, so this must be one of them. Might be candidate for one of my Atlas GP40 models.

Alan - As you can see in this photo, the round logo is "MK" surrounded by "Co" for "Company". I'd love to do a model of the SD40 that's behind CSX 8756 in my photo - too bad it's so hard to come by the Kato model these days. I'm going to wait for another manufacturer to bring out an SD40 or else build one from a modified Atlas GP40 shell and a Kato SD45 chassis.

I assume MK's lease SD40s have probably been rebuilt to SD40-2 specifications internally...


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Dave
Railfanning & modeling modern CSX

The MARC Railfan and Modeler Site


Gotta quit making all these typos:

[This message has been edited by drolsen (edited 25 December 2000).]