16-01-25 PHOTOS: NE See Snow

In January 2016, the Northeast was hit by a massive snow storm dumping some 20-30 inches of snow in some places. As luck would have it I had previously scheduled a trip to Boston that allowed me to avoid the worst of the storm (one of the few times traveling to Boston actually decreased the chance of snow). While returning back down south I was able to capture some of the still ongoing efforts to dig out of the storm from the side of my AX train.

You can view the entire set of photos here.

A few days before the storm there is no sign of trouble in Boston as Amtrak ACS-86 #615 delivers me to South Station.

MTBA Green Line Type 8 #3884 and Type 7 #3617 seen here at the Boston University station on the 'B' Line.

The Boston University Bridge was assembled from steel components provided by the Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, PA in 1927.

This bridge actually spans both the Charles River and the Grand Junction Railroad bridge. The Grand Junction Railway is the only link connecting the "North" (Boston and Maine) and "South" (B&A/New Haven) rail networks. Today it is mostly used by the MTBA and Amtrak to shift trainsets.

The north end of the bridge was home to a very vocal flock of geese (and a homeless encampment).

Additional geese and ducks lived in the nearby Charles River.

The Saturday-Sunday storm dropped about 7 inches in Boston, but the larger totals south of the city snarled Amtrak traffic and the system was only just starting to reboot by Monday morning. This is in contrast to the Winter of 2014/15 where Boston was pretty much alone in suffering from repeated snowfall. Here a Type 7 departs Boston University Station with its platforms shoveled and salted.

Evidence of the big drop started appearing in Penn Station as seen with NJT Comet V cab car #6044.

16-01-01 PHOTOS: Elkton

In the no-mans-land between SEPTA and MARC territory sits a little forlorn station called Elkton. The last train service to Elkton, Amtrak's Chesapeake commuter service ended in 1983 and since then a lot of talk about bridging the gap between SEPTA and MARC has generally been for naught. However, the little station and its platforms still await the return to service.

You can see the set of Elkton photos along with some others covering the NJT ACL and PATCO right here.

Built in 1934 the Elkton Station shares make architectural features with other PRR builtings of the era, notably interlocking towers at WINSLOW, YORK, JERSRY, BROWN OVERBROOK and a number of other locations. These include the brickwork, slate roof, copper flashing and eves.

A light was on inside and it appeared that the building was used as a base for Amtrak MoW and CnS crews. 

The station was equipped with track tunnel for passengers to reach the southbound platform. However knowing the wasteful nature of today's public works projects I am sure that any new station would probably have to involve an elevator based ADA bridge. You know, because ramps are too reliable.

Vintage light fixtures were still in place under the platform shelter. Alert Kevin Walsh!

The southbound platform shelter complete with sealed tunnel access and bench.

449 intermediate signals just south of Elkton.

Amtrak ACS-86 #651 passing through Elkton with a southbound Regional.