17-08-31a PHOTOS: Shore Line West

My NEC Survey continues. After a brief video episode on the MNRR New Haven Line, I took down the GoPro and went back to work with my camera to get some good photos of the Amtrak Shore Line. While I have been in a position to take shore line photos before, the speed of the train and poorness of the light combined with my use of a mid-range camera has resulted in rather soft and grainy photos. Well this time around I was able to remedy the situation, at least until my train hit the high speed section in Rhode Island where general fatigue caught up with me and I decided to give up.

As is standard practice for my New Hampshire trips I also booked some time at North Station. You can find the complete set of photos here.

We begin with this view of the Metro North New Haven Motor Storage with a couple of M2 trainsets still hanging on.

Amtrak ACS-86 #615 was hanging out in the Amtrak engine terminal for one of the few inland route trains that still perform power changes here.

Here we see New Haven RR painted Shore Line East cab car #1709. This was a weekday so SLE was running its normal weekday schedule.

As seen here by an SLE set led by cab car #1710 and powered by an ex-Amtrak P40 making its way through the trench just past the Amtrak division post.

This next series of photos was taken in the complex of tunnels bored through the track rock ridges east of New Haven. Millions of years ago the Connecticut River valley stretching north of New Haven was where the Eurasian and North American plates first attempted to split and form the Atlantic Ocean. The trap rock ridges in the valley are the lava flows from this event. However at some point the permanent break formed to the east leaving a bit of Eurasian geology on the west side of "The Pond" in the process. Due to steam operation at the time of construction, the tunnel complex features a number of smoke shafts that precluded the need for forced ventilation.

Here we see the new ADA accessible Branford station with high level platforms and an elevated crossover. Again I would love to know the person who decided that elevators and an overpass were preferable to ramps and on underpass. Overpasses are more only more costly but take longer to navigate. Also, ramps don't break down.

G&W painted P&W C39-8 #3908 leading a freight west at Guilford. This must by a scheduled meet as I seem to get a photo of it every year.

New Guilford again with a damned overpass. Previously SLE stations only featured platforms on one side of the tracks which precluded reverse peak operation.

Westward view of the Amtrak Connecticut River Bridge. This long truss bridge was built with a future expansion to 4 tracks in mind.

Passing a westbound regional in Old Lyme.

Passing a westbound Acela Express with power car #2023 also near Old Lyme.

Someone must by running late as just a few minutes later we passed a second Acela Express trainset at the Shaws Cove Movable Bridge with rear power car #2031.

Classic New Haven interlocking tower SS119 GROTON just east of the Thames River lift bridge.

Amtrak Mystic River Movable Bridge.

Skipping ahead to Boston North Station for my Downeaster connection we find Amtrak P42DC paired with MBTA GP40MC #1124 in the background.

Next to depart was MassDoT painted F40PH-2C #1062 with a camel consist of coaches.

On the track adjacent to the Downeaster trainset was MBTA F40PH-2C #1070.

It departed with Rotem K-car #1821 on the rear.

Meanwhile, MBTA GP40MC #1124 arrived with a train on one of the low number tracks.

While a new(er) HSP46 #2024 sat a few tracks inbound. Apparently these hybrid GE passenger units are already suffering from major mechanical issues and will need to have their turbos replaces. Seems like MPI should have stayed in their lane with the MP36/MP40 series.

At this point a second Downeaster trainset arrived with Amtrak P42DC #177 in the lead. This set would be for the later of two rush hour departures.

At this point things started to get weird. Amtrak P42DC #133 was taking the place of an NPCU on the Downeaster set and coupled directly behind it was some sort of strange test train with a P42/NPCU combo sandwiching a single Amfleet.

The P42 was #172 and the Downeaster NPCU was #90215.

Looking back towards the station with Amtrak P42 #172 coupled to #133.

Leaving the strangeness behind, I eventually made my way to Exeter, NH and got this shot of Amtrak P42DC #136 departing the station while another railfan looked on.

Next time I travel to the highest railway station east of the Mississippi.