17-11-26 PHOTOS: Amtrak Thanksgiving 2017

Here we go again with Thanksgiving's Amtrak Sunday, 2017 edition. This year I returned once again to the Martin State Airport station for my NEC Sunday photos, but to mix things up a bit I stopped off at Perryville to and from visiting family for some photos at the MARC station and PERRY interlocking, but also the former CP-MINNICK on the Port Road Branch, which was facing the imminent prospect of a re-signaling. There I was lucky enough to catch a daylight oil train moving north on the corridor towards the oil refineries of Delaware.

The Amtrak Sunday photos are the typical affair of extra trains with commuter equipment and a Michael Bay level golden hour. I caught three of the 4 commuter trainsets along with a Regional Extra and a couple of ACELA extras. You can find the complete set of photos here.

We begin at CP-MINNICK with an approaching eastbound oil train with new NS AC44C6M #4036, which was rebuilt from a standard cab C40-9. CP-MINNICK once featured a trailing point crossover and a connection into the old Perryville yard, but in the early 90's the yard was pulled out and the interlocking was converted into an automatic signal location. With the re-signaling MINNICK will turn into a controlled point featuring a single cantilever mast with absolute signals in both directions. The reason for the new controlled point, set midway between CP-QUARRY and Amtrak's PERRY interlocking is unknown, but might have something to do with the Rule 562 cab signal operation and needing a wayside signal at that location.

NS 4036 up close and personal as it passes under the westbound PRR Position Light signals at CP-MINNICK with NS C44-9W #9081 trailing in the third position.

Thanks to the slow speeds involved I was able to race ahead of the train and catch it at the Ostego St crossing in Perryville. A Slow Clear signal was being displayed on the 18L dwarf signal into Amtrak territory. Here we see #4036 and NS C44-9W #9016 at the grade crossing and then entering Amtrak territory.

At the MARC Perryville Station I found these silly deer waiting for the next train, completely unaware that there is no MARC service to Perryville on weekends.

The former PRR PERRY tower is still standing, having closed in the late 1980's.

While there I caught Amtrak ACS-86 #639 with a southbound Regional.

Also being eliminated was the old cab signal code change point hardware on the Port Road, which included an old PRR catenary pole complete with a raptor's nest and the CSX Philly Sub bridge over the Susquehanna River in the background.

The MARC Martin State Airport station had been upgraded with a station-trailer in the year since my last visit.

Martin Airport is now the terminus for a number of weekday trains as well as the Saturday weekend service. To this end there is a small storage yard and some sort of shoppe complex. Here we see some trainsets with bi-level K car rolling stock.

Unlike the year before I actually had some company for Amtrak Sunday.

I'll start off with the video compilation of most of the trains that passed by. Image quality isn't as good as the photos, but the photos don't capture the horn salutes ;-)

17-11-21 PHOTOS: Tacony Mixup

Every Thanksgiving I head out to the NEC between Philly and Trenton on Railfan Wednesday to catch the smattering of extra trains and cars that supplement the normal weekday service due to the increased holiday ridership. In 2017 I went with Chuchubob to Holmesburg Jct and this year I think we had picked another station, however, on the way we stopped off at the Pennsauken Transportation Centre to catch some NJT atlantic City Line and RiverLINE action.

Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, Bob thought we were taking SEPTA to the NEC location instead of driving and proceeded to board the ACL train, leaving me still on the platform! While I could have just waited for him to return via Center City, PATCO and the RiverLINE, I decided to meet him halfway at 8th and Market. We eventually wound up at the Tacony NEC station as that was the closest one we could get to in order to not miss the new Regional Extras running that day.

After that we proceeded up to West Trenton for lunch and to get some photos of the reconfigured and re-signaled R3 storage yard. You can view the entire set of photos here.

While waiting for the fateful ACL train a pair of NJT RiverLINE LRV's passed by, both wrapped in advertisements for Rutgers University. #3513 was heading north and #3508 was heading south.

The Philly-bound ACL train was led by NJT GP40PH-2B #4211.

The closely spaced signals at SAUK and JERSEY interlockings were both displaying Approach Medium as NJT is using the cab signal system to enforce the timetable authorized speed over the Delair Bridge.

Comet V cab car #6074 was on the rear of the ACL train.

Outbound Rutgers Wrapped RiverLINE LRV #3520.

Here we see #3520 knocking down the signals north of the Pennsauken TC station. It first encounters a Limited Clear signal onto the siding followed by an Approach Medium at an intermediate freight related interlocking for the exit from the siding. Before the extra interlocking was added, northbound trains would tend to get a Medium Approach Medium onto the single block siding.



In Pavonia Yard NS was running a sibling set of ex-Southern high hood GP38-2s, #5222 and #5223.

A rare non-wrapped RiverLINE LRV #3509 seen here at the Pennsauken TC.

Fall colours on display at the Tacony R7 SEPTA station.

First up was an eastbound 2-car R7 local with Silverliner IV #184. Longer R7 trains were running, but apparently not all day.

What I believe was Regional Extra #1195 with Amtrak ACS-86 #614.

17-11-10 PHOTOS: VALLEY Stream

Every fall I take a multi-day trip to NYC and typically I combine something on the Subway with something on the LIRR and unfortunately as of late this has meant trying to document endangered signaling and interlocking towers. This year it was VALLEY tower's turn to get my attention after previous trips to DIVIDE in Hicksville, NASSAU in Mineola and QUEENS in Queens Village. I also poked around the Jamaica terminal area thanks to a new concourse that provided some great views of the western approaches.

 For this trip I left from South Jersey, making an Atlantic City Line connection to the RiverLINE, then the NEC at Trenton, subway at Penn Station to get to the LIRR at Atlantic Ave, changing trains at Jamaica to get to Valley Stream. I then traveled to Ossining to stay with a fellow railfan who then drove me to Suffern the next day where I could catch NJT back to Trenton, connecting at Secaucas. That was a massive ordeal in and on itself so I wound up with an unanticipated hour+ long layover at Secaucas.

You can view the full set of photos here.

After getting dropped off at Cherry Hill I discovered that the NJT TGIV was sitting on the main track waiting to do some geometry inspecting.

A northbound NJT ACL train soon arrived with GP40PH-2B #4209, seen here diverging at RACE interlocking past an MoW ballast regulator.

Making the connection at the Pennsauken Transfer, my NJT train continued on past two Approach Medium signals at SAUK and JERSEY.

Since NJT NEC locals are the absolute worst, I let this train, with Comet V cab car #6050, depart Trenton and waited for the next express to New York Penn.

My train dropped me off on NYP's platform 1 where I got this shot of the far southeastern corner of the station's concrete bathtub.

A number of LIRR switchers were parked in the Morris Park deadline including SW1001 #107 and #105.

Also at the Morris Park engine terminal was LIRR DE30 #411.

DUNTON tower with a freight train on the Atlantic Branch flyover behind it.

M7 #7304 at Jamaica.

Eastbound LIRR M7 #7400 proceeding down the flyover ramp next to JAY tower. It was a cold and windy day, something the flag can attest to.

For some reason the New York and Atlantic decided to ruin some of it's GP38 locomotives by rebuilding them as PR20B's with Caterpillar road/marine use diesels. Here #300 and #301 pass through Jamaica with a string of empty high capacity gons for scrap or waste.

JAY tower seen from the new western concourse along tracks 3 and 4.

A westbound train of LIRR M3 cars with #9787 in the lead, moving through HALL interlocking.

LIRR M7 #7467 passing VALLEY tower as it diverges towards Far Rockaway.

To avoid the Hempstead Shuttle, which usually lays over on track 3 at Valley Stream, this Jamaica bound train platformed on track 4 before crossing back over to track 3 at the west end of VALLEY interlocking. Here LIRR M7 #7068 passes the track 4 pedestal signal as it takes the diverging route.

Although it was re-signaled a number of years ago, VALLEY interlocking tower is still manned and operational. The diamond is for the flat junction with the Far Rockaway branch.

If you were wondering what the 2-2E signal is displaying Clear for, the answer is an eastbound train of LIRR M3's!  Better grab a towel if you are aroused by WABCO horn effects ;-)


Eastbound pedestal signals on the Babylon Branch through tracks, each with a position light module for use as a Train Order lamp.

The conductor looks out from LIRR M3 #9824 stopping at Valley Stream.