Tuesday, November 21, 2017

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.




Amtrak ACS-86 #615 with westbound Pennsylvanian Train 43.


Acela Express Train #2251 bookended by power cars #2002 and #2000!



Amtrak Acela Express train #2160 with power car #2039. Note that in the space of a few minutes I saw the first and last AX power cars.


 Amtrak ACS-86 #657 with the standard southbound Regional Train 95.


Keystone Train #648 with ACS-86 #621 and Metroliner Cab Car #9645.



Six car SEPTA R7 bounded by Silverliner IV #429 and #396.



Amtrak Regional Extra Train 1174 being hauled by ACS-86 #626.


Southbound Amtrak Train 91, the Silver Starve, with ACS-89 #658.



Eastbound SEPTA R7 with Silverliner IV #298 and #444 discharging passengers at Tacony. Note the number of single unit SL-IVs.


A very dirty ACS-86 #623 hauls northbound Amtrak Train #98, The Silver Meteor, with with 4 sleepers and 2 Viewliner Diners! Including the baggage car that makes for 7 Viewliners in the consist, although I believe the second diner was deadheading.




As usual I was also wearing my GoPro and captured videos of all the passing trains that I then assembled into this handy compilation video.



SEPTA Silverliner IV #389 discharging passengers at West Trenton.


Here the outbound R3 train completes its run by passing through TRENT interlocking and into one of the new stub end storage tracks. The Conrail style dwarf signal has been replaced with a SEPTA limited aspect high mast with space for a Cab Speed indication despite the only possible signal indication into the yard is R/Y Restricting.


SEPTA Silverliner IV #410 waiting in the West Trenton yard with a new limited aspect mast signal in the foreground.


TRENT tower is used as the West Trenton crew base and has recently seen some rehabilitation including new windows.



Well that's all. Next time I stop by Perryville and spend Amtrak Sunday at Martin State Airport.

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