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 ;-)




Here we see Southbound Amtrak Holiday Extra #1057 with NJT Arrow III MU #1500 in the head.

North of the station the MP 83.6 signal bridge served to frame southbound trains like Regional #157 seen here.

Here we see a northbound Acela Express with power car #2037 on the rear.

 

This was followed by southbound Amtrak Acela Express train #2215 with power car #2015 leading.

Southbound Amtrak Regional Train #145 with ACS-86 #635 leading.

The second Holiday Extra was #1054 with ACS-86 #605, 6 MARC single level coaches and MARC cab car #7745.

This was followed shortly by Southbound Amtrak Holiday Extra Train #1099 with Arrow III MU #1498 leading.

This actually met a northbound Acela Express train with power car #2032 leading.

We were getting into some pretty serious golden hour by the time Train 99 rolled by with ACS-86 #633 and 9 cars.

Train #92, the northbound Silver Starve, was next to pass with ACS-86 #662 and Viewliner non-diner #61052.

Southbound Amtrak Acela Express #2217 with power car #2007 passing under the MP 83.6 signal bridge.

Train #2217 backlit as it passes Martin Airport station.

Well this is interesting lighting. Northbound Amtrak Regional Train #132 with ACS-86 #634 and extra Amfleet food service car.

The last "interesting" train of the daylight hours was Northbound Amtrak Regional Extra Train #1134 with ACS-86 #661.

Because it was so damned cold I decided to pack it in as soon as #1134 passed. See you next time as I head out to Chicago for a quick ride on the UP North line.