18-12-28 PHOTOS: PACK

As the clock on the Norfolk Southern PRR Main Line re-signaling effort was ticking, I once again used an invitation to a New Year's party in Western Pennsylvania as a means to facilitate additional signal documentation efforts. Specifically I would be going after the famous PRR signal bridge in Lilly, PA, and a trio of interlockings in the Blairstown, PA area including CP-PACK, CP-BLAIR and CP-TOMS, the latter two being located on the Conemaugh Line. Returning a bit early from the party at night, I once again stung by the automatic signals at Tipton, PA to grab some night shots of anything that might be going past. The full set of photos can be seen here (mirror).

The Milepost 254.7 signal bridge at Lilly was frequently photographed due to its location adjacent to a curve where railfans could park their vehicles and get impressive zoom shots of approaching power. Unfortunately the only thing I was able to capture on this day's visit was a pair of MoW trucks making their way along the empty 4th track roadbed.

Through ~1995, this section of the Main Line was still controlled by traditional block and interlocking stations complete with a classic pole line data transmission system. While the signals and signal logic were not changed, the pole line was replaced by a fibre optic system. Here we see the vintage 1940's relay cabinets adjacent to a disused pole line pole that is now used to support the cotton and tar insulated signal cable feed. 

Here we see a visual representation of the Norfolk Southern C44-9W to AC44C6M rebuild program as NS #4118 splits the westbound PRR PL mast signals at CP-PACK. NS is currently upgrading the ~2000 vintage -9's that make up the backbone of NS's road freight fleet and we can see from the primer coated sections that #4118 has had the cab and forward section completely replaced to make way for AC traction components. The 7FDL prime mover in the rear has been overhauled in place. The locomotive is likely en route from GE's Erie facility where most of the rebuilds are being carried out to Altoona where it will be painted in house. 

Running in the number 2 slot was NS SD70M-2 #2723. The entire fleet of M-2's was later stored by NS due to declining traffic levels. 

CP-PACK is a full crossover near Packerton, PA that was installed in the late 70's in conjunction with the early Conrail western PRR Main Line CTC project. It's pneumatic point machines were replaced with electric models around 2012.

Clear signal indication for track #1 on the eastbound PRR signal bridge at CP-PACK. The "SP" plates indicate that these signals also protect a slide fence.

CP-BLAIR had already had it's signals replaced, but retained its 1970's vintage interlocking hardware. When the Conemaugh Line was completely double tracked, CP-BLAIR marked the west end of a third track pocket siding. Today the line has been single tracked and CP-BLAIR is the west end of a short passing zone. 

Here an eastbound NS merchandise train takes the diverging route eastbound led by SD70ACe #1037 and SD70M #2632. Diverging speed is 40mph and the line was the first to be signaled using only cab signals except at interlockings.

18-12-27 PHOTOS: SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip XVIII

The 18th Annual SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip took place on December 27th, 2018 and was focused on first ever trips on the Route 59 trackless trolley and R2 Newark along with a return to the 63rd St terminal of the Route 15 streetcar. Unlike the previous year where the group had missed the late afternoon Newark express train, this year we managed to catch it and were treated to a set of Silverliner V's in the process. One can find the full set of photos here (mirror) and as an announcement the 2020 MWT will be taking place on December 26th.

Informally, each MWT starts with an inbound PATCO express run from Lindenwold. This would be the first year where there would be no opportunity to score a classic style car with the railfan window as the last batch of classic cars were retired in June 2018. Here we see PATCO cars #1061 and #1093 waiting at the Lindenwold platform.

Here we have a video of from the new railfan view of the express portion of the run between Woodcrest and Ferry Ave.



Since the Route 59 runs out of the Arrott Transportation Center, the official trip began with an MFL trip to the eastern end of the line. Here we see a variety of MFL trains encountered along the route.

This Eagles Wrap on MFL car #1053 is a bit mis-placed given that the MFL does not take one to the Sports Complex. 

Another type of Philadelphia Eagle, only one with a better record.

The Route 59 has some diesel buses mixed in with the trackless trolleys, however we were able to score one of the latter and #807 was able to take us the entire way to the Bell's Corner loop.

18-12-23 VIDEOS: West Side Nostalgia

With the Nostalgia Train providing a rare Railfan Window View on a part of the NYC Subway that I had yet to video, I came planning to once again set up my GoPro on the front window and let technology do the work.  Well turns out I had a bit of a problem in that when I replaced my suction mount I forgot that it didn't come with a new screw attachment for the GoPro rendering the whole thing useless.  Fortunately I had also remembered to bring my magic camera wand so I would have to make do hand holding the GoPro against the front window while standing three feed back.  Not a fun time, but I managed to make it work.  You can find Part 1 with the still photos here.


We begin as always at 2nd Ave on the (F) and will travel on an (M) 6th Ave local routing to Rockefeller Center. Again I want to apologize in advance for the lower quality video.  Hopefully I will be able to stage a re-shoot in 2019.



The rare mileage begins at Rockefeller Center as our train takes a (D) routing that will lead it up Central Park West to 125th St on an express run.  It's a shame that the train did not run all the way to 145th :-(




Unfortunately on the return trip I got mixed up and cut the video at 59th St.  Still a nice 8th Ave express run between 125th and 59th.



It was becoming such a pain to film this way that by Rockefeller Center I was fed up and decided to just stop filing seeing as I already had multiple Nostlgia Train head end videos on the 6th Ave Line between there and 2nd Ave. Then, just my luck the train went express robbing me of the chance to video the Express F tunnels :-(



Well there you have it.  Head end videos from the 2018 NYCTA Holiday Nostalgia Train on an D(?) routing between 2nd Ave and 125th St.

18-12-23 PHOTOS: West Side Nostalgia

Every year the NYC Transit Authority runs a train of their vintage IND subway cars on Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas as special holiday promotion. Starting at Second Ave on the lower east side they would traditionally run to Queens Plaza as a modified (M) service train. After a couple of years of this taking first low def video, then high def video, then GoPro video, I had run out of reasons to make this pilgrimage, especially since what had once been a pretty much railfan exclusive event was now beset with hispters and children. however just when I thought I was free, the Nostalgia train pulled me back in with a series of new routings. In 2017 it went up the (T) to celebrate the opening of the new Second Ave Subway (phase 1) and then in 2018 it was sent up the Central Park West line to 125th St including a northbound express run as the local track was being worked on in that direction. In this part I have the still photos (mirror) from that day's journey and in next week's part 2 I will show the video.

We begin the day at Hamilton, NJ's NJT station with an Amtrak Acela Express trainset running south on the local track with power cars #2025 and #2023.

This was followed by Amtrak ACS-86 #657 Train 89, the southbound Palmetto which was impersonating Train 91, the Silver Starve, with two deadhead Viewliner sleepers(?) en route to...somewhere. 

A while later Amtrak ACS-86 #632 was in charge of a southbound Keystone train on the express track.

A northbound Regional with Amtrak ACS-86 #629 sped through just become my NJT express train arrived with split level cab car #7001 on the head end.

In the intervening year the venerable West 4th St tower had closed, but the windows were not yet boarded up and the GRS Model 5 pistol grip interlocking machine was still in place. This would be an excellent choice for a preservation project. 

Nostalgia R9 car #1802 at 125th St. See the videos in Part 2 for how it got there.

18-11-29 PHOTOS: Chicago Line Northwest - Part 2

In Part 2 of my 2018 trip to Chicago I will be exploring the METRA Union Pacific (formerly Chicago Northwestern) Northwest line that runs between the old CNW station and Harvard, IL about 60 miles away. Similar to the old PRR Main Line out of Philly or the former Erie Railroad lines in New Jersey, the UP Northwest line is a pretty impressive chunk of infrastructure that stops dead at the end of the commuting zone because it has become largely irreverent in today's modern freight network. While UP still owns and operates the route, there are only about two through freight trains on the line per day. However the passenger density is sufficient to support a three track main line all the way to the intermediate terminal of Barrington.

I was able to cover the UP-Northwest in two phases. The first was a mid-day outbound run to Park Ridge where I could take photos out the back. The second was a morning run from Jefferson Park to Barrington, followed by an express run to Clybourn for video purposes. You can find the gallery of still photos here (mirror).

We begin with METRA F40PH-2 #165 blocking my view of LAKE ST tower upon departure of the CNW Station.

Passing under a classic CNW signal bridge on the 4-track trunk line between the UP-North line junction at Clybourn. Note how the former CNW used the left handed or European style of traffic flow. Also note the Automatic Train Stop inductor shoes as both the North and Northwest lines are ATS equipped. 

CY tower at Clybourn still controls the split between the UP-North and Northwest lines as well as several interlockings on the UP-Northwest line. 

The UP-Northwest Line crosses the METRA Milwaukee North line at grade at MAYFAIR interlocking. The tower here closed in the 1990's with control being passed to CY tower.

Here we see METRA F40PH-3 #149 passing under UP-NW line automatic signal bridge 120. the 3-track line operates under a 2+1 configuration between MAYFAIR and BARRINGTON with only the center track signaled for movements in both directions. While many of the signal bridges are original, the notable horizontal CNW signals have all been replaced with modern Darth Vader types. 

Signal blocks are at 1 mile intervals until one gets past Des Plains.

 METRA gallery cab car #8428 at Forest Park. Stations on the line take the form of a side platform and station building on the inbound local track (so that passengers can keep warm while waiting) and a island platform serving the express track and outbound local track.

To ride the express runs, one has to get up early. CTA Blue Line 2600-series #2652 departing Jefferson Park.

Jefferson Park station from the parking lot. Why the hell are all the towns near Chicago named "Park" when the areas all around them look urban?

18-11-29 PHOTOS: Chicago Line Northwest - Part 1

I've been doing post-Thanksgiving trips to Chicago for a number of years now and 2018 was no exception. This year, like 2016, I decided to use some points on a roomette on the Capital Limited between Washington and the Windy Apple. Unfortunately, Amtrak had chosen to meddle with the food service on the Cap since I had last ridden it, converting the dining car into a first class lounge (which was good), but also replacing the prepared food with meal boxes (which wasn't). My goal in Chicago was to check out the METRA Union Pacific (aka CNW) Northwest Line, which I will be covering in a Part 2. You can find the photos for both parts right here.

We begin with Amtrak P42DC's #186 and #147 at the head of my Train 29, which is standing ready for an on time departure from Washington Union Station on track 15 adjacent to K TOWER.

While I was waiting for departure, a southbound Acela Express trainset wandered into one of the higher number tracks with power cars #2036 and #2017.

MARC MP36PH-3C #19 stood on the adjacent Track #16.

Further up the platform. MARC HHP-8 #4915 was also on track #15 alongside Amtrak Acela Express power car #2019 and behind MARC single level cab car #7754. Due to the limited storage space MARC will often double park trains on station tracks during the day, with short daytime trains arriving and departing from the outer berths.

Amtrak SW1000 #794 in painted in heritage Washington Terminal colors was performing its duties around the terminal area that day.

VRE MP36PH-3C #V59 was sitting in the VRE layover yard as we departed Washington Terminal.

I also caught Amtrak ACS-86 #625 on the wye track after having been previously spotted on WT Track #10 with an arrived regional.

Amtrak was at least making a small effort to make the service downgrades seem not like service downgrades and both myself and my riding buddy found rather fancy shower kits on our seats. (Note these had vanished on a subsequent Capitol Limited trip in March).

18-11-25 PHOTOS: Halethorpe Return

While for years the railfan in the Philly area have been holding Thanksgiving Sunday cookouts at various Septa stations along the NEC, I always had to miss them as I needed to travel back to the Baltimore area for work and school.  After the new high level platforms were constructed at Halethorpe I spent a couple of years taking photos there until the general sameness of the pictures and the track fence finally prompted me to switch to Martin State Airport MARC station north of the city.

Well now that I have officially moved to a location south of Baltimore I am back at Halethorpe, unfortunately it was just in time for Amtrak to cut its traditional NJT Arrow III trainsets used on 1000 series holiday extra trains. Nevertheless, Amtrak was still running its pair of MARCtrainsets along with a number of other Regional extras and hourly Acela Express service.  Moreover Halethorpe sees all day weekend MARC service which was a plus.  You can find all the photos here (mirror).

I'll begin again with the video, which is a little lighter than past years as I was talking with people and kept getting caught off guard or in places where video wasn't practical. 



Moving onto the stills here we have Amtrak ACS-86 #631 moving southbound at speed on track #3.  The light on this day started out great, but faded quickly.

This was followed by a northbound Acela Express on track #2 with power cars #2007 and #2028.  Track #2 is the reverseable "center" track that can provide unobstructed fence free shots at reasonable angles.

Here northbound Amtrak Regional Train 96 with ACS-86 #639 meets a southbound MARC weekend local with SC44 #82 and cab car #7847.  Siemens company high five.

Southbound Amtrak Acela Express #2231 with power cars #2014 and #2019.  Note all the local railfans who have come out for the special day.

Here is the star of the day's show.  Northbound Amtrak Holiday Extra #1056 with ACS-86 #640, 6 MARC single level coaches and a food service Amfleet.