19-12-26 PHOTOS: SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip XIX

As the SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip approaches its XXth year, the number of unvisited segments of Philadelphia's expansive rail network has continued to dwindle. In 2018 the MWT finally made it to both Thorndale and Newark, DE. Before that it had managed to cover the Airport, RiverLINE and West Trenton. For 2019 the choices for "virgin" MWT territory had swindled to Atlantic City, Elwyn and Norristown Elm St. For whatever reason, Elm St seemed to make the most sense so I bundled that together with a trip out to Warminster and a Route 102-R3 connection at Clifton-Alden to fill out the day. You can find the whole set of photos here ( mirror ).

With the PATCO cars fully rebuilt, I didn't have much need to go and catch "the good stuff", however express runs were always better than non-express runs so I once again headed out to Lindenwold to snag a semi-railfan window on one of the express trains that departed around 8am. The first train in happened a Philly-bound NJT Atlantic City Line train arriving on the lower level with GP40PH-2B #4209.



#4209 departed exactly at the same time as a westbound PATCO train and because the PATCO had to cross over, the NJT was able to get out to an early lead. Although the PATCO train had two station stops, the 30mph speed restriction east of Haddonfield and forced 45mph cab signal before that would make the race competitive before the lines split at Vernon.



The distance between a terminal crossover and the end of a platform is a major factor in terminal capacity so if you were ever wondering why PATCO put WEST LINDEN interlocking so far away from the platform its because it was added well after the line opened in 1969. Prior to that trains used the EAST LINDEN crossover directly to the east of the platform. If PATCO ever needed an extreme amount of TPH, both crossovers could be utilized to prevent delays. Here PATCO car #1035 clears the interlocking en route to terminal track #1.

Arriving trains typically alternate between tracks 1 and 2 at Lindenwold with #1103 headed into track #2. The left hand placement of the operator is a legacy of the line's OPTO system that uses 100% island platforms.

#1077 signed for an express run on Lindenwold track #2.

Golden Hour PATCO rebuilds #1087 on track #1 at Lindenwold.

Skipping ahead to Philly, SEPTA Silverliner V #840 at Market East.

En-route to Warminster we pass one of the last arriving Bombardier push-pull sets at the Reading Viaduct's MP 2.2 signal with SEPTA ACS-86 #907 in the lead.

Racing SEPTA #856 and a train of Silverliners V towards the 16th St Jct.

 


JENKIN tower at Jenkintown.

The morning group at Warminster. Not pictured was long time participant Phil N, who was in the hospital recovering from an infection.

SEPTA Silverliners IV #340 and #429 at the Warminster station platform. Using government assistance, the Reading extended its Hatboro line to a new Park N Ride in 1974.

19-12-22 VIDEOS: Nostalgia 145th St

Here is the video followup to the still photos I took during last year's NYC Transit Museum Holiday Nostalgia Train service to 145th St on the 8th Ave Line.

We start out at the Hamilton, NJT station where a light overnight frost has turned Amtrak Train 89, the southbound Palmetto, into a 125mph sparkler The Amtrak passed at the same time as the 7:03am NJT local to New York Penn Station with split level cab car #7001 leading. The camera work was a little iffy as I was looking over my shoulder to not miss the approaching Train 89 and also not get my shot blocked by the local.



En route to West 4th St via the PATH I found C trains were running express from Canal to 59th St I was able to get a railfan window video of the short run between Canal and West 4th.



Pulling a George Costanza to get my camera on the front window, the northbound run comes in two parts, 2nd Ave to 59th St on an express F routing and then 59th St to 145th St on an express A routing.





And here we have the reverse run, 145th to 7th Ave and then 7th Ave to Second Ave, both express to maintain the 45 minute schedule.





Always wanting more I hung out with Koi at the less competitive rear window between 2nd Ave and 59th St. I make the less optimal rear facing point of view more entertaining with lively commentary xD



I'll finish things up with another short clip of an R32 departing 34th St Penn Station on a southbound C routing.



Hope you enjoyed the videos. Next up, SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip XIX.

19-12-22 PHOTOS: Nostalgia 145th St

No matter how many times I try to step back from the crowded frenzy of the NYCTA Holiday Nostalgia Train, the more they end up dragging me back with some new route or destination that makes the ride a "must attend" as a means to gather what has become otherwise impossible to obtain railfan window video. After years of the same old 2nd Ave to Queens Plaza run, the Holiday Nostalgia Train was first diverted up the new Second Ave Subway, followed the next year by an express run up the 8th Ave line to 125th St. For 2019 the trip was going to stick to 8th Ave, but travel an additional express stop to 145th St. It was for this extra mileage that I bought my NJT tickets and set sail for the Windy Apple yet again.

You can find all the still photos here ( mirror ) and next week I'll be posting all of the video.

To get up to 2nd Ave for the 10am departure I had to change at Newark Penn to take The PATH to lower Manhattan. Power for my NEC Line train was NJT ADP-45 #4503. These dual modes are increasingly used as straight electrics as opposed to something that might eliminate passengers changing trains.

The train was led by split level cab car #7001, seen here facing an Approach Medium indication on the 60L suspended signal signal at DOCK interlocking.

Of course the PATH train had left just minutes before the NJT arrival and Sunday morning headways were abysmal so after freezing my ass off for 20 minutes I was on my way. With PATH's front window no more, I had to settle for some side sides of DOCK tower, HUDSON tower and the HACK movable bridge.

Arriving downtown I found that the hyper expensive PATH train hall had become a glorified popup holiday mall.

R32's like #3470 here on a C service, were still rolling at W4th St.

Also at W4th was R68 #2446 on a D routing.

A Cuomo striped R160 on the F transported me to 2nd Ave where the Nostalgia Train was waiting, along with the Baseball Furies.

19-12-13 PHOTOS: Rocky

Now for something completely different! Due to a surplus of vacation days towards the end of the year I found myself with an extra outing in the weeks between my Chicago trip and the typical Christmas adjacent big city transit trip I do each winter. Thanks to one friend's top tier Southwest status and another friend offer to host, I was heading back to Denver for what turned out to be a chill out and drink weekend that didn't leave much for rail activities. Still, I managed to fit some in here and there so I have something to share with you today. You can find the full set of photos here (mirror).

My first attempt at rail activities was a brief stop at the east end of the ROCKY siding on the former DRG&W Moffat Tunnel route. Although situated at the base of the Front Range, the line has already done a significant amount of climbing in the 16 miles from downtown Denver to reach the tunnel portal located at over 9000 feet in elevation.

I had been over this route three times before on the California Zephyr, but always in summer. When the temperatures drop the MoW crews break out the snow gear in the form of fiberglass shrouds covering most of the movable parts of the switch mechanism. This also helps to trap the heat from the snow melting system.

 
On this day there was very little snow on the ground, but the wind was blowing and it was quite chilly.



The Rocky siding is overlooked by the famous Big 10 Curve, a boot shaped switchback that allows the track to gain a significant amount of elevation in a relatively compact space. The Rio Grand installed a number of surplus hopper cars filled with rocks to act as a wind/snow break. 

From Lookout Mountain Park, west of Golden, I got this photo of the Cooers Brewery complex including a sizable rail yard, along with a photo of downtown Denver.

Non-rail attractions included the Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Dinosaur Ridge Park.

19-12-06 PHOTOS: Milwaukee West Line

The Milwaukee West Line was the target of my 2019 METRA video project. With significant portions of three track running the MILW-West line offers a robust express service during the peak periods between the town of Schaumburg and Union Station. My plan was to take a North Central train from where I was staying to the town of River Grove where I would then transfer to a reverse peak local out to Schaumburg. Trains on the Milwaukee district are operated by METRA and it is their policy to run with the front cars closed on non-peak trains, so the deadhead portion of the trip would be pretty much useless. However my express run would present me with a front facing window to capture an express run all the way into Union Station with only two stops at Franklin Park and Western Ave. For those and other videos from this trip check out my accompanying video post.

After arriving at Union Station I performed the traditional walk out to Roosevelt Ave and took a few more photos on the CTA both that day and on the way to Midway airport for the flight back east. You can see the entire set of photos here ( mirror ).

I pick up on my journey getting dropped off at River Grove by the North Central Service train. The MILW-West line here has three tracks with a Clear signal displayed for #2 track on the MP 11.4 signal bridge.

Even at dark-o-clock in the morning there was plenty of eastbound commuter traffic at the River Grove station. This inbound local was being propelled by METRA F40PH-3 #104.

My outbound train arrived with MP36PH-3C #414.

At Schaumburg I arrived in time to meet an inbound train with MP36PH-3S #411, ex-Amtrak Surfliner F59PHI #81 and a carbon steel Pullman gallery coach. The double heading was likely due to #81 still being under evaluation for reliability. My outbound train was equipped with gallery cab car #8582.

Before my express, a short local headed by gallery cab car #8510 arrived. The short length indicates the relative popularity of the express runs.

On the express, we encountered an outbound MILW-West train with F40PH-3 #102 just prior to the run's only major station stop at Franklin Park.

19-12-06 VIDEOS: METRA Milwaukee West Line

My annual trips to Chicago each December have become my primary opportunity, despite the short days and cold temperatures, to shoot head end video on METRA commuter trains. Of course METRA, with its slow diesel services and frequent station stops, would not normally make for the most exciting head end videos and METRA has already posted head end videos from all of its lines on YouTube making my efforts unnecessary. However what METRA and few others have done is get their ass up early in the morning to film express runs into Chicago from the outer suburbs. For the last 5 years I have gotten express run video from one of METRA's many routes and in 2019 I turned my attention to the Milwaukee West line that offers an express service between Schaumburg, IL and Union Station with only 2 intermediate stops at Franklin Park and Western Ave. In addition to the express run I am also going to throw up some other videos from that day.

As I was staying out near O'Hare the first part of my run was to take a North Central Service train to River Grove on the Milwaukee West Line. NCS trains, running on a former Soo Line route, turn onto the MILW West line at Tower B-12. This connection was beefed up in the mid-1990's to support the new service. My train takes the Diverging Clear on southbound NSC main track #1 and turns onto MILW West Line main track #2. Note the swirling Mars (tm) brand headlight.



Here we see my NCS trainset departing River Grove towards Chicago Union Station under a clear indication on the Milepost 14 intermediate signal. Power is being provided by MP36PH-3C #406.



As I waited for my express train at Schaumburg, METRA #73, a recently acquired ex-Surfliner F59PHI, leads 4 car local en-route to Union Station on the Milwaukee West Line. Note the Milepost 31 automatic signal upgrading from Advance Approach to Clear. A short turn local had just departed Roselle and the signal at Roselle West interlocking had upgraded to Approach.



Finally we get to the head end view from the express Milwaukee West Line train as it makes a non-stop run from Schaumburg to Franklin Park. Note the CN Bensenville Rail Yard with the active (albeit re-signaled) Tower B-17 at the west end.



Departing Franklin Park the train once again runs express all the way to the CNW crossing at Western Ave. The run includes a diverging movement at the new Tower B-6 interlocking, that was carved out of the old Tower A-5 (Pacific Jct) a few years ago. Note former Milwaukee Road F40C's #611 and #614 in the Western Ave Yard deadline ahead of some old Pullman and Budd gallery coaches.



We conclude with a race between my train and what I think is a Milwaukee North line train between Western Ave and Union Station. Unlike my previous video where a North Central Service train I was riding lost out in a race over the same stretch, this time my train was victorious and arrived first. Note the departing Amtrak Hiawatha train near Green St.



Well thanks for watching and stay tuned for the still photos from this trip.

19-12-04 PHOTOS: Capitol Limited Christmas

As was the case in several previous years I once again found myself heading to Chicago in the chilly month of December. In order to keep my Amtrak rewards point balance at and acceptable level I decided to spring for a bedroom on the Capitol Limited out of Washington, DC. Although it wasn't raining like it had been in 2018, it would be one of the shortest days of the year and with a 4pm departure I would only have about an hour's worth of light departing DC along with severe backlighting issues heading into Chicago. Both of these predictions turned out to be true, however without the rear coach being closed as in previous years my haul of photos exceeded my expectations. You can find the full set here ( mirror ) and stay tuned for a spscial video post covering the entire Chicago trip.

In order to reach Washington, DC Union Station I started my trip at the Halethorpe MARC station where split level cab car #8056 was leading a mid-day local. 

Entering the station past K TOWER and MARC MP36PH-3C #25.

Departing the MARC local, en-route to the Metropolitan lounge, Amtrak ACS-86 #653 was blue flagged on the adjacent track.

 When my train was called, that day's late arriving eastbound Train 30 trainset was just getting shoved out to Ivy City yard.



Power on Train 29 that day was Amtrak P42DC's #144 and #135.

19-11-30 PHOTOS: Rainthorpe

Normally the weather on my post-thanksgiving Sunday Amtrak photo excursions has been excellent. Alright, usually it's more than a little chilly, but if anything the early setting sun results in a severe excess of Golden Hour. Well, you roll the dice often enough eventually it comes up "electoral college tie" and in 2019 the weather on Amtrak Sunday wasn't just wet or drizzly, it was a straight up light to moderate rain. While the Halethorpe MARC station provided more covered waiting space than many of the alternatives such as Martin Airport, it was a struggle to keep the lens free of water. Amtrak was also running less extras, clearly having run the numbers and shifted its service to Saturday. As a result I was able to call it quits after the passage of Amtrak Holiday Extra #1056 instead of having to wait for the southbound Arrow III trainsets, which had both been axed. You can find the full set of photos here (mirror).

For everyone's convenience I will lead off with my edited GoPro montage of the day's traffic. After some technical difficulties on the previous Wednesday I managed to compensate and missed fewer trains.




The first train that passed was northbound Newport News Regional Train #96 led by ACS-86 #647. You can see the level of wetness from the spray of water kicked up by the pantograph shoe.

Moving to the north end of the station I caught southbound Amtrak Silver Starve Train #91 with ACS-86 #603 providing the tractive effort.

This was followed by southbound Regional Train 195 with ACS-86 #616.

Track #3 was seeing a lot of traffic that day with the Regional followed by a Sunday MARC local sporting Split Level Cab Car #8053 and MARC SC44 #87.

Most years there are about 20-30 other fans out at Halethorpe for Amtrak Sunday. This year with the lack of NJT Arrow's and the crummy weather I was joined only by a lone senior citizen and a really enthusiastic young kid who can be seen here giving a wave to Amtrak Acela Express Power Car #2004 heading north on the less frequently used track #2.