19-01-24 PHOTOS: Selkirk Junction

Once again it is time for my annual ski trip to the New York Capitol Region. As in years past I managed to schedule in a railfan event, however the area has been so depleted by re-signaling efforts it was necessary for me to turn to the late Conrail era signals that remain up at CP-SK, the eastern gateway to Selkirk yard and the junction between the Conrail Boston and River lines. Also included in this set are Amtrak NEW and Hudson Line photos taken on the way to and from Albany. You can find the full set of photos here (mirror).

Like many of my recent Amtrak journeys this one began at the BWI Airport Station where Amtrak ACS-86 #652 was seen in MARC service at the rear of a heavy morning bi-level express commuter run.

At Penn Station my Regional wound up adjacent to Metroliner Cab Car #9638 on a waiting Westbound Keystone Service train.

Departing Penn Station on the Empire Line I got this video from the rear of the train as it crossed the Inwood movable bridge and then crossed over from Metro North Hudson Line track 6 to track 1 at DV interlocking.



At Albany my train pulled in across from Phase III heritage painted P32AC-DM #701.

Due to the bad weather and a general lack of rail stuff to see, my friend and I make a quick visit to the Schaghticoke hydro-electric plant, which was constructed in 1902 with a capacity of 16MW.

Moving on to CP-SK (Selkirk Junction?), I caught a light engine move consisting of CSX C40-10W's #5312 and #5496 splitting the eastbound Conrail style signals as they headed westbound towards the yard. Conrain rebuilt CP-SK in its last year or so of existance and so far CSX has not seen the need to substantially alter it as Conrail signal rules are still in effect on the former Boston and River lines.

A new interlocking, CP-12, was constructed directly to the west of CP-SK to help flow in and out of the yard. This interlocking also uses Conrail signal rules like R/R/Y Restricting as displayed on the track 2 westbound mast.

After the signal upgraded to Approach Medium, a northbound River Line unit train of autoracks rounded the curve and proceeded towards Selkirk Yard. Power was provided by CSX ES44AH #3019 and NS SD60M #6800, in its last few months before retirement. 

Shortly thereafter a southbound autorack train powered by CSX C40-9W #9019 and SD40-2 #8383. The 52 CSX 9000-series C40-9W's were the test production batch for the GE Dash-9 line and retain some components from the earlier Dash-8 units like the trucks. 

A rather short train with an obnoxious amount of distributed power (4, 4400hp units) soon showed up from the Boston Line and then proceeded into the yard.

Three of the four units were new CSX ET44's #3461 and #3347 in front and #3415 on the rear along with AC4400 #562. #3415 has the Georgia Road heritage sticker applied to the cab nose.

CP-SK consists of a two track ladder onto the River Line from the Selkirk Branch, a single track opposite ladder from the Selkirk Branch onto the Albany Secondary and a wye connection from the Boston Line to the southbound River Line. 

Nearby, Amtrak installed a new full crossover, CP-149, as part of the Hudson Line double tracking project between Albany and Schenectady. Although it is placed at the half-way point between the two cities, there are additional half crossovers at CP-156 and CP-145 that were retained from the old configuration. 

Clear signals on track #1 southbound out of the rebuilt Albany terminal.

Metro North M3 #8107 and New Haven railroad P32AC-DM #231 at the Croton Harmon shoppes. 

The old Tappen Zee bridge in the process of being deconstructed next to the replacement span.

Amtrak Acela Express power car #2037 waiting at Penn Station with the rear view mirror deployed. 

ACS-86 #654 also at Penn Station.

While returning to BWI my Regional was significantly delayed due to an NS derailment at RIVER interlocking earlier in the morning. Only one of the 4 tracks was open for service and a pair of NS GP38-2's, #5604 and OLS #5670 were on hand to move damaged equipment.

Well that's it for now. Next week I'll head back to Boston with some more NEC photos.