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.

MARC MP36PH-3C #25 and single level cab car #7759 passing K TOWER.

A MARC trainset with SC44's #83 and #82 was sitting on one of the other low level tracks used by the Capitol Limited trainsets.

Amtrak's downgraded dining car service on the cap was about what one would expect in an Acela or airline first class cabin.  The diner's conversion to a first class drinking lounge was also a plus. Would still prefer the traditional dining car service tho.

Passing by WB tower in Brunswick, MD in the fading twilight.

Fast forward to Pittsburgh at midnight where Amtrak P42DC #98 was at the head of the Pennsylvanian trainset sitting on one of the station tracks awaiting the next morning's departure.

The massive PITT tower, built by the PRR in the 1950's, is now a Port Authority police station.

Pittsburgh station looking west at night with the derelict Conrail helper base that NS closed sometime before 2010.

Passing by EAST CONWAY tower at the PRR's old Conway yard well after midnight.

Due to the lack of any major delays I resuled photo operations as the train was departing Elkhart, IN. Here some NS power sits at the major NS yard facility, originally built by the New York Central. SD70M #2646 was later sold by NS as part of a general fleet downsizing.

Spotted this preserved Illinois Central Highliner sitting in what appears to be a fire department training centre near the tracks in South Bend. I assume the car is used to train first responders on casualty removal.

Stopped at the South Bend Amtrak Station my train was passed by an eastbound NS intermodal train with C44-9W #9647 and and SD70ACe.

Eastbound CP manifest train with an AC4400 on the point and an ES44 buried mid-train as a DPU.

Running close to our slot my Cap was passing trains instead of getting stuck behind them. Here we have a unit ethanol or oil train with BNSF ET44 #3774 in the #2 position.

Two more NS eastbounds near Rolling Prairie. NS C40-10W #7602 was on the first with sibling AC44C6M's #4195 and #4196 on the second. It is likely that those two consecutive units had recently been delivered from GE.

Another eastbound NS freight with C44-9W's #9453 and #9978 at La Porte.

HICK tower at super Golden Hour.

Amtrak P42DC #144 on Chicago Union Station track #22 after a near on time arrival.

Transfering to a METRA North Central Service train it was still early enough to catch the conga line on the CNW tracks with METRA F40PH-3 #142 waiting for clearance through the flat crossing at TOWER A-2.

Passing the now closed Milwaukee Road Tower A-5 with the new signal bridge in the foreground after the old Pacific Junction was split into multiple sub-interlockings.

Passing NS C44-9W #9718 near Grand Cicero on the Milwaukee West line.

Turning off onto the former Soo line at TOWER B-12, an eastbound manifest freight led by KCS ES44AC #4858 and BNSF C44-9W #1086, was waiting for my train to clear up.

Wrapping things up with METRA cab car #8572 shortly after I was deposited at the Rosemont, IL station.

 That is all for my outbound trip. Stay tuned for a special video episode with railfan window footabe of both the NS Chicago Line and METRA Milwaukee West line.