21-11-24 PHOTOS: Croydon Return

After a year off due to COVID I was able to rejoin Chuchubob for our annual Thanksgiving Wednesday NEC carpool. This year, after the traditional south jersey stops at Cove Road and Pennsauken, we traveled to catch the increased Amtrak traffic at the Croydon SEPTA station due to its proximity to a really nice brewpub. Unfortunately over the intervening period, Amtrak had responded to the change in travel patterns and tight labor market by raising prices instead of adding capacity. As a result there were no Thanksgiving Wednesday extra trains, just some extra cars. Still, it was an excuse to get out and take some NEC photos on a really nice fall day. The full set of photos can be found here ( mirror ).

Starting off at the Pennsauken transportation center where we arrived in time to catch an inbound NJT Atlantic City Line train seen here heading over the Delair Bridge before a stop at the station.

NJT RiverLINE trans also tend to pass just north of the Pennsauken transfer station so when you encounter a northbound, a southbound will soon follow. Today #3511 was heading north and #3506 south.

At Cove Road NS SD70ACe #1177 and C40-10W #7516 were in the process of building their train at Pavonia Yard. The train's length was such that the lead units were spraying sand and needed to get routes pulled up at CP-HATCH.

On a hunch Bob drove down to the RiverLINE's 36th St station where we found SD70ACe #1025 in a DPU position ahead of a cut of coal hoppers.

We also caught the next southbound RiverLINE train with #3513.

At Croydon, an outbound SEPTA R7 was first to arrive with Silverliner IV #293.

This was followed by a northbound Amtrak Regional with ACS-86 #625. A major feature of the Croydon station is the proximity to a PRR style intermediate signal location.

A inbound R7 train with Silverliners IV #372, #373, #277 and #296 then arrived. In years past these Thanksgiving adjacent train could be seen with up to 6 cars.

An eastbound Amtrak Keystone was next with ACS-86 #628 and Metroliner Cab Car #9645.

This was followed by a southbound Regional with ACSD-86 #631 and a northbound Regional with #658. Because of the lack of extra trains or oddball equipment I had refrained from keeping track of the train numbers.

For scheduling reasons, Amtrak Train 43 is typically run on the slower track #4. Here #609 passing under the Milepost 69.4 signal bridge.

After that was a southbound Acela Express with power cars #2025 and #2023.

Another inbound R7 passing under the PRR signal bridge with SEPTA Silverliner IV #283 leading.

The southbound Silver Star Train 91 then appeared with ACS-86 #660. In 2020 the Star had its dining car restored after forcing sleeping car passengers to buy food in the café since 2016.

Around this point we went and got lunch and when we returned the northbound Silver Meteor Train 98 was next to arrive with ACS-86 #659 and 5 Viewliners (1 diner, 3 sleepers and 1 baggage).

We were then treated to a second Acela with power cars #2012 and #2013.

Heading back to the car we snagged one last train on the opposite platform, an inbound SEPTA R7 led by Silverliner IV #333.

Although I didn't bother with trying to get video of every train that passed by, I did snag a few clips including Amtrak ACS-86 #616 with southbound Regional Train 171. A northbound Regional with ACS-86 #606, a Northbound SEPTA R7 train with Silverliners IV #293 and #283 at each end. Another Northbound R7 train led by Silverliner V #723 and finally a southbound R7 led by Silverliner IV #296.



That was all for Thanksgiving Wednesday, Next time I'll be back with an actual Amtrak Regional Extra on Thanksgiving Sunday.