17-10-21 PHOTOS: HIP HARRIS

The Harrisburg Terminal area of the former Pennsylvania Railroad is currently anchored by the former Conrail Pittsburgh Line crossing the Rockville Bridge and two wye junctions on either side of it. On the east the wye is composed of CP-ROCKVILLE and CP-WYE and forms the junction with the Buffalo Line to the north. On the other side the wye is formed by CP-MARY, CP-BANKS and CP-HIP and forms the junction with the Enola Branch to the south.

As I have previously taken photos at CP-ROCKVILLE and CP-BANKS, I decided to give CP-HIP and it's related photo points a try. In addition I paid a visit to HARRIS tower and the former Conrail CP-HARRIS that closed said tower back around 1992. As one might expect this set contains a lot of freight action along with the usual fare of signals and interlocking photos.

We begin with NS ES44AC #8169 and SD80MAC #7211 crossing the Rockville Bridge with an empty coal train. I have been quite fortunate with encountering the 25 former Conrail SD80MAC's, having previously spotted one on the NS Buffalo Line just a few week prior to this. They are passing the eastbound mast signals for CP-ROCKVILLE including two modern pattern PRR Position Lights that were installed when the interlocking was reconfigured around the year 2000. They will soon be replaced due to a general re-signaling project.

Here we see the pair passing the westbound mast signal for CP-MARY. Previously the wye track from CP-HIP ran across the bridge to CP-ROCKVILLE, however after some wind related derailments into the river, the track was cut short and pushed into track #1 before the crossing.

Reading Blue Mountain and Northern anthracite coal cars heading into Enola Yard over the Mary flyover.

A conductor rides a covered hopper while an NS Road-Slug set composed of GP40-2 #3006 and former Geep road slug #747.

NS C44-9W #9618 sits on the D running track north of Enola Yard with a loaded coal train while an eastbound manifest train crosses over on the Pittsburgh Line.

Manifest train led by NS ES44AC #8037 passes under the eastbound signal bridge at CP-HARRIS. Created in 1992 to avoid have Conrail trains being signaled through an Amtrak interlocking , CP-HARRIS made use of small target searchlight signals and, in this case, a cost saving alternate to a modern style signal bridge. Before this all movements through HARRIS interlocking had been at slow speed, governed by dwarf signals. This ad-hoc structure will be replaced by a purpose built signal bridge in the pending re-signaling project.

NS C44-9W #9322 and a train of douplestacks taking a diverging route through CP-HARRIS as seen from the state street bridge.

NS C40-8W passing HARRIS tower.

NS GP38-2 #5355 and GP40-2 #3031 meeting C44-9W #9428 in front of HARRIS tower.

A bit of foreign power was mixed into the passing parade. In this case UP SD70M #4978.

Westbound NS merchandise train at CP-HARRIS with NS C44-9W #9494, NS SD60M #6795 and UP SD70M #4593. Also note the CP-HARRIS 2W signal displaying Medium Approach for the upcoming westbound Pennsylvanian.


NS C44-9W #9877 about to knock down a westbound signal at CP-HARRIS located just before the State St bridge.

NS C44-9W #9839 running long hood forward at the head of a light engine move heading back to the Rutherford intermodal terminal after visiting the Harrisburg Fuel Pad. Also in the consist were UP SD70ACe engines #8465 and #8544.

New NS ET44AC #3609 passing by HARRIS.

The weekend crew at Harris along with the model board.

A major overhaul was being planned for the Model 14 interlocking machine and LED lights were being considered.

I'll finish with some random photos taken at night at Baltimore Penn Station. Here we see Amtrak Acela Express Power Car #2025 and MARC HHP-8 #4913.

Well that's it. Next time we travel to Valley Stream, NY for some LIRR action!