18-11-21 PHOTOS: High Levitt

Yup, it's that time of year again when Amtrak adds extra cars and extra trains to its Northeast Corridor service to accomidate all of the families and students traveling for thanksgiving. This year I returned to Levittown after a botched session at Tacony in 2017. The draw was a new high level platform and station structure that was nearing completion and would hopefully provide a better vantage point and background for the photos. As is traditional I went out with local railfan Chuchubob and we were able to cover the passing NEC traffic from about 11am to 1pm. You can find all of the photos here.

Traveling to the Levittown station involves passing through the town of Burlington, NJ and of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch a RiverLINE LRV passing the old PRR Burlington station. The signal at RiverLINE CP-17.5 was displaying a Medium Clear so we didn't have long to wait for #3519 to show up. Note the Conrail blue BURLINGTON station sign has been removed from the station building that now hosts a local police substation.

Before we were able to leave a southbound RiverLINE LRV, #3505, also made an appearance. 

Heading across the incredibly narrow Burlington Bristol vertical lift bridge.

Since 2015 I have been capturing both video and stills at these Thanksgiving events and the question always arises if I should present the video before or after the stills. This time I am going to just get it out of the way and go for before. Full description of all the trains captured can be found on YouTube.



Immediately upon arrival a CSX local freight wandered by heading south ex-Conrail with GP40-2 #4428 and ex-B&O GP40-2 #6137.

The northbound platform featured better sight lines to Bob and I crossed over via the new pedestrian bridge just in time for a northbound R7 to arrive led by SEPTA Silverliner IV #126.

The SEPTA local was then passed by both Acela Express power car #2038 leading Train 2153 and Amtrak ACS-86 #657 leading Regional Train #141.

The next train was a southbound SEPTA R7 local with Silverliner V #875 on the front.

This was followed by Acela Express Train 32158 with power cars #2036 and #2017.

Then Regional Train 86 with ACS-86 #660.

After that we caught one of the special trains, southbound Amtrak Regional Extra Train #1195 with ACS-86 #644 and an additional food service car.

This was followed by a keystone service train with ACS-86 #669 and Metroliner Cab Car #9641.

Next, the half-hourly northbound SEPTA R7 local, bracketed by SL-V's #810 and #728, was abruptly passed by Amtrak Regional Train 184 pulled by ACS-86 #656.

Following that westbound Amtrak Train 43, the Pennsylvanian, rolled by with ACS-86 #633.

Next up was Amtrak Acela Express #2151 with power cars #2007 and #2028. Note the watchman with the whistle sign protecting the contractors who are still working on the ends of the new high level platforms. 

Rinse, wash, repeat. Southbound Amtrak Newport News Regional Train 95 with ACS-86 #665 passing by the MP 66.5 automatic signals. 

Shortly thereafter we got nothbound Amtrak Acela Express #2160 with power cars #2005 and #2008.

That first SEPTA R7 SL-IV trainset has returned from Trenton with #359 leading.

That morning's money shot came from Amtrak Regional Extra Train #1174 with ACS-86 #617 on track #2 racing Amtrak Silver Meteor Train 98 with ACS-86 #661 on track #1. As track #1 is 110mph vs track 2's 125mph, the Regional was slowly pulling ahead and would likely be signaled first into the Trenton station stop. 

I got some more LD action with southbound Amtrak Silver Starve Train 91 and ACS-86 #646.

Followed by northbound Amtrak Keystone Train #648 with ACS-86 #610 and Metroliner Cab Car #9647. Here we can see the new passenger overpass structure that replaced an older tunnel. Always great to see the doubling of passengers delta-y and the addition of two maintenance intensive elevators being billed as "progress". 

Before leaving the track #1 platform I managed to catch northbound Roanoke Regional Train #174 with ACS-86 #620.

There was another stroke of good luck as Amtrak Veterans painted ACS-86 #642 rolled by the construction gang.

After departing Levittown Bob and I found a nice place for lunch before heading out to Woodbourne on the SEPTA West Trenton Line, however we were unable to catch anything there. Stay tuned as I next head down to Halethorpe, MD for Amtrak's Thanksgiving Sunday action!