19-09-06 PHOTOS: NEC Cleanup

I've been taking bottom to top (Baltimore to Boston) NEC trips multiple times a year for about a decade now and there seem to be always bits and pieces that I don't get a chance to photograph from the rear of Regional trains.  For example, as I used to get on in Baltimore it would take until about Martin State Airport to get my ticket collected and between Providence and Boston I was often shooting video.  Well, here in 2019 I did my best to fill in some of the gaps, starting in BWI, running up to Boston and then transferring to a Downeaster train to Exeter, NH. You can see the complete set of photos here (mirror).

Starting at BWI during the morning peak the first train to pass through was a southbound MARC Penn Line express led by bi-level K-cab-car #7857 and propelled by HHP-8 #4915.  The HHP-8's have returned from refurbishment after the SC44's proved unable to handle long peak period trains.

Speaking of the devil, here is SC44 #86 with a shorter northbound consist running express on the center track at BWI.

My Regional train 170 was being hauled by Amtrak ACS-86 #612.

Ticket collected I managed to catch this southbound Regional passing through BRIDGE interlocking south of Baltimore.

Southbound view Baltimore Union tunnels.  The tunnel on the right is the original bore with the tunnel on the left being added in the 1930's to support increased traffic and electrification.

NS C44-9W #9478 at Bayview Yard.  MoW work on Track #3 pushed my train over onto track #1, normally the domain of MARC.

 Heading north on track #1 at Martin State Airport with MoW equipment and Amtrak GP15D #579 on track #3.

 Passing a southbound Acela on Track #2 with power car #2002.

CSX GP40-2 #6212 waiting on the ramp at MORRIS interlocking to gain access to the NEC from Morrisville Yard.  This is likely a Conrail SAO move to service local freight customers on the NEC. 

 Pacing an NJT Midtown Direct train as it heads towards the Secaucas connection with ALP-46 #4620.



Amtrak ACS-86 #623 in Penn Station. 

East Side Access work continues to reconfigure HAROLD interlocking in Queens, but the new HAROLD tower still stands. 

  

A trio of classic New Haven Railroad interlocking tower still standing along the Metro North New Haven Line.  SS26 PIKE, SS28 GREEN and SS72 DEVON.

 Danbury branch shuttle with MNRR BL20-GH #113 at South Norwalk.

Amtrak ACS-86s #635 and #619 at the New Haven Engine terminal waiting to take charge of Springfield Line through trains.

Former New Haven painted Shore Line East GP40-3H #6699 now in CT Rail service to Hartford and Springfield.

SLE cab car #1711 at MILL RIVER interlocking.  This train is running slightly late as usually Amtrak Train 170 passes it right of the border of Metro North territory west of Mill River.

Classic painted P&W GP38-2 #2008 with a pair of freight cars and a sister unit on a siding near Cranston, RI.   New owner Genesee & Wyoming has since transferred these two Geeps to other properties in order to make the P&W an all GE operation.

 MBTA cab car #1822 on the rear of a westbound Providence Line train near Pawtucket, RI.

 The easiest way to make a Downeaster connection is to transfer to the Orange Line at Back Bay.  Delays with the new Chinese rolling stock have kept the 1980 vintage Hawker Siddley cars on a bit past their sell by date.  The braking system was also making some strange noises!

The new Boston Garden/North Station mixed-use headhouse had been completed, eliminating the roundabout pedestrian route to access the facility.

Amtrak F40PH cab car #406 was on the west end of the Downeaster trainset.  #406 had previously been used on the 40th Aniversary trainset.

MBTA Comet cab car #1636 sat on the adjacent track.

Farther up the platform MBTA HSP46 #2030 was idling next to Amtrak P42DC #132.

Several tracks over MBTA GP40MC #1134 was standing next to HSP46 #2025.

While I was waiting for departure, an inbound train led by bi-level cab car #1824 and powered by GP40MC #1117 pulled in next to #2030.

Here we see a train with HSP-46 #2003 and Comet cab car #1634 departing track #6 while another train departs from track #1. The MBTA likes to schedule its movements in and out of North Station in waves to maximize throughput and minimize conflicts.

Amtrak F40PH #406 on the rear of my Downeaster trainset, shown here departing Exeter, NH.



Tune in next week as I travel back to Philadelphia in style via Acela Express first class.