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. 

14-08-28 PHOTOS: Hudson Line 125th Street

One might expect that the photos from my annual Labour Day trip to New Englande, but this time I took a side trip to visit fellow Subchatter Lexcieeee who happens to live in Ossining which gave me an opportunity to take some photos and videos of the Metro North Hudson Line. The first photo stop was at Oscawana Island, which is that place in Courtlandt where the 3-track Hudson line bores through a small rock ridge via two tunnels.

The next day while connecting to Boston via Amtrak at New Haven I spend an hour or so photographing the morning rush at Harlem 125th St Station. After that I wandered around the New Haven station complex a little longer than I had anticipated due to my Regional train being significantly delayed.

Finally, I took a few more photos in and around the Portland, NH area. You can enjoy the full set of photos here and also stay tuned for a special video post to follow.

We begin at Grant Central Terminal with M3 #8017

Unfortunately that Budd was not for me as I caught a Push-pull trainset to Ossining with Shoreliner cab car #6309.

After heading out to the park, the first train that showed up was the westbound Amtrak Train #49 being pulled by a beleaguered P32AC-DM #707. Heritage cars still in consist.

Following close behind was an MNRR Poughkeepsie train with P32AC-DM #206 in the lead and a red-blue set of Shoreliners behind.

Alex told me that there might be a meet and he was right as two MNRR diesel trains passed, the second pushed by P32AC-DM #217.

Not long after southbound Empire service train #242 with Amtrak P32AC-DMs #712 and #713 popped out of the tunnel on track #3.

Here is a video of both the meet and the double headed Empire train.



As we got into rush hour another northbound diesel train with MNRR P32AC-DM #212 headed north of track #2.

Soon followed by a southbound MNRR on track #3 with P32AC-DM #218.

Last but not least a more to the north end of the tunnels bagged me a rear shot of Amtrak Empire train #237.

Alex catches a M3 express train into the city with the last stop of Tarrytown. I can never pass on filming an express run, but before we opened the taps I snagged MNRR P32AC-DM pulling an outbound diesel train just north of the Tarrytown Station.

Now I didn't actually get off at 125th St. I first rode all the way into GCT to get breakfast with Lexcieeee before heading back out via the (4)/(5) to Harlem 125th St station. Once there one of the first trains I caught was an inbound push-pull set with P32AC-DM #223.

A short while later I caught this trio if inbound MNRR equipment heading towards midtown.

A few M2/4/6's were still running like #8516 here.

Here New Haven Railroad P32AC-DM #229 pulls in opposite a brand new M8 trainset.