22-12-05 VIDEOS: Elmhurst

This is a followup video post related to my Metra trip to Elmhurst for nab an inbound UP-West Line morning express run. In addition to the run itself I also have a few additional Metra videos taken at the Elmhurst station.

The first video shows METRA F40PH-3 #127 departing Elmhurst at the head of an inbound UP West Line morning express train. This was the first day of a new schedule with 10 additional inbound trains and this specific new train was running about 5 minutes late as the crews and dispatchers has not quite gotten the new service down pat. For a brief moment my friend and I were worried that this was somehow our intended inbound express train, but we stood firm and were ultimately correct in our assessment.



The second video comes after we had crossed over to the outbound platform when another bonus inbound local METRA UP-West line train powered by F40PH-3 #147 pulled into the station.



While this train was performing its work at the platform, UP GP15AC #728 towing a lone Metra gallery car rolled by on the center train and challenged #147 to a bit of a race and despite the shop move's rolling start the loaded Metra commuter train managed to out accelerate the little yard engine that could and take the Clear signal at PARK interlocking first.



Alright, time for the main attraction. Here is video from the front of an inbound morning METRA express train from Elmhurst to Oak Park. Because of the new schedule the dispatcher appears to forget about our train approaching PROVO JCT, but they remember before our train has to come to a complete stop.



The second part of the trip covers from Oak Park to the former Chicago Northwestern Terminal. A restricted speed crossiver, as opposed to the usual 40mph movement, at KEDZIE adds some additional time, but the trip is otherwise without delay. Included in the video the morning conga line of deadhead commuter trains traveling back to the Western Ave and California Ave yard. Also at the 5:50 mark we catch up with UP #Y728 and the shop move waiting at KEDZIE for us to pass.



Well I hope you liked all the photos and video. Up next is a trip back out west to see some more sights on the Tennessee Pass Line.

19-03-27 VIDEOS: Chicago Terminal Approaches

Once again it is time for a special video post. Typically when my efforts at still photography are being hampered by backlighting or inclement weather, I break out the old GoPro and stick it up on the back window to salvage something from an otherwise sub-optimal situation. In this case I was presented with an opportunity to document the Chicago Line approach into Chicago on Amtrak's Train 29, the Capitol Limited. Later in the day I got some better lighting conditions outbound on the Metra Heritage Corridor onboard Amtrak's Train 21, the Texas Eagle.

The first video covers the segment between CP-479 and CP-500, which covers the famous Porter Junction where the Amtrak Michigan Line diverges at CP-482. Over the past 10 years NS has invested heavily in this stretch to increase capacity for the Wolverine Service passenger trains that use the Chicago Line between 21ST ST and CP-482. This includes a new CP-485, a relocated CP-490 connected to a new CP-492 with a new controlled siding, a new CP-494 and a new CP-500. For this one the NS dispatchers did a pretty good job of routing my train around numerous westbound freights.



The next video covers the segment between CP-501 and CP-ENGLEWOOD. Notable parts include the now closed HICK tower, a fully signaled third track between HICK and CP-509, a westbound NS freight crossing into yard tracks at CP-506, a new full crossover equipped CP-507, two NS freights waiting for a CSX train to pass through the second track on the CP-509 lift bridge and the new METRA flyover at CP-ENGLEWOOD that eliminated a 3x2 set of diamonds.



The last Capitol Limited video covers the final segment between CP-ENGLEWOOD and the South Branch Bridge at 21ST ST crossing. Note the partly green painted GP33ECOs in the NS 47th St Yard, which were rebuilt as lower emissions locomotives with money from a Federal grant. Most NS traffic turns off at CP-518 and then travels to various yards via the old PRR Panhandle/B&OCT route through the Brighton Park and Ash St crossings. The 21ST ST crossing involves the former Alton railroad, later a part of the GM&O, Illinois Central Gulf and ultimately Canadian National.



It is to the former Alton route that my last video takes us, with the video starting right before BRIDGEPORT interlocking with a CTA train running parallel on the Orange Line. Amtrak Train 21, the Texas Eagle, crosses at grade the 5 tracks at BRIGHTON PARK, then 3 more Santa Fe tracks at CORWITH, two Belt Railway of Chicago tracks at BELT JCT and finally another two Indiana Harbor Belt tracks at ARGO. Along the way Train 21 passes a CN local with a Grand Truck painted Geep and some MoW work around Lockport before finally ending up at the rebuilt Joliet Union Station.



Tune in next week as we head back to Chicago for some various Chicago Union Terminal photos.

17-08-31 VIDEOS: New Haven Line

On previous trips I had captured rear facing NEC video between Baltimore and New York Penn and between New Haven and Boston. Therefore the 90 or so minute length of the MNRR New Haven Line was one of the last major segments remaining.

Because I was sort of sick of shooting stills out the back, I put up my camera and decided to take a little break. There are three videos, New Rochelle to Stamford, Stamford to Bridgeport and Bridgeport to New Haven. The last video gets a little exciting as we almost got stuck with no power just outside the station, but for more details you'll need to read down.

First up, New Rochelle to Stamford. Around 09:30 we overtake, race and eventually pass an eastbound M8 local. Then there is construction on both track 3 and 2, prompting a crossover from track 2 to 4 at GREEN.



Here we see Stamford to Bridgeport. Here the last of the 1918 vintage New Haven catenary is being removed with track 4 being intact as wire crews work track 2. On the westbound local track 3 we pass at least one train of M8 and an Amtrak Regional.



Finally we have Bridgeport to New Haven. Here note the new 4th track from SS73 through to the New Haven terminal. Sometime around 17:00 a fault in the ACS-86 locomotive cut power and caused the pans to drop. The train coasted for a full 8 minutes, all the way into New Haven station stopping just two carlengths short of the usual spot when the air pressure dropped low enough to cause an emergency application. At New Haven the fault was reset and the train proceeded on with just a slight delay. The long coast was made possible due to a generally descending grade into New Haven from the west.



 I did manage to take a few side window shots including the closed SS45 WALK and SS53 GREENS FARMS interlocking towers.

Hope you enjoyed that. Next week we will return to stills with a trip along Amtrak's Shore Line.

16-10-30 VIDEOS: Autumn Express - Amtrak Harrisburg Line

Rear vestibule access on the Autumn Express didn't just mean I could take great pictures out the back, I could also shoot video. In fact, thanks to my GoPro, I could do both at the same time. Although the NS freight route was the rare mileage, I saved my limited battery and memory card capacity for the faster / more exciting eastbound Amtrak Harrisburg Line run, including the NY->Pittsburgh subway. While in theory this line does have a railfan view from the Metroliner Cab Cars, the Autumn express run would be, well, express, and who can say no to that.

We begin with our departure from the former PRR Harrisburg Station. With me in the vestibule was an older gentleman and a kid, both railfans and sources of interesting commentary. This video includes a segment of wrong railing between STATE and ROY, where we return to track #1 to pass train 43, the westbound Pennsylvanian. We then proceed to RHEEMS interlocking where we cross back over to track #2.



Now because the eastbound Pennsylvanian and a westbound Keystone needing to do their thing at Lancaster before we tied up the platform, we were put on track to and then ran at reduced speed in order to kill time. I had gone to take a nap then returned to see the train moving at Restricted speed. At the time I assumed it was a signal problem, but actually they wisely wanted to keep the foliage train moving, even at a crawl, to avoid having the lookie lous stare at the same tree for half an hour.



After the easily amused railfans got their faux arrival photos at Lancaster, we departed and proceeded to run express all the way to Newark, New Jersey. This video just captures the part through to Downingtown where I cut it to change batteries in order to get the old PRR Main Line without a disruption. Note the new PARK interlocking, the old PARK tower and the still active THORN tower. Also note the closed Irishtown Rd crossing because stimulus money.



Now this video is something special. Like I said in the previous post, because of work in BRWN MAWR interlocking, our train was routed on Track 3 eastbound through PAOLI interlocking and then on to OVERBROOK. Not only are reverse movements on Main Line track #3 (the only Rule 261 track) uncommon, but since this video was taken, both tracks 2 and 3 through Paoli station were cut and removed to make way for an island platform :-( Also included in this video is the trip through the NY-Pittsburgh Subway (although that was also included as a stand-alone in the previous post).



Because of the catastrophic backlighting, I basically gave up on video and photos after we joined the NEC. I had previously shot GoPro video on the route and didn't see a need for another, worse edition. However I did get one short segment capturing SHORE interlocking and the Frankford Jct curve.



Well I hope you enjoyed my little rare millage trek across PA. Tune in next week as I return to the NS Reading line for some close up photos with friend of Subchat, Kevin Painter.

15-09-03 VIDEOS: Amtrak Shore Line - GoPro

Amtrak crews on the upper new tend to be much more chill and over time I have been able to collect a good number of rear-facing videos between New Haven and Boston. In fact the greatest obstacle to videos has been catastrophic back lighting and extreme weather, like Boston's record snowfall, that results in crap getting on the rear window.

Last Labor Day I was once again headed up to Boston and decided to use my GoPro to get a more complete HD record of Amtrak's Shore Line. Below are a number of videos covering the route from Old Saybrook to Boston Back Bay.

The first video runs from Old Saybrook to New London. I try to get the videos to around 20-30 minutes due to the battery consumption rate of the GoPro. This segment includes the Connecticut River, Niantic River and Shaw's Cove movable bridges.




This next segment runs from New London to Kingston, RI. It includes the Thames and Mystic river movable bridges. This Regional train (172) did not make the Mystic or Westerly stops.



From there we travel from Kingston to Providence. Right off the bat note the work at Kingston to give it two full length high level platforms. That is also in the middle of one of the 150mph Acela runs.



The next part from Prividence, PI to Route 128 contains the other 150mph Acela run.



Finally we proceed through Boston's Southwest corridor trench to Boston South Station.



I hope you enjoyed the ride. Next week tune in the the still photos taken along this route, Boston and New Hampshire.

15-05-07 VIDEOS: Train 79 GoPro

So last week I threw up my videos from a vestibule ride taken on Train 79 between Alexandria and Selma. However thanks to my capitol upgrade I am now able to offer both stills and video taken at the same time. With a suction cup mount and sufficient batteries I can stick up my GoPro on the rear window and let it record as I shoot away with my regular camera or just sit in my seat using Amtrak's WiFi. On this run I was able to capture the entire RF&P Sub and about half of the A-Line between Richmond and Selma. I would have taken more, but GoPro cameras eat battery power like candy and despite having a total of 5 batteries they were pretty much drained by the time we turned onto NS.

We start off at Alexandria, VA, departing southbound as Train 20, the Crescent, performs its station work on the opposite track. Unfortunately I had another issue with a corrupted video file transfer and then a later file transfer that resulted in the loss of the original file so most of this video between Alexandria and Qhantico lacks audio. Look for the work on the new third track as the train approaches Quantico.



Continuing on from Quantico to Fredericksburg, the third track work continues down to about the location of ARKENDALE interlocking.



Between Fredericksburg and Doswell, VA we pass by additional third track work and the site of the new VRE Spotsylvania Station. Eventually we are forced to stop and wait at NORTH DOSWELL for northbound traffic as one track is blocked for MoW work. By this point I was making a better effort to get the radio chatter on the video.



Once we had the railroad again Train 79 crossed over the Doswell diamond and proceeded towards Richmond via the street running in Ashland, VA (where Train 79 does not stop).




If you read my trip report you'll remember that I mentioned how between Richmound and Petersburg I was all excited to have caught the Strates carnival train, but later discovered I had left the lens cap on. Well here is that video presented as an audio adventure. My recommendation is to run it in parallel with the video that lacks audio ;-)



Given battery constraints I wanted to be able to record coherent chunks of the route and there was just no way I would have enough juice to last the hour or more from Petersburg to Rocky Mount. So I decided to capture the chunk between Rocky Mount and Selma, but to help ease battery issues on future runs I also recorded the segment between Petersburg and Collier Yard. Note the new BX interlocking where the Amtrak Norfolk Regional branches off to Norfolk.





Starting up again at Rocky Mount we enter the South End sub and pass by the Rocky Mount Yard on the way to Voit Wilson, NC on the 2-track main line.



It's back to mostly single track in our last video of the day we head to Selma, NC where Train 79 turns off onto the former Southern Railway H-Line. I had a little problem with the battery dying just minutes before we reached Selma, so that's what the odd jump cut is about.



Hope you liked the videos. Look for more in the future covering the Amtrak Shore Line between Old Saybrook and Boston.

14-11-08 PHOTOS: Rockville Round Trip

When Amtrak announced it's 2014 Fall Foliage Trip to and from the Rockville Bridge via the Conrail Harrisburg Line I was on board immediately. However this year riders were presented with a choice of days (Saturday or Sunday) from the beginning. This year I decided to go with Sunday with a plan to drive up to Rockville on Saturday to photograph the excursion train from the ground before returning to Philly to ride it. This would also provide me the opportunity to undertake some critical signalfanning.

You can find the full set of photos covering both Saturday and Sunday's activities here

I should also mention that this set of photos marks the debut of my GoPro Hero 3+ capability for railfan purposes.

We can start off with a stop at HARRIS tower in Harrisburg, PA. The tower wasn't officially open, but a number of Harrisburg Chapter fans were inside to watch the Amtrak special. The big Model 14 interlocking machine wasn't on for playing with, but I took a photo anyway.

Outside an NS freight was passing by on the Harrisburg Line led by C40-8W #8439 and C40-8 #8714.

I wanted to get some photos of STATE interlocking before it was re-signaled, but due to a road bridge replacement project all I could get was this external view of the tower.

Amtrak P42DC #71 was that day's protect engine.

Driving on US 15 gives one a great view of the PRR style slide fence when passing through the Blue Ridge water gap. Here you can see the whole thing in video form before pulling into the Appalachian Trail parking lot at CP-SOUTH FERRY.



At CP-SOUTH FERRY I encountered an NS freight tied up on the Ferry siding on the Buffalo Line. Power consisted of C40-8W #8442 and C40-9W #9009.

The PRR PL signals at CP-SOUTH FERRY had been replaced by Darth Vaders, but the interlocking itself did not appear to have been replaced as evidenced by the original 1950's vintage CTC hut. Fortunately CP-NORTH FERRY was still in its original configuration.

My ultimate destination was CP-NORTH MILLER since not only did it feature some interesting PRR PL signals, but I had located a phone number for the relay hut while searching Google and I was hoping I could get a video of making the internal phone ring. No Dice :-(

The vintage signals had been refurbished by NS to give a few more years of faithful service.

At CP-SOUTH MILLER a pair of Conrail hacks had been preserved for an unknown fate.

At Rockville the Amtrak extra was delayed waiting of a westbound NS stack train to pass through. C40-9W #9686 and SD60M #6775 were providing power.

When the Amtrak special showed up it pulled out onto the Rockville Bridge before reversing back into the Wye.

The 4W PRR dwarf signal displaying Slow Clear for the reverse movement at CP-WYE.

A spike of railfans forming a photo line.

Conference Car #9800 rounding the curve into CP-WYE.

Amtrak Veterans P42DC #42 along side Phase II Heritage unit #156.