23-01-06 PHOTOS: LEAMAN Distants

When the western end of Amtrak's Harrisburg Line was rebuilt in the mid-2000's, the 1940's vintage PRR signaling was replaced by a flavor of cab signaling without intermediate wayside signaling. However at the time Amtrak would install wayside distant signals in advance of interlockings to provide implicit directional information and to ease operations in case of cab signal failure. Recently Amtrak petitioned the FRA to remove these signals citing that they were not actually necessary. As a result set out to get photos at some of the affected signal locations east of Lancaster along with any Keystone Service activity that might show up. To full out the post I have also thrown in some photos from the NEC at Newark, DE and Perryville, MD. You can find the full set of photos here ( mirror ).

The Milepost 64.5 automatic is the distant to HOLLAND interlocking, formerly part of CORK tower's territory around Lancaster. HOLLAND is only in service on track #4 with a trailing post connection to the New Holland industrial track in the westbound direction. It is displaying an Approach indication as an eastbound Keystone train led by ACS-86 #669 with Metroliner Cab Car #9638

The signal is co-located with a radio alarm Hotbox-Dragging Equipment detector that replaced older ones that read out in the local towers before they were closed.

The milepost 55.3 signals are the westbound distants for the new CTC crossover at LEAMAN, a hand operated temporary block station under the old system. Despite the new interlocking, the original slow speed crossover alignment was retained which is why both distant signals can display Approach Slow. Here ACS-86 #648 pushes past en-route to Harrisburg.

This part of the PRR Main Line was electrified between 1937 and 1939 after the PRR had dialed in a lower cost cable span suspension system. Here ACS-86 #665 rounds the curve just past the Strasburg Rail Road junction at Paradise.

Amtrak #665 with its keystone train closer to the Vintage Rd bridge near Kinzers, PA. When the new signaling was installed it was somewhat overbuilt with a high density block arrangement that is almost never fully utilized at today's service levels. This resulted in some interesting signal progressions, especially around LEAMAN with distants displaying Approach, Approach Slow, Cab Speed 60 or 80 and Clear. The track 1 westbound signal can also support Approach Medium/Limited. Recently Amtrak has been simplifying the signal logic, cutting out certain block states so it is not uncommon to see these signals go directly from Stop and Proceed to Clear.

Metroliner cab car #9649 after passing Vintage Road. This right of way originally sported 4 tracks, but was cut back to two tracks in 1948 due to the post-war reduction in traffic and the more efficient use of parallel electrified low-grade freight lines. However the 4-track legacy is still reflected in the track numbering of #1 and #4.

The new Amtrak distant locations did not exactly align with the old PRR Rule 251 ABS signals. Whereas the original PRR era distants would be located a standard 2 mile block length away from the interlocking, the Amtrak signals were about 1 mile away. Here we can see #665 and #9649 passing under the old PRR Milepost 54 signal gantry.

19-11-27 PHOTOS: Croydon

Every year on the Wednesday before thanksgiving I head out to an NEC station with fellow rail enthusiast Chuchubob in order to catch some of the extra trains Amtrak runs to handle the Thanksgiving crowds. Typically it's just one or two extras with the regular trainsets having a few extra cars added to the consist, but it's always a fun time. Still, there exists a struggle not to have the chosen location get too repetitive. At first the chosen location was Bristol, then Morrisville, then Levittown for a few years and even Tioga thanks to a scheduling mixup. In 2019 I idly decided on giving Croydon a try and I was in no way disappointed. Not only did the station have high level platforms with great sight lines in both directions, it was also situated next to the Milepost 69 intermediate signals and a brew pub which eliminated the need to pack things in early and head to lunch. I had such a good time I will surely be back in future years. You can see the full set of 2019 photos here (mirror).

To save you having to scroll down here is a video montage of many of the trains I captured that day. Due to some technical issues I wasn't able to catch all of the trains, but I did manage to get most of them!




The Croydon parade kicks off with an eastbound Amtrak Keystone service train hauled by Amtrak ACS-86 #644 and including cab car #9632.

Next up was an inbound SEPTA R7 led by Silverliner IV #365 with #398 at the rear.

Amtrak Regional Train XXX with Amtrak ACS-86 #653.

Westbound Keystone this time with ACS-86 #661 passing under the Milepost 69.4 intermediate signals. Metroliner Cab Car #9651 was in back.

An outbound six car R7 was next on track #1 with SEPTA Silverliner IV #156 on point.

What followed was a three way meet between Amtrak Train #98, the northbound Silver Meteor, southbound Acela Express Train XXXX and southbound Regional Train XXX. Train 98 was powered by ACS-86 #639 and included 4 sleepers, a diner and a baggage car for a total of 6 Viewliners. The lead AX power car was #2028 with #2007 trailing and the Regional was being hauled by ACS-86 #619

10-05-29 PHOTOS: Harrisburg Line Eastbound

A year ago on Subchat I was posting the first part of my epic PRR Main Line Main Line Survey. However as comprehensive as that survey was it only told half the story because I could only take photos in the eastward direction from my westbound train. Well shortly after i finished positing that epic survey I found myself with Chuchubob on an Amtrak Guest Rewards motivated trip on Amtrak's Harrisburg Line. The trip was to consist of three individual Amtrak trips,Philly to Middletown, Middletown to Harrisburg and Harrisburg to Philly via the Pennsylvanian. Despite the presence of Metroliner cab cars, getting a railfan view, either front or rear, on the line is rather hit and miss as cars are closed and, at least until 2010, the Pennsylvanian had a Club style business class compartment on the rear.

As a result my expectations of this trip were rather low, consisting of just a few pics out the side window and whatever I could take at Middletown and at Harrisburg. However, much to my surprise I discovered that the Pennsylvanian had recieved a full Business Class car which had been moved to the front and therefore there was an open window out the back. Not willing to pass up a gift horse I took advantage of the situation and at least carried out an eastbound survey of the PRR Main Line between Harrisburg and Philly. The weather wasn't the best and most of the pictures had to be taken through two sets of glass, but it captured the state of the line before the segment between Lancaster and Parkesburg before they were re-signaled.

Anyway this set of photos will cover Amtrak operations at Lancaster, Middletown and Harrisburg, Middletown and Hummlestown operations at Middletown and the best of the survey pics taken between Harrisburg and Philly.

You can see the entire set of photos here.

We begin with Amtrak AEM-7 #951 at Lancaster, PA. Due to single tracking ahead we had to wait for about 10-15 minutes at Lancaster and so I had some time to step off and take some photos.

CORK tower had been cut over to the new non-1920's technology interlocking. Here is a photo of the still open tower with a new style relay hut in front of it.

Here is a picture of the new coloruized position mast signals at the new CORK interlocking with a Clear signal displayed on the 2W signal.

The rear Metroliner cab car #9634 was "closed" in terms of people sitting there, but while waiting to depart Lancaster I popped back and took a picture of the cab signal display unit in the Cab Car Cab. This CSS CDU is equipped for ACSES (Amtrak's overlay PTC system) operation with a "track speed" display under the signal speed one. The signal speed is determined by cab signal codes, the track speed is determined by an internal database updated by track mounted beacons that provide TSR and train positioning information. A wider shot reveals that the Metroliner speedometer goes up to 150mph.

Because the CSS unit in the non-operating cab had not been cut out (to eliminate the need for a re-test) it was constantly freaking out as it waited for acknowledgement of the Restricting indication. I love these CDUs both because of their minimalist nature and super awesome full color position light display.



Arriving at Middletown I walked with Bob the few blocks to the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad's yard just south of downtown Middetown. I've been there before, but I felt obligated to take pictures of the SEPTA PCC cars store there like #2104.

Of course you all know ex-SEPTA CTA L car #477 formerly used on the Rt 100, however today I got a nice shot of the inside and what was stored there. I love those classic PCC light fixtures.

Their Western Maryland painted Alco S6.

And their GE 44-ton #1.

Arriving soon after was one of that days excursion runs featuring a former DL&W MU trailer car in push mode, here having the race Street crossing flagged.

After the flagman remounted the M&H's second GE 44-ton passed by pushing on the rear.

Then it was back to the Amtrak station to take a picture of an eastbound Keystone train headed by cab car #9638. Here is a shot of it passing over the PRR road bridge over Union street that was replaced a few months later.

09-12-23 PHOTOS: PAOLI Snow

Last December the Northeast got a little preview of the massive blizzards that would paralyze it later in the next year. The December blizzard dumped a lot of snow, but it was mostly powder that mostly dissipated, but there was enough to give the region a nice coating of white for a week or so. This combined by my need to gain some more Amtrak Guest Reward points gave me the idea to take an Amtrak Keystone round trip between Philadelphia and Paoli (total cost $13) with a 1 Keystone Headway wait at Paoli where I could take photos of the interlocking, station and half hourly SEPTA action.

Later, still trying to round up some AGR points I took another trip out to Paoli to rendezvous with a friend to drive me south after Christmas. Again I got some pictures of the station and interlocking, but this time they were at night to offer a contract to my previous mid-day photos.

The full set can be viewed here.

So I caught a Septa RR train to 30th St where I would pick up the Keystone and I was surprised to get a S-II/III set consisting of S-III #225, Reading S-II # 9008 and S-III #229.

With some time to kill I went to the Circa Center garage and caught the inbound Keystone with Metroliner cab car #9643 on the point.

Arriving at Paoli Metroliner cab car #9651 had a Clear indication displayed on the 12L signal. Power was provided by AEM-7 #924.

The still active PAOLI interlocking tower (built 1896) provided a nice backdrop for the departing Keystone train. The snow covered rails on the center tracks shows just how much they are used.

 Expecting to just lark about taking pictures of the old PRR signals I was very surprised when a SEPTA Bomber set showed up on a deadhead move to the mantanence facility at Frazer. It was led by AEM-7 #2306.

02-12-27 CLASSIC PHOTOS: SEPTA Mid-Winter Trip II

Now in its second decade the annual SEPTA Mid-Winter trip has become a staple of the Mid-Atlantic railfanning social calender. However it had to start somewhere and since the original MWT took place when I was still using a film camera its doubtful that I'll ever go and re-scan the 2 or 3 photos I took on that so this set is about as close as you're going to get to Genesis.

The trip consisted of a ride on the R2 to Wilmington and then straight back through Center City to Norristown where we transfered to a Rt 100 train to 69th St, Rt 101 to Media, R3 to Clifton-Alden, Rt 102 to 69th St again, MFL back downtown and then I assume a Broad Street Subway run again.

If you're interested you can find the complete photo set here

After heading up the Chinese Ramp and through 30th St Station we encounter brand new HHP-8 #651 passing ARSENAL tower with Phase III and IV Amfleet in tow.

A pair of CSX road freight diesels were waiting up on the High Line ramp was we pass ARSENAL tower. The Medium Approach on the home signal is for a Stop at PHIL interlocking to get onto the NEC.

E-60 #607 and other Phase III painted units were waiting out behind the Wilmington Electric Shoppes.

The old PRR roundhouse was in the process of being demolished.

A number of Budd Meteroliners out in the backlot had yet to be transfered to the Bear shoppes. Present are two snack car units in their original PRR/PC paint scheme and one "roof hump" unit painted in Phase III.

Ex-Reading Silverliner IV #137. Look, its still fitted with its original cow catcher!

Amtrak HOOK tower back when the interlocking was still a pneumatic plant.

LAMOKIN tower sadly no longer has an interlocking associated with it since the Chester Creek branch was abandoned, but the tower still stands, although its seen better days.

BALDWIN tower named for the old PRR locomotive supplier in Eddystone, PA.

SEPTA #50, a rebuilt SW1200, was running lite through 30th St station probably en-route to rescue a broken down push-pull set.

SEPTA SL-IV #144 at Norristown.

SEPTA Rt 100 car #144 at the Norristown terminal.

1S signal at Norristown displayed for the next Rt 100 departure across the now ailing Bridgeport Bridge. Note the special power derails to keep cars from rolling out of the terminal tracks.

Suburban K-Cars at 69th St.

Some West Jersey Chapter members disembarking at Media from K-Car #109.

Another view of #109 at the Media terminus.

 SEPTA Airport III #235 pulling into Media about a decade before its eventual retirement.

SL-IV #373 next to #235 at Media.

SEPTA M-4 MFL car #1112 pulling into 69th St as darkness falls.

Well that's (basically) where things all begin. In its 13th incarnation the MWT will celebrate both the old with a trip back to Wilmington and the new by using the RiverLINE-ACL connection.