17-11-21 PHOTOS: Tacony Mixup

Every Thanksgiving I head out to the NEC between Philly and Trenton on Railfan Wednesday to catch the smattering of extra trains and cars that supplement the normal weekday service due to the increased holiday ridership. In 2017 I went with Chuchubob to Holmesburg Jct and this year I think we had picked another station, however, on the way we stopped off at the Pennsauken Transportation Centre to catch some NJT atlantic City Line and RiverLINE action.

Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, Bob thought we were taking SEPTA to the NEC location instead of driving and proceeded to board the ACL train, leaving me still on the platform! While I could have just waited for him to return via Center City, PATCO and the RiverLINE, I decided to meet him halfway at 8th and Market. We eventually wound up at the Tacony NEC station as that was the closest one we could get to in order to not miss the new Regional Extras running that day.

After that we proceeded up to West Trenton for lunch and to get some photos of the reconfigured and re-signaled R3 storage yard. You can view the entire set of photos here.

While waiting for the fateful ACL train a pair of NJT RiverLINE LRV's passed by, both wrapped in advertisements for Rutgers University. #3513 was heading north and #3508 was heading south.

The Philly-bound ACL train was led by NJT GP40PH-2B #4211.

The closely spaced signals at SAUK and JERSEY interlockings were both displaying Approach Medium as NJT is using the cab signal system to enforce the timetable authorized speed over the Delair Bridge.

Comet V cab car #6074 was on the rear of the ACL train.

Outbound Rutgers Wrapped RiverLINE LRV #3520.

Here we see #3520 knocking down the signals north of the Pennsauken TC station. It first encounters a Limited Clear signal onto the siding followed by an Approach Medium at an intermediate freight related interlocking for the exit from the siding. Before the extra interlocking was added, northbound trains would tend to get a Medium Approach Medium onto the single block siding.



In Pavonia Yard NS was running a sibling set of ex-Southern high hood GP38-2s, #5222 and #5223.

A rare non-wrapped RiverLINE LRV #3509 seen here at the Pennsauken TC.

Fall colours on display at the Tacony R7 SEPTA station.

First up was an eastbound 2-car R7 local with Silverliner IV #184. Longer R7 trains were running, but apparently not all day.

What I believe was Regional Extra #1195 with Amtrak ACS-86 #614.

17-11-10 PHOTOS: VALLEY Stream

Every fall I take a multi-day trip to NYC and typically I combine something on the Subway with something on the LIRR and unfortunately as of late this has meant trying to document endangered signaling and interlocking towers. This year it was VALLEY tower's turn to get my attention after previous trips to DIVIDE in Hicksville, NASSAU in Mineola and QUEENS in Queens Village. I also poked around the Jamaica terminal area thanks to a new concourse that provided some great views of the western approaches.

 For this trip I left from South Jersey, making an Atlantic City Line connection to the RiverLINE, then the NEC at Trenton, subway at Penn Station to get to the LIRR at Atlantic Ave, changing trains at Jamaica to get to Valley Stream. I then traveled to Ossining to stay with a fellow railfan who then drove me to Suffern the next day where I could catch NJT back to Trenton, connecting at Secaucas. That was a massive ordeal in and on itself so I wound up with an unanticipated hour+ long layover at Secaucas.

You can view the full set of photos here.

After getting dropped off at Cherry Hill I discovered that the NJT TGIV was sitting on the main track waiting to do some geometry inspecting.

A northbound NJT ACL train soon arrived with GP40PH-2B #4209, seen here diverging at RACE interlocking past an MoW ballast regulator.

Making the connection at the Pennsauken Transfer, my NJT train continued on past two Approach Medium signals at SAUK and JERSEY.

Since NJT NEC locals are the absolute worst, I let this train, with Comet V cab car #6050, depart Trenton and waited for the next express to New York Penn.

My train dropped me off on NYP's platform 1 where I got this shot of the far southeastern corner of the station's concrete bathtub.

A number of LIRR switchers were parked in the Morris Park deadline including SW1001 #107 and #105.

Also at the Morris Park engine terminal was LIRR DE30 #411.

DUNTON tower with a freight train on the Atlantic Branch flyover behind it.

M7 #7304 at Jamaica.

Eastbound LIRR M7 #7400 proceeding down the flyover ramp next to JAY tower. It was a cold and windy day, something the flag can attest to.

For some reason the New York and Atlantic decided to ruin some of it's GP38 locomotives by rebuilding them as PR20B's with Caterpillar road/marine use diesels. Here #300 and #301 pass through Jamaica with a string of empty high capacity gons for scrap or waste.

JAY tower seen from the new western concourse along tracks 3 and 4.

A westbound train of LIRR M3 cars with #9787 in the lead, moving through HALL interlocking.

LIRR M7 #7467 passing VALLEY tower as it diverges towards Far Rockaway.

To avoid the Hempstead Shuttle, which usually lays over on track 3 at Valley Stream, this Jamaica bound train platformed on track 4 before crossing back over to track 3 at the west end of VALLEY interlocking. Here LIRR M7 #7068 passes the track 4 pedestal signal as it takes the diverging route.

Although it was re-signaled a number of years ago, VALLEY interlocking tower is still manned and operational. The diamond is for the flat junction with the Far Rockaway branch.

If you were wondering what the 2-2E signal is displaying Clear for, the answer is an eastbound train of LIRR M3's!  Better grab a towel if you are aroused by WABCO horn effects ;-)


Eastbound pedestal signals on the Babylon Branch through tracks, each with a position light module for use as a Train Order lamp.

The conductor looks out from LIRR M3 #9824 stopping at Valley Stream.

17-10-21 PHOTOS: HIP HARRIS

The Harrisburg Terminal area of the former Pennsylvania Railroad is currently anchored by the former Conrail Pittsburgh Line crossing the Rockville Bridge and two wye junctions on either side of it. On the east the wye is composed of CP-ROCKVILLE and CP-WYE and forms the junction with the Buffalo Line to the north. On the other side the wye is formed by CP-MARY, CP-BANKS and CP-HIP and forms the junction with the Enola Branch to the south.

As I have previously taken photos at CP-ROCKVILLE and CP-BANKS, I decided to give CP-HIP and it's related photo points a try. In addition I paid a visit to HARRIS tower and the former Conrail CP-HARRIS that closed said tower back around 1992. As one might expect this set contains a lot of freight action along with the usual fare of signals and interlocking photos.

We begin with NS ES44AC #8169 and SD80MAC #7211 crossing the Rockville Bridge with an empty coal train. I have been quite fortunate with encountering the 25 former Conrail SD80MAC's, having previously spotted one on the NS Buffalo Line just a few week prior to this. They are passing the eastbound mast signals for CP-ROCKVILLE including two modern pattern PRR Position Lights that were installed when the interlocking was reconfigured around the year 2000. They will soon be replaced due to a general re-signaling project.

Here we see the pair passing the westbound mast signal for CP-MARY. Previously the wye track from CP-HIP ran across the bridge to CP-ROCKVILLE, however after some wind related derailments into the river, the track was cut short and pushed into track #1 before the crossing.

Reading Blue Mountain and Northern anthracite coal cars heading into Enola Yard over the Mary flyover.

A conductor rides a covered hopper while an NS Road-Slug set composed of GP40-2 #3006 and former Geep road slug #747.

NS C44-9W #9618 sits on the D running track north of Enola Yard with a loaded coal train while an eastbound manifest train crosses over on the Pittsburgh Line.

Manifest train led by NS ES44AC #8037 passes under the eastbound signal bridge at CP-HARRIS. Created in 1992 to avoid have Conrail trains being signaled through an Amtrak interlocking , CP-HARRIS made use of small target searchlight signals and, in this case, a cost saving alternate to a modern style signal bridge. Before this all movements through HARRIS interlocking had been at slow speed, governed by dwarf signals. This ad-hoc structure will be replaced by a purpose built signal bridge in the pending re-signaling project.

NS C44-9W #9322 and a train of douplestacks taking a diverging route through CP-HARRIS as seen from the state street bridge.

17-10-14 PHOTOS: River Line Autumn Express

For the last few years Amtrak has been looking to cash in on the popular fall tourist train market with rare mileage excursions in October or November. Typically these have been with the more amenable Norfolk Southern, but in 2017 they somehow got CSX to approve a run up the West Shore Line, aka the River Line between Weehawken, NJ and Selkirk, NY. Also included was a circuitous run through Conrail SAA territory from CP-NK, across the Upper Bay lift bridge then over the National Docks and Northern branches to join up with the CSX River Line.

The return route was via the Amtrak Hudson Line on the east shore of the Hudson River, returning to Penn Station after a photo runby at Rhinecliff. Unlike 2016 I was unfortunately limited to side window shots as there were engines on both ends of the train this time due to a number of direction changes without an available wye. You can still see the entire photo set here.

The train was bracketed by Amtrak heritage engines #145 (Phase 3) and #156 (Phase 1) with Veterans painted electric ACS-86 #642 located behind #145 and ahead of conference Metroliner #9800. I positioned myself in the car next to #156, Metroliner cab car #9641. Here we see #156 as it awaits departure at Penn Station.

Here is the LVRR (not Conrail Lehigh Line) bridge with a COFC train passing over it at Amtrak's Hunter interlocking. The Autumn Express took the NJT Raritan Valley Line connection up to CP-NK where it would reverse direction to head eastward on the Lehigh Line.

The Lehigh Line terminates at CP-PIKE (Junction with the Chemical Coast Secondary) in the middle of the Oak Island intermodal yard. I caught CSX ES44AC #3024 hiding out under the NJ Turnpike overpass.

Nearby a rare 3600hp CSX SD50 (#8522) was hanging out on an industrial track.

View of the train snaking back along the National Docks Branch Jersey City viaduct as railfan watch on from the NJ Turnpike Extension.

 

Ex-SCL GP38-2 #2543 with ET44AH #3394 hanging out at the CSX North Bergen terminal.

Also in the yard was a second CSX ET44AH, #3371, and SD40-3 #4017.

Crossing the NY State Thruway just north of the state line.

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant seen from across the Hudson.

Obligatory shot of the Bear Mountain Bridge.

The Newburgh-Beacon bridge.

Crossing Rondout Creek in Kingston, NY.