Midweek Photos 12/23/2020

Former NS GP59 4552 leads the northbound AVR-3 local from Washington, PA, to Glenwood Yard. In the consist were about 20 cars and GP40-3s 4001 and 4002. The train is passing a former B&O telegraph pole on the former “Pike” to Wheeling, WV.

A short Rail-fanning video from: Detroit, Michigan

☃️ A Winter Wonderland 🎄

Detroit Windsor Railroad Tunnel - The only international RR Tunnel in the world.

(35 seconds) of rail-fanning excitement.

With a special message from: Train Room Pam & Train Room Gary

Thanks for watching & hope to see you out rail fanning. Gary 🚂

Merry Christmas Pam and Gary! Thanks for all the great videos you do!

@mike g. posted:

Merry Christmas Pam and Gary! Thanks for all the great videos you do!

Hi Mike: Thanks for the kind words. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎄

Gary

On Tuesday I caught a CSX local freight dropping off a block of cars at the Grafton & Upton Railroad’s yard in North Grafton, MA.  The CSX train, powered by a pair of GP40-2’s, is running westbound on the eastbound main.  

The CSX crew uncoupled the block of cars and then pulled past the turnout that connects the two railroads.  A pair of G&U switchers then came out onto the main, coupled up to the block of cars, and dragged them into their yard.  The CSX local then continued westbound with the remaining head-end cars.

This train has been very elusive...at least to me anyway!  In all the years I’ve been driving past the G&U yard, I’ve never seen the interchange train.  I’m guessing that may be due to the fact that this is a very busy mainline during daytime hours, especially with commuter trains to and from Boston.  Maybe the reduced number of commuter trains now running (due to people working from home during the pandemic), has allowed for daytime interchange.  Either that, or I just haven’t been in the right place at the right time!

Here’s a short video of the CSX local accelerating westbound after dropping of the cars to the G&U...

Gary, not to be impolite but what about the channel railway tunnel between the UK and France.  It's international too!

A Blessed Healthy Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Joe

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

Gary, not to be impolite but what about the channel railway tunnel between the UK and France.  It's international too!

A Blessed Healthy Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Joe

Hi Joe:

Yes you are correct. RR stories die hard in the Motor City. I may have to change this RR story but I will never change a fishing story.

Below are some quick facts from Wikipedia. We also have a auto tunnel to Canada that runs parallel to the RR tunnel. Before the pandemic we used to drive to Windsor for dinner, shopping and the Casino. I have a USA passport to Canada, this used to allow me to take the express lanes, Only those who have essential jobs can now pass into Canada.

Take care: Gary 🎄

Part #2 • • Delray Switch Tower - Detroit, Michigan

Built in 1949 & is slated to close this year.

Gary 🚂

Tim, is that restaurant just off I-80? I seem to remember a restaurant with a train attached.  Haven't been that way in years.

This is where I shot the above video.

☃️“A Winter Wonderland”🎄

Stood on a road bridge with a chain link fence. Placed the camera lens in opening in the chain links.

The view from the road bridge.

Ask the manager of the Honey Bee Market if I could leave my vehicle in his lot and walk over to the train tunnel. I thanked him and returned to purchase some groceries after rail-fanning.

From Google Earth.

Gary 🚂

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

Gary, not to be impolite but what about the channel railway tunnel between the UK and France.  It's international too!

A Blessed Healthy Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Joe

Another friendly and maybe overlooked addition to this list of international railroad tunnels is the San Diego and Arizona Eastern tunnel from San Diego County into Mexico.

Also there are railroad tunnels from Switzerland into Italy in the Alps.

@coach joe posted:

Tim, is that restaurant just off I-80? I seem to remember a restaurant with a train attached.  Haven't been that way in years.

Yes, Joe.  It is off the Tannersville exit on I-80. It is not far from the exit at all, and you can see the coach clear as day when you are heading westbound on the interstate.

@Tim O'Malley posted:

It's another Wednesday, and we are only a couple days away from Christmas, so I am bringing you this festive steam train for the holiday.

Nice heavyweight Pullman built car that serves as part of the restaurant.  The colors and the snow are great for this time of year.  I hope that everyone has a nice holiday, and that Santa Claus brings you a toy train, finely detailed model, or something to your liking.  See you next week.

Hi Tim,

I'm a little late with my follow-up but I was interested in your post.  A little sub-hobby of mine is tracking refurbished rail and trolley cars that are now associated with restaurants.

Looking at an aerial view postcard of the Tandoor Palace's former incarnation found on the web, it looks like there were actually three rail cars set out in parallel.  So, there were two more cars hidden behind the front one in your photo.

Can you confirm whether that is still the case?

Thanks!  (Nice photos, by the way.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Hi Tomlinson Run RR. I don’t have the answer to your question, and did not go exploring around the land to see if there are any other cars around. I hope that with your question out here now, that someone else can jump in with the answer.

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the reply.  I just tried Google maps aerial view: 12 Hill Motor Lodge Rd, Tannersville, PA.  There is a now a large peaked roof the same length as the visible car where the two other cars were in the old postcard.  So, it's impossible to tell whether the cars are gone or remain inside.  (Available interior photos didn't help answer that question.)

As you wrote, perhaps someone else knows the fate of the two other cars.  Thanks again!

TRRR

The Night Train • Wolverine Line

Train #352 • Arriving at Jackson, Michigan - Part One

The Siemens Charger arriving at about 25 mph.

A cool December evening.

The train is coming to a stop.

The conductor places the yellow step stool on the platform.

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

The Night Train • Wolverine Line

Train #352 • Departing Jackson, Michigan  -  Part Two

Departing to Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Detroit, Troy & Pontiac Michigan. All aboard.

The yellow step stool must come a long. On this cool December evening, 2020.

The conductor has his mask.

Leaving the station.

End of train lights.

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

The closest station to me is ten miles away in Bangor, MI. There is only two trains a day. One going to Grand Rapids and the coming from Grand Rapids and an occasional freight train.