Midweek Photos 12/25/2013 Christmas and Year in Review

May saw a big leap forward in the reassembly of Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton.

This view is of the boiler just a few minutes before placement atop the frame.  This locomotive is expected to operate sometime in 2014.

Also in May, a charter of the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad took us to the Southern stretches of this surprisingly rural rail line.  Here is 2-8-0 number 40 stopped at the Wycombe station.

June finds me on yet another photo charter.  This time on the Black River & Western.  In addition to their odd collection of equipment they normally use, the railroad is also home to an early Lehigh Valley SW1, no 112, still in her last livery.  Although faded, the  markings are startlingly clear.  

July.  Celebrating the independence of the nation from foreign powers, the Scranton-based Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad brought down M420 from their Utica-based portion. Mohawk Adirondack & Northern was put to good use on the lines of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

August brought me again to Strasburg.  This time, 4-8-0 number 475 was hauling the train.

Camp Chase RR grain train crossing the Big Darby west of Columbus, Ohio

RailFest at Steamtown straddled the August/September divide this year, so I believe you won't mind an extra picture of August.  This is Saturday the 31st, and Reading Blue Mountain & Northern 4-6-2 simmers in the early morning sun before the crowds of admirers arrive.

Sunday, September 1.  I am on the diesel powered excursion to Moscow, PA.  While there, a photo run-by took place at the station.  GP9 no 514 from the Nickel Plate Road leads this trip.

October.  Fall leaves on the ground.  This train is the Scranton Limited at Steamtown. F3 number 664 backs down the Steamtown Runner track on one of the 3 mile trips through the yard run on that day.  

It's November now.  The Northern Central Railroad (Steam into History, Inc.) hosted 4-4-0 number 63 from the "Central Pacific RR" for a week to recreate some moments in time which required two steam locomotives  This day, the railroad recreates the Great Locomotive Chase, with NCRR number 17 taking the place of the stolen General locomotive.  Number 63 stands in for the Texas backing after the other train for a fun filled ride to New Freedom, PA.

And finally in December, Steamtown's 514 runs the Santa Train, a key feature of "Christmas in a Small Town" into downtown Scranton.  

That wraps up 2013 for me.  I hope your year was filled with trains, and that you have a photo or 12 to share with us.  Have a Happy New Year!  See you in 2014.

Real deal missile firing boxcar at Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum.

WONDERFUL pictures by all. Thank you so much for sharing them with us all. Merry Christmas

In May, BARTA opened the renovated Franklin Street Station in Reading for bus service. The former Reading main is now a single-track line operated by the Norfolk Southern through the historic Seventh Street Cut.

In June, Steam into History commenced operations with a brand-new Civil War 4-4-0 and passenger cars leased from Florida on the Northern Central Railway between New Freedom and Hanover Junction south of York, PA (about 5 miles west of Exit 4 on I-83. President Abraham Lincoln changed trains at Hanover Junction on his way to deliver his Gettysburg Address during the dedication of the National Cemetery there. No. 17, the YORK, rolled out of [David] Kloke Locomotive Works in May, 2013.

This sign on the open car amused me.

The Reader Railroad in Arkansas built a wooden coach and a combine that summer.

David Kloke took 10 years building the LEVIATHAN from scratch. He finished in 2009. After running her in New York, he brought her by truck to New Freedom to join No. 17 during the week of Nov. 10. They celebrated the Golden Spike, President Lincoln's arrival in New Freedom, and the Great Locomotive Chase. Built to the same blueprints, No. 17 has slightly smaller drivers for the 5-mile 2% southbound grade to New Freedom.

When I asked Mr. Kloke to pose for a photo at Hanover Junction, he insisted we include these two charming young ladies from Steam into History.

On December 7, Vicki Gemmill took this photo of No. 17 in new-fallen snow. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wowak upgraded my Lionel Reading T-1, painted and detailed as 2124 by Reading Steam Guru, with full valve gear, a scale pilot coupler, a "mantel clock" access hatch atop her air pump shield, two white ("special") flags, and a scale brass whistle.

Gee More great pictures. Thank you soooo much for posting.

Royal Gorge RR

 On April 30, a northbound CN train rounds the curve in downtown Burlington, Wisconsin. It is running over former Wisconsin Central / Soo Line (Lake States Division) trackage.

Conrail hopper passing the Front Street Staion in Northumberland last Sunday.

MTH PRR SW1 running on the layout I did for the Berwick Victorian Night.

BNSF boxcars in Norhtumberland, PA.

Norfolk Southern lined up at the Norfolk Southern yard in Hazleton, PA on Tuesday.

Before...During...After  photos of North Shore Railroad's new bay window caboose. Top photos was taken in Lewisburg of the caboose before the North Shore bought it. Middle photo was taken in Williamsport at the Lycoming Valley Railroad's Engine House after the caboose was repaired and painted in primer. Last photo was taken in Northumberland after it was all finsihed.

Another photo from the layout during Berwick Victorian Night earlier this month.

Thanks to everyone for all the grat photos you've shared over the past year. Keep them coming they are great.

Even more GREAT PICTURES here today. Thanks a lot guys for posting such Great stuff.

Seattle's streetcars before they were shut down.

I looked through my files for an hour or so.  I kept wondering, "Did I really get anything good this year?  Maybe not.  I didn't shoot trains much at all during the warmer months.  Fortunately, the "warmer months" aren't that many around here.  Then there was the two weeks I spent in Hawaii.  Found a train there and about 150 ft. of track, and that was it.  Hawaii is not the place to go to see RR action I suppose.  Still, over the past 12 months we did get some nice snow.  I managed to get out there a good number of nights too.  So here's a few shots that I liked.  My best? Probably not.  Not even sure anyone else will like them for that matter.  What I hope is they do give an idea of what railroading on the Northern Plains feels like.  If you get that from them, I guess they were successful.

1. A blizzard hits the sidings at the ADM corn processing plant in Marshall, MN, along the BNSF Marshall Sub.  Shot with a vintage 1942 Leica IIIc camera on HP5 film.  The image really captures the feel of a blizzard at night.

2. A s/b BNSF train runs through the tiny village of Struble, IA during a light snow in the wee hours of the morning.

3. Denny, the Railroad Cowboy, gives me a big "howdy" at the hump bridge near Manley, MN on the BNSF Marshall Sub on his way to Sioux City, IA.

4. Five steam tractors plow a field at Andover, SD.  Might be my favorite shot of the year, I dunno.  Not a RR photo, but I'm a sucker for live steam.  If you had been there, you would be too.

Kent in SD

Beautiful photos everyone, thanks for sharing them.  Happy New Year...

2013's railfaning adventures started on March 23 when Southern Railway 2-8-0 #630 visited my area and ran a trip between Norfolk and Petersburg, VA. My youngest and I chased the train all day and then spent that evening riding Norfolk's entire light rail line.

It was National Train Day on May 12. My youngest and I spent the day at Ashland, VA watching what CSX and Amtrak sent our way. 

On May 19 my dad, my son and my youngest daughter rode behind the visiting 0-6-0T Lehigh Valley Coal #126 on the Walkersville Southern. 

On October 13, my nephew, my mother in law and I rode the Cass Scenic. I was pleased that WM's big shay #6 was one of the two shays that pushed us up to Bald Knob. 

I then had to attend a business trip out to Colorado Springs. I stayed after the conference was over to do a bit of narrow gauge railfanning. I visited the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic on October 18. I saw four trains that day with four different steam locomotives. 

The next day I drove to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO in order to ride on the Galloping Goose. 

On November 2, it was back to Ashland, VA for their annual Ashland Railroad Days. My son and youngest daughter joined me that day. We saw some great modular layouts and CSX sent a couple of trains through town. 

Can't wait to see what railroad adventures await me in 2014!

MORE WONDERFUL PICTURES!!!!! You guy's have posted nothing but TOP FLIGHT PICTURES!!! Congrats to all the guy's who posted pictures.

Jake I really liked your stories drom Greenfield Village.

Good photos, fellows.  Thanks for posting.