Midweek Photos 12/9/2015

I believe it took closer to 20 years for her restoration/rebuild, but she sure looks great. For those who don't known that is indeed the correct color "green" for her original paint & styling when she was the Baldwin Locomotive Works "plant switcher".

Please provide some additional photos when she is fully under steam, and backs out of the roundhouse, later today or tomorrow.

Hot Water posted:

I believe it took closer to 20 years for her restoration/rebuild, but she sure looks great. For those who don't known that is indeed the correct color "green" for her original paint & styling when she was the Baldwin Locomotive Works "plant switcher".

 

Please provide some additional photos when she is fully under steam, and backs out of the roundhouse, later today or tomorrow.

On the subject of another fine steamer you are familiar with...Hot Water...did you fire the 4449 in 1977?  Matt

Now that's a sharp looking little locomotive!

Ed

boin106 posted:

Hot Water posted:

I believe it took closer to 20 years for her restoration/rebuild, but she sure looks great. For those who don't known that is indeed the correct color "green" for her original paint & styling when she was the Baldwin Locomotive Works "plant switcher".

 

Please provide some additional photos when she is fully under steam, and backs out of the roundhouse, later today or tomorrow.

On the subject of another fine steamer you are familiar with...Hot Water...did you fire the 4449 in 1977?  Matt

Yes. In fact I started on the crew back in the American Freedom Train era in 1975. I was on the entire Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion from Birmingham, AL to Oakland, CA. Due to a family emergency at home, I had to quickly fly home from Oakland, and thus didn't make the final trip returning 4449 back to Portland, OR. 

Wow, 40 years for you this year.  Congratulations!

Hot Water posted:

boin106 posted:

Hot Water posted:

I believe it took closer to 20 years for her restoration/rebuild, but she sure looks great. For those who don't known that is indeed the correct color "green" for her original paint & styling when she was the Baldwin Locomotive Works "plant switcher".

 

Please provide some additional photos when she is fully under steam, and backs out of the roundhouse, later today or tomorrow.

On the subject of another fine steamer you are familiar with...Hot Water...did you fire the 4449 in 1977?  Matt

Yes. In fact I started on the crew back in the American Freedom Train era in 1975. I was on the entire Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion from Birmingham, AL to Oakland, CA. Due to a family emergency at home, I had to quickly fly home from Oakland, and thus didn't make the final trip returning 4449 back to Portland, OR. 

 

The reason I asked is a friend sent me photos of the Freedom Train in Oxnard, CA in 1977.  I was wondering if you were the fireman then.  Tnx, Matt

boin106 posted:

Hot Water posted:

boin106 posted:

Hot Water posted:

I believe it took closer to 20 years for her restoration/rebuild, but she sure looks great. For those who don't known that is indeed the correct color "green" for her original paint & styling when she was the Baldwin Locomotive Works "plant switcher".

 

Please provide some additional photos when she is fully under steam, and backs out of the roundhouse, later today or tomorrow.

On the subject of another fine steamer you are familiar with...Hot Water...did you fire the 4449 in 1977?  Matt

Yes. In fact I started on the crew back in the American Freedom Train era in 1975. I was on the entire Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion from Birmingham, AL to Oakland, CA. Due to a family emergency at home, I had to quickly fly home from Oakland, and thus didn't make the final trip returning 4449 back to Portland, OR. 

 

The reason I asked is a friend sent me photos of the Freedom Train in Oxnard, CA in 1977.  I was wondering if you were the fireman then.  Tnx, Matt

Well actually, the American Freedom Train finished its tour on December 31, 1976 in Miami, FL. Thus, your friend probably witnessed the Amtrak Transcontinental Steam Excursion, enroute back to Portland, OR during April & June of 1977. So,,,,,,,if it was indeed 1977, then I was on the crew then. 

Roanoke reflections - a pleasant spring evening watching the trains roll from the vantage point of the sidewalk on the Gainsboro Rd. Overpass.

I posted this in the subway/traction subforum, but for me it's worth repeating; metal work has begun on Scranton Transit #505, our 1929 Osgood Bradley car.  Expect to see some major progress over the next few months!  

Robert, that is a really nice shot!  As for Tim & Scranton, I was closer than I've ever been in my life but in the end it was just too far.  Last Sunday my wife & I flew to Pittsburgh.  She had a week long training  deal to go to, I had a week to chase trains!   The only stipulation was I had to be back in time for dinner with her four of the five nights.  She told me it wasn't "ditch your wife" week.  I've never really been east of Chicago/St. Louis much before.  (Florida doesn't count.)

The first day I spent chasing around with a local railfan named Ian Hapsias.  I know him from Flickr.  The guy knows all the railroads around there like the back of his hand and took me to some off beat spots.  I doubt I could ever find them again as I never really knew where I was!  Second day I headed east to Galliztan.  It was a cold, soggy day that turned out to be a total bust.  It was hard to see the railroads for the trees!  Wednesday I met up with our own GregM in Alliance OH.  We had a great time hanging out.  I was going for a night shot of the NS going past some abandoned buildings, but a couple of pretty sketchy characters came out of the shadows and began walking toward us.  I said, "We're outta here!"  I think I got some nice shots but won't know until I get my film back (b&w of course!)  On Thursday I headed back to a spot in Elizabeth PA that Ian showed me:   CSX street running!  I ended up staying there most of the day and into early evening.  Home run!  On Friday, my wife was finished at noon, so we headed south to Cumberland MD. I'll just post some photos taken Monday through Thursday and save the ones I got on Friday & Saturday (nights) for next week.  I'll just say this about them--a couple might be the best photos I've ever taken!

1. Wheeling & Lake Erie light power move near Crookham PA.  There were bridges all over around there!

2. NS train heading back to the yard in Pittsburgh.  I was talking to Ian when it showed up.  I had less than two minutes to assemble and place a flash, attach a different lens on my camera, take a guess at exposure, and pop the shot.  I was a bit overexposed but got it pretty close!  If I had just 10 more seconds I would have nailed it.

3.  WLE light power move.  Conductor is about to remove a derail so they could pick up a few more engines stored in a siding.  They were needed to pull a nearby coke train.  Monday was opening day for PA rifle/deer season and state law mandates all consists must have some bright orange on them.

4.  Daytime street running on 1st Avenue, Elizabeth PA.  Train was headed east with a load of coal.  The blue car was my rental.

5. Night time street running, above location, with w/b empties heading to the mine.  I've been wanting to get a night shot of street running for about the past eight years and finally pulled one off!  My wife called me twice asking, "When are you coming back for dinner?"  My response was, "After a train comes."  I was committed to getting this shot! 

6.  I love symmetry!

I guess that's it until next week.  (Saving the best for last here!)

Kent in SD

great shots two23  thanks for posting.