Midweek Photos 4/14/2021

Back to the grind, in terms of photos...I'll post POHC photos next time, but for now let's do some more NS photos.

On January 20th, I was back at Rochester in search of a heritage unit. First up is NS 67R with a Dash 9 pair.

Next was a train that I seldom see because of its noonish arrival, NS 170 from Chattanooga to Conway Yard. Leading the train were a triplet of AC44C6Ms, fast becoming the garden variety power on NS as the Dash 9s are rebuilt and retired.

Trailing and likely destined for Altoona were a pair of NS's rarer GP38 variants. 5817 is a GP38-3, one of 31 rebuilt GP50s remaining on the roster after almost a year and a half of purges. 5321 is a former Penn Central GP38-2, one of probably about 30 or so still wearing the original NS "Horsehead" paint.

The thoroughbred paint is slowing disappearing on NS, as the Dash 9s are rebuilt, GP38-2s, GP40-2s, and SD40-2s are outshopped, and SD60/SD70 types retired.

The reason for my outing, NS 8025, passes the tail end of 170 as it heads to the refueling racks on the west side of Conway.

While 20E recrewed, I hustled past Conway and set up at the grade crossing in Haysville. After about 15 minutes, 8025 tripped the MP 12 detector with three high loads, necessitating a trip on the Monongahela Line (really the old PRR) to avoid Penn Station.

One last shot of NS 21G heading into the setting sun with a Dash 9 and ES44AC for power.

@Tim O'Malley posted:

Hello, everyone.  Here are a few photos of one of my local railroads, the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad.

Luckily there is a pedestrian bridge which crosses over the tracks for this view of the shop and yard.  The condominium complex in the center of the photo (obscured by trees) is where the Von Storch Breaker used to stand.  

Many of the idle units sit off to the side of the shop, and are viewable from public property.

Great shots (and story), Tim. One of these days I’ve got to get out and do some real railfanning in the Scranton neighborhood!!! By any chance, is the second engine in the D&L livery in the pic above the 405??? I heard it operated in the Steamtown area, and it’s the only D&L in my collection...

Hi Apples55. Yes, that is D-L no. 405. This one and “Lehigh Valley” 414 are usually operated in the Scranton area. The parent railroad, Gennessee Valley Transportation, might own some other C420s on their New York lines, too.

Amtrak - Filmed on February 21, 2021 at Troy, Michigan with an iPhone 11 Pro and edited with Final Cut Pro on an iMac. Train number 354, the night train arriving from Chicago.

All aboard to Pontiac Michigan.

I am sharing this information about the iPhone because the quality of video from iPhones and other camera phones is said to have broadcast quality. These camera phones are being used by professionals. What do you think or what is your reaction to using camera phones?

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

@trainroomgary posted:

Amtrak - Filmed on February 21, 2021 at Troy, Michigan with an iPhone 11 Pro and edited with Final Cut Pro on an iMac. Train number 354, the night train arriving from Chicago.

All aboard to Pontiac Michigan.

I am sharing this information about the iPhone because the quality of video from iPhones and other camera phones is said to have broadcast quality. These camera phones are being used by professionals. What do you think or what is your reaction to using camera phones?

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

Very nice video, Gary. And the video quality is amazingly clear and crisp - definitely professional quality to me. And the sound quality is also first rate... loved it when the horn sounded.

@Tim O'Malley posted:

Hi Apples55. Yes, that is D-L no. 405. This one and “Lehigh Valley” 414 are usually operated in the Scranton area. The parent railroad, Gennessee Valley Transportation, might own some other C420s on their New York lines, too.

Thanks Tim. 🚂 🚂 🚂

@trainroomgary posted:

Amtrak - Filmed on February 21, 2021 at Troy, Michigan with an iPhone 11 Pro and edited with Final Cut Pro on an iMac. Train number 354, the night train arriving from Chicago.

All aboard to Pontiac Michigan.

I am sharing this information about the iPhone because the quality of video from iPhones and other camera phones is said to have broadcast quality. These camera phones are being used by professionals. What do you think or what is your reaction to using camera phones?

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

Well, my hero: Ansel Adams "Buying an expensive Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner. ... ~Ansel Adams ... "The best camera is the one you have with you."

Look at the photos that Trumptrain posts with his phone. When you compose a photo and "SEE" the shot using all your experience and joy, you've done good! iphones keep getting better and better!

I made a HUGE mistake taking this photo of the Stillwater Lift Bridge: and it turned out better than what I saw in my minds eye. Gary, Thanks for posting all your photos that you do kind sir

Norfolk Southern Special Official train  through Pittsburgh the first week in April.

@Tim O'Malley posted:

Hello, everyone.  Here are a few photos of one of my local railroads, the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad.  

If you aren't already aware, this railroad of a little less than 100 miles in Northeastern Pennsylvania uses vintage railroad equipment, and might have the oldest roster of diesel electrics out there. . . . The blue unit on Bridge 60 in downtown Scranton is Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad GP7 no. 959 . . . Four RS3s can operate on this railroad.

Tim, I envy you.  Those are locomotives from my elementary school days, beginning kindergarten in September, 1951.  It's amazing that they are healthy and still serving 70 years later!  If we make it to the Northeast this year, I am going to have to watch and listen to hard working RS3's.

@trainroomgary posted:

Amtrak - Filmed on February 21, 2021 at Troy, Michigan with an iPhone 11 Pro and edited with Final Cut Pro on an iMac. Train number 354, the night train arriving from Chicago.

All aboard to Pontiac Michigan.

I am sharing this information about the iPhone because the quality of video from iPhones and other camera phones is said to have broadcast quality. These camera phones are being used by professionals. What do you think or what is your reaction to using camera phones?

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

Gary, you get an A for the video.  It makes the viewer feel present on the station platform.  However, the Amtrak Engineer gets a C for that stop.  It could be done more smoothly.

Yes, today's iPhones are capable of taking high resolution photos and videos, and the program you used to edit the video also gets a lot of good reviews.  A couple of years ago, I was invited to ride around on some BNSF business cars just across the Texas border in New Mexico, while the Company was shooting a safety training video.  The videographer, a fellow from Chicago, was using two Canon EOS-7D SLR cameras to shoot the video.  For use inside the train, he did not use an external microphone, but for outdoors, he attached a directional microphone with a dead squirrel, and the sound, as well as the video was great.  A few years earlier, he would have needed to bring 50 lbs. of video gear for that job.

@Tim O'Malley posted:

Hi Apples55. Yes, that is D-L no. 405. This one and “Lehigh Valley” 414 are usually operated in the Scranton area. The parent railroad, Gennessee Valley Transportation, might own some other C420s on their New York lines, too.

LA&L has a number of ALCO 400 series C's including one 420, seven 424's, one 425, and four 430's.

Poppyl

Tim, thanks for posting the ex-DL&W geep. I’ll have to get over and check out those RS units as well.

More from the Troy Transit Center - February 2021

A view from the CN platform at the Troy Transit Center.

A fellow Rail-fanner using his Radio Shack Scanner. He tells me he uses channels 28 & 32 AAR. He does not use ATCS Monitor for Windows = Advanced Train Control System.

Welcome sign on platform.

Please follow all railroad and Amtrak rules.

Departing the platform.

Train Room Gary hustling back to his F 150 on a cold winter night. 15° F with a wind chill of zero. Train Room Pam took this photo and she likes to go rail-fanning.

Just one more thing, Tom: Thanks for the ‘A’ 😎

Hope to see you out Rail-fanning: Gary 🚂