Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum 🚂 Welcome: Pictures YOU have taken! • Hope to see you out rail-fanning.

Evanston WY. Early 2010s

Several years ago, we did some bike riding along the Great Allegheny Passage and saw some great trains along the way:

Colorado Railroad Museum did some test running of RGS 20 Saturday, made for some takes

Nice morning on the hill Wednesday snapped AMTK 5 with the Lifesaver AMTK 203 on the point.

And some action at the Divide, around 0800 at East Portal, BNSF MPVODEN-01 is hustling for a tie down at North Yard in about 2 hours.

11/29 got some first light flocked BNSF action coming up the Joint Line under 20th amid the the tent cities and the new Denver LoDo.

AMTK 5 is about to enter tunnel 10 alongside Eldorado Canyon and the Crags Ruins past Plain 1/23

Ski Train or Winter Park Express is back for the 23 season. At Tolland passing the MDENPVO.

We had to pick up our daughter at LaGuardia airport yesterday. The airport has been undergoing a major renovation and the new access roads created this scene.

Bob

Aurora, South Dakota
Valero ethanol plant

At just five above zero, the steam from the distiller shows up nicely.  These tracks are owned by the RCPE railroad but they run BNSF tanker shuttles on them.

Kent in SD

Caught a train going by my place of work this morning.  Armed with just a cell phone night shots rarely work out, but today's snow helped.  BNSF in Pacific Mo, milepost 36 headed west.

-Nathan

Amtrak Departure from Pontiac to Chicago

January 10, 2023 - We are at the Amtrak Station, Pontiac Michigan. This is the 355 Wolverine Line to Chicago. The train departed on time at 5:28 PM with an estimated arrival time in Chicago at 10:21 PM. We will see the new passenger cars, which are similar to the new cars being used by Amtrak for the new Airo Trains, coming out later this year.

Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

@trainroomgary posted:

Amtrak Departure from Pontiac to Chicago

Thanks for this - I didn't see a single passenger. Is ridership down?

Bob

@Bob "O" posted:

Thanks for this - I didn't see a single passenger. Is ridership down?

Bob

Hi Bob: This is the Wolverine line, Starts in Pontiac Michigan. It is sold out has it heads west to Chicago. Most people will board in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Dearborn and AnnArbor. Sometimes as it gets to Indiana it will be standing room only.

Also the overnight parking lot is closed at the Amtrak Station Pontiac. More free parking just nine miles south at the Troy station. Lighted with law enforcement.

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

@trainroomgary posted:

Starts in Pontiac Michigan. It is sold out has it heads west to Chicago.

Thanks for the explanation, Gary. Sold out routes are a good thing for the future of passenger service.

Bob

The last time a Daylight inspired paint scheme was photographed with Kodachrome

I chased a Norfolk Southern intermodal detouring over CSX by riding Washington's Metro Blue Line. 27A usually runs on the H-line, but a derailment earlier this month in Sharpsburg, MD, required a reroute, and NS chose to send the train down the CSX Capitol and RF&P subdivisions to Alexandria, VA. I went out to my usual low-cost/low-effort spot at RO interlocking, and waited. a few hours for the train to show up. Since an NS crew would board at the Alexandria station, I figured I would at least be able to get two shots off, but ended up getting three because the train stopped and started several times before they got to the crew change point.

Saturday morning 28 Jan, a Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern westbound train sits waiting for a fresh crew at DeSmet, SD.   It’s -2F so I didn’t hang around for more than 2 shots.

Trestleking, thank you for braving the cold to get two great photographs!

Just took this about 2 hours ago.

Caught the KCS 4006 Veterans unit in Council Bluffs today.

My wife and I were at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania this past Sunday, 29 Jan.  Here is the 3750 sitting outside:

As we were leaving we stopped in the Whistle Stop Shop and I found a postcard showing the 3750 on display inside the museum, in excellent cosmetic appearance.  The post card is dated 1998.  Does anyone know why they moved it outside?  I did a quick Google search but did not find an answer.

@BZ posted:

My wife and I were at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania this past Sunday, 29 Jan.  Here is the 3750 sitting outside:

As we were leaving we stopped in the Whistle Stop Shop and I found a postcard showing the 3750 on display inside the museum, in excellent cosmetic appearance.  The post card is dated 1998.  Does anyone know why they moved it outside?  I did a quick Google search but did not find an answer.

It could have been moved outside because something else took it's place. They recently cosmetically restored Atlantic #460 I think 3 years or so ago, 2019. It had been inside some time before that if I recall correctly from the conversation I had outside with one of the staff that year. The only sad part about #460 is that they could only do a cosmetic repair. I forget what exactly is cracked underneath, part of the frame or something else, but it would be a more extensive and costly repair.

They do tend to rotate some things around and there is a plan to build a new roundhouse as well as another building being built next door. I think that the roundhouse was part of a 10 year plan, and the other building would be 15 year plan. The staff member had said that certain things would move to the new building, and some of the engines(pieces as cars may be on that list as well) would come into the roundhouse. I do know when I was there in 2021 they had been doing quite a bit of work on the Mikado L1 #520, and Lionel had been there that October York on Tuesday and Wednesday I believe. I had told Ryan I was there, and was talking to him about the restoration on #520, and he said that they were there forget what time. I had just missed them either way.

Came out of one of my favorite restaurants in Mineola the other day and caught the 2:51 from Penn Station to Huntington leaving Mineola.

The LIRR is winding down the Third track expansion project and have extended the station platforms further east.

The site was the long time home of the Nassau Tower which controlled the interchange between the LIRR main line and the Oyster Bay Branch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau_Tower

@RSJB18 posted:

Came out of one of my favorite restaurants in Mineola the other day and caught the 2:51 from Penn Station to Huntington leaving Mineola.The LIRR is winding down the Third track expansion project and have extended the station platforms further east.

The site was the long time home of the Nassau Tower which controlled the interchange between the LIRR main line and the Oyster Bay Branch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau_Tower

Bob, that’s one of the benefits of living on Long Island; you won’t see a passenger train here in Butler County!  I wasn’t expecting it to be that many cars, but it’s the best way to get to work in all the traffic to and from New York and points on the way, I’m sure

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, that’s one of the benefits of living on Long Island; you won’t see a passenger train here in Butler County!  I wasn’t expecting it to be that many cars, but it’s the best way to get to work in all the traffic to and from New York and points on the way, I’m sure

Most of the LIRR trains are 10-12 cars. Some of the smaller branches will run shorter trains but if they wind up moving equipment to a different branch then they need to add cars. These are M7's. All of the cars are always run as pairs, they have cab controls at each end.

Funny thing is that even with 12 cars you may not get a seat......

Bob

Excellent! Those M7's accelerate like a scalded dog-  wow! Impressive.

Do you ever get to lens any NY&A freights there?

Bob - thanks for your response, I had felt the same way as Mark, the number of cars surprised me. Neat video for sure.
Don

@atlpete posted:

Excellent! Those M7's accelerate like a scalded dog-  wow! Impressive.

Do you ever get to lens any NY&A freights there?

I don't see them too often. They mainly run at night. I live close enough to the line to hear the GP38's rumble by though.

They do pick up speed quickly. Not as fast as a NYC Subway though.

You can get whiplash on some of the locals....🤣🤣

Spotted on a small siding somewhere in Ohio ...

Hmmm...

George

@GeoPeg posted:

Spotted on a small siding somewhere in Ohio ...

Hmmm...

George

I have something similar sitting on my bench.....🤣🤣

@Don McErlean posted:

Bob - thanks for your response, I had felt the same way as Mark, the number of cars surprised me. Neat video for sure.
Don

The biggest commuter Railroad in the country. Takes a lot of equipment to move thousands of riders each day.

Southbound grain train near Pacific Junction Iowa today.

Amtrak, MENARDS & Five Guys

Tuesday - January 10, 2023 - We are at the Amtrak Station, Pontiac Michigan. This is the 355 Wolverine Line to Chicago. The train departed on time at 5:28 PM with an estimated arrival time in Chicago at 10:21 PM. After hanging out at the Amtrak Station, I drove about two miles to MENARDS, to check out the model train aisle. The pianist was playing the piano on the second floor. Nothing sounds better than an acoustic piano. Next stop Five Guys Restaurant to order a carry out dinner. Hamburger & fries. Having a fun dinner & hanging out at MENARDS is all part of the rail-fanning experience.

Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Looks like a nice time, Gary!

Wow a 2 story Menards and a stocked train aisle after Christmas. The ones I have seen are all single story and all carry train stock only around Christmas. Maybe things are change-in!

@ScoutingDad posted:

Wow a 2 story Menards and a stocked train aisle after Christmas. The ones I have seen are all single story and all carry train stock only around Christmas. Maybe things are change-in!

Hi Scouting Dad: Yes this is a first class MENARDS. Has a large lumber yard where you can drive in and pick out your lumber and place it in your vehicle. The train aisle has both HO and O buildings. Being a pianist I always stop by the second floor to check out the piano player. Thanks for checking out my photos.

Gary 🚂

OK, Train room Gary.  Where is this 2 story Menard's somewhere near Pontiac.  Need to see it because our Menard's in Chesterfield carrys very little after Christmas but it is starting to get better train stuff in but I want to see this 2 story one.  It's probably a simple drive from Mount Clemens, MI.  Would appreciate any info on this 2 story one please.

Hi Lary

Menards Address: 1901 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302

This is from Google Maps:

When you come this way, If you would like to see my layout, hit me up with an email. I live about ten miles to the west.

There is also a two story TARGET across the street at: 2400 S Telegraph Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Today, on a short line that sees only 1 train per week. Is this common MOW equipment?

Bob

Neat machine.
Where did you see it ?

@hclark6345 posted:

Where did you see it ?

In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This is a short spur of about 40-50 km from Ottawa to Arnprior, right to the back door of Nylene Canada. Head office is in New Jersey. Once weekly, a short consist of 4-6 insulated tankers delivers caprolactam (an essential ingredient in nylon and plastic production) to the factory. Hearsay has it that the caprolactam originates in Texas. CN owns the right of way but Nylene owns the track. Motive power is CN. To assure ongoing rail service, Nylene has made cooperative arrangements with CN to make the operation viable and sustainable. It is estimated that each week's delivery by rail keeps 20 large tanker trucks off the road. Another example of rail transport reducing net Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Bob

On my trip this past summer, I made sure to stop by the Pan Am yard in East Deerfield, MA, to capture what I thought were the last days of Pan Am operations (albeit 3 days after the official sale to CSX). As it turns out, I'm not much has changed for the western division of Pan Am (yet), but I still had fun conducting a short chase of the East Deerfield to Springfield way freight with one of the Ukrainian-flagged 4-axle Dash 8s leadings.

Some recent ones -