Last night at about 2:40 AM I saw a very long N/S heavy freight headed south on the northbound side of the old PRR electrified 4 track main (Philadelphia-Wilmington local commuter line). The Acela / Metro's run the two inside tracks. I do not know what was on the head end[had passed by prior to my arrival], but at least 100 N/S and Conrail hoppers passed overhead before the light changed. Other than a few MOW units I have NEVER observed freight on this line in 50 plus years of living a block away. The old B&O runs behind my son's house less than a 1/2 mile to the north and that is only freight (CSX). Did someone throw a bad switch????
Ken
No, there was no wrong switch thrown. The train had orders and a pass to go along that line. For example: There are some industries that are not on the main line, so in order to get to them, the train has to go on another line.
Could be someone threw the wrong switch but I really doubt it. Norfolk Southern might be expanding their territory they ship to and will pay whoever owns the tracks a useage fee.
Norfolk Southern runs to Miami FL from Jacksonville FL on Florida East Coast Railway tracks thru a lease agreemnet with FEC.
Another odd one for you, have you ever seen an Amtrac passenger train being led by another railroad's locomotive? Happened here in southeast Florida one day, Amtrac was being led by an FEC locomotive to Miami FL on what was supposed to be a regular Amtrac route but funding never got approved by the Federal Government, so Amtrac is still on CSX tracks threw central and westcentral Florida.
Lee F.
Did someone throw a bad switch????
I intended that part to be a joke.
I doubt they used that track to deliver anything. It is strickly commuter station access from 30th Street Station at least to Wilmington Delaware. I don't think this light rail was intended for freight. If I hear any more about this I will post it. I only thought someone would find it interesting.
Best Regards, Ken
NS is never on the wrong track. Now CSX, another story.
Jokes aside, let us know.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
ChiefEagles wrote: NS is never on the wrong track. Now CSX, another story.Jokes aside, let us know.
Chief, this NS loco is on the wrong track, well actually, not on the track at all!!!!
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
NS had a similar problem back in 2005 in Southfield Michigan .... a terrible mess it was !
Old King Coal wrote: NS had a similar problem back in 2005 in Southfield Michigan .... a terrible mess it was !
Well, at least the guy didn't go on the ground with these !!
These were at our RR in Kirtland, Ohio !!
Thanks, John
OKC: Southfield?? Where in Southfield??? That's closer to Royal Oak, and the live steam.
Ok...What's everyone doing standing around???? Those boys could have had that train back on the tracks, and running by now. Is that just the NS? (ducking)
Kurt
Kurt: I'm getting my "gates" and "fields" confused in Michigan. A Canadian boy crossing the Windsor / Detroit border into the Motor City, looses "track .. eh", of all the excellent points of interest in Michigan.
It was at the Great Lakes Live Steamers public train rides at the Kiwanis Park in Southgate, Michigan. The Redford Michigan Model Railroad Club and our Chatham Model Railroad Club alternate each year, hosting our group get togethers. For 2005 they thought the live steam would be a fun day for our Chatham crew. They were SO right .... what a day it was !
There is nothing like a train wreck to highlight the days activities. When the diesel decided to take both directions at the switch, it sheared the large bolt clean off at the attachment point of the engine and the engineers trailing cab unit.
There were no injuries in the wreck .... only a little pride hurt for the engineer, who took things in stride. All the guys, after surveying the derailment area, quickly mustered an effort in lifting the unit back onto the track. The switch was finessed back into position with a ball pean hammer, and about an hour later the NS was rolling across the rails ... back in revenue service !
Best regards in trains, .... Dave
John: Thanks for the site links! The Kirtland group really seems to have it together...Very active club, beautiful trackage and grounds. I didn't have a chance to get to all of them yesterday.
OKC: Keep in touch...at the Coffee Pot. Sir James I is located around the Redford area, and I'm in Ann Arbor. We were possibly planning a get-together at a meet November???at the Gratiot Club. That might be closer for you too.
Good-day, eh!
Hey Kurt ...
I usually try to make it to the Gratiot Valley Train Show in the spring and fall ... an awesome event, and would look forward to meeting with you fellows. It's about an 90 minute drive to that event and Wild Bill's from the Blenheim, Ontario area. Many thanks for the heads-ups in November.
Keep the rails polished .... eh !
Dave
fifedog wrote:kblester - NS uses the North East Corridor everynight, starting around 2200 hours. That hopper train was probably bound for Enola via the Port Road. Stop down Perryville, MD one Friday or Saturday night to watch the parade.
Fife,
Thanks for the information. I do feel foolish for having posted this. I have awarded myself three , one of which I will wear when I turn in my membership to the train watchers guild.
The Chief will be happy to know N/S has a High Speed Line in the north.
The real reason I never saw this is that all Northfolk-Southern trains are very fast and I must of blinked when they were in the neighborhood. That's my story.
Is Perryville anywhere near Emmitsburg? I will be making many trips out that way after next week.
Thanks, Ken
Ken, dont feel bad for youself. Everybody has to learn these things. I used to call all wide cab locos "Flat nosed" cause I didnt know what a Dash 9-44-cw or a ac6000cw or a ES44DC was. We all have to learn.
Grayson,
I don't feel bad that I missed entire trains passing within 400 feet of my house. I feel bad that a SOUTHERN train got past me at all. Ken
Perryville is at the mouth of the Susquehanna on the Cecil County side. Picturesque station in the middle of a Y-track with O-27 curvature.
Emmittsburg is out in the central-rural region of MD. Out where mitchelr's new school is. While out that way, treat yourself to a sidetrip to Catoctin Mountain Trains, in Thurmont.
Where I work we have alot of frieght track for our part of South Philly ( elevated 25th ST trestle , CSX Southside yard) recently I have noticed several Norfolk Southern engines pulling frieght. Also seen BNSF and a Union Pacific. Also there was a couple ones I'm not fimilar with I think it was something like FURX with light green and a gray paint sceme.
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