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[nssr9169]

Not to mention BNSF used SW1000’s, SW1500’s and MP15DC’s all over…we get BNSF GP39M’s all the time…along with the BN GP50’s with the huge 5 person cabs…a grain mill uses two Ex Santa Fe GP20’s…Peavey uses a SW7…Hallott Dock uses an NW2 and SW7…and of course you have the railroad museum here…so live she is good…I sure do miss the Ex GN SD9’s sigh…L

[EJE818]

Another good tip for getting stuff into RPs is to use surrounding objects to your advantage, like the signal bridge in this shot (even though it's a ugly new signal bridge, UCK!) http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=267969&nseq=0

Historic building, mile markers, whistle posts, bridges, etc are all other examples. They don't like crossing signals for some reason it seems.

Always try finding a place where you can stand on the lit side of the tracks, very rarely do they accept photos from the dark side of the tracks, and one other thing that I've noticed is that there is half of a telephone pole or pipe or something that is not completely in the frame, crop it out.

Don't give up on RPs, keep sending, the worst thing they can do is reject the photo!

[Anonymous]

I traveled out to Springfield, MA, for a train show on Saturday. I saw these cars in CSX's West Springfield yard. Looks like some sort of safety train for...something... Sorry about the bad photos, I snapped these out of a moving car...

On the way home I stopped at Palmer, MA, to catch the Westbound Lake Shore Limited, which I was right on time for, but lo and behold, according to a railfan I asked, it had passed over half an hour ago! I thought it had made really good time out of Boston (or skipped the stop at Worcester!) until I realized it ran on a different schedule on the weekend.

I did see a NECR GP38 (non-dash-2!) idling in the NECR engine terminal. There was also a GEXR GP38, but I couldn't get a good photo of it. Even with the NECR geep, I was on the wrong side of the tracks. This one came out okay, I think. There's a link to the other end (not as good a photo) below it.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1469332

 

[Lord Atmo]

Oi vei..

So I rant for years here and everyone else has fun, now I'm finally enjoying the hobby more than ever and everyone else here goes all gloom and doom. Wow I just can't win!

Personally I welcome GEVOs, ACEs, AC44s, and SD70Ms up here. I hardly ever saw any of them up until now. Flag power is finally becoming the norm in Altoona and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Yeah I love spartan cab power too, but UP's newer widecabs just have a much more flashy and attractive paintscheme than their spartan cab power. And it's been great seeing more of them around here lately. Especially when I hated everything I originally got. And ever since UP purged all the zombies, I havent always been angry 24/7, all the annoying aspects of my life were less stressful, and I even started laughing again. My blood pressure isnt so high anymore either.

So don't act like it's all bad news going on here. So many regionals and shortlines still run the spartan cab power we all love (Especially my beloved INRD. All those SD60s...Gahhh), so just shift your focuses.

[Anonymous]

Lord Atmo

Oi vei..

So I rant for years here and everyone else has fun, now I'm finally enjoying the hobby more than ever and everyone else here goes all gloom and doom. Wow I just can't win!

Personally I welcome GEVOs, ACEs, AC44s, and SD70Ms up here. I hardly ever saw any of them up until now. Flag power is finally becoming the norm in Altoona and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

Yeah I love spartan cab power too, but UP's newer widecabs just have a much more flashy and attractive paintscheme than their spartan cab power. And it's been great seeing more of them around here lately. Especially when I hated everything I originally got. And ever since UP purged all the zombies, I havent always been angry 24/7, all the annoying aspects of my life were less stressful, and I even started laughing again. My blood pressure isnt so high anymore either.

So don't act like it's all bad news going on here. So many regionals and shortlines still run the spartan cab power we all love (Especially my beloved INRD. All those SD60s...Gahhh), so just shift your focuses.

 

Yeah, I agree! If you know where to look, you can find older power. And even on the mainlines, they're still trains, right? I'm with Atmo here...

Within driving distance of me there is a whole host of rare power, including:

Mass Central: NW5 (one of only 13 built and one of the only active ones in the world!), high-nose GP9.

Providence & Worcester: 4 GP38-2s, 2 B23-7Rs (super 7 rebuild from a U23B!), 2 GP40-3s, 5 B30-7ABs (ex-BN B unit!), 9 B39-8Es, 4 B40-8s.

CSX: GP40-2s on the Leominster branch, due to weight restrictions they are the largest locos allowed. I've also seen GP40-2s on the mainline, a C40-8, a C40-8W, and of course AC6000CWs in the last year.

New England Central Railroad: 3 GP38-2s, 22 (!) GP38s, 3 GP40s, 1 GP38AC, 1 SD40, 1 SD40-2.

MBTA: 20 GP40MCs, 18 F40PHs (may have decreased over the years) 37 F40PH-2Cs (M-K F40PH clones built on GP40 frames)

EDIT: Guilford too, has a hodge-podge of EMD Geeps, some widecabs, others not, plus run-through NS units on the Bow (NH) coal train...

You just need to know where to look...

 

[EJE818]

We'll GLADLY send you all the UP GEVOs we have here! It's ridiculous on the Geneva Sub, its the same thing over and over again train after train thanks to cab signal rules. At least on the BNSF foreign power can actually lead! If the UP didn't have cab signals it could still be possible to have cool power lead. UP does still intentionally pair up heritage engines so I guess I can't go on a rant against them! Ty, you are in short line heaven there.

Ty, you are pretty lucky where you are. In the Northeast you have the Guilford (I hate calling it Pan Am!), P&W, MM&A (with a WC inspired paint scheme!), and of course my personal favorite of them, the Delaware Lackawanna! Thats what you get when there is no railway called CN in the area, plus it sounds like even the class ones have a lot of light branch lines that use older EMD power. Heck, CP still runs three Delaware & Hudson engines up there! The neat thing is there are rumors there is a special order to leave them in D&H paint!

Thats just another reason I like CP, unlike CN, they actually understand their heritage, not to mention they run a steam program, the Holiday Train and a business train with classy looking F units. Maybe they'll leave a couple SOO and a couple DM&E/IC&E engines in their respective paint schemes like they have done with the D&H.

[ns3010]

Yes, exactly. The Washington Secondary, is exactly that, a secondary. No need for big power here.

And NJT has some of the most unique stuff out there: 17 F40PH-2CATs (2 are in Canada), GP40PH-2s (ex-CNJ units), GP40PH-2As and Bs, GP40FH-2s (rebuilds on GP40 frame w/ ex-BN cowl, only 4 left, 5 in Canada), PL42ACs (Alstom), ALP-44s (and Ms), ALP-46s (and As coming in late 09/10), soon to be ALP-45DM (not official name). We also have some pretty original equipment, too: Comet 1s (mostly gone), Comarrows (Comet IBs, rebuilt from Arrow Is), CIIMs, CIIIs, CIVs, CVs, Multilevels (specially designed for NJT), and Arrow IIIs.

Like Tyler said, maybe there's not a lot in obvious places, you just need to track it down. If it leaves the roster, keep track of where it goes. I know where all the NJT stuff is going. Keep a list, and you can track every single piece of equipment.

[Lord Atmo]

Not a bad list of shortlines there. Not the ones I'm into though. See I got 2 requirements all railroads need to meet before I will be interested in them.

1. An attractive paint scheme
2. At least one locomotive with a spartan cab and 6 axles (Or 2-eyed safety cab if the railroad is a class 1)

Turbocharged power is prefferable too. Or that railroad will go lower on my list. IAIS being a rare exception as those GEVOs are just awesome.

[Anonymous]

Lord Atmo

Not a bad list of shortlines there. Not the ones I'm into though. See I got 2 requirements all railroads need to meet before I will be interested in them.

1. An attractive paint scheme
2. At least one locomotive with a spartan cab and 6 axles (Or 2-eyed safety cab if the railroad is a class 1)

Turbocharged power is prefferable too. Or that railroad will go lower on my list. IAIS being a rare exception as those GEVOs are just awesome.

 

 I think the NECR paint scheme is pretty nice, and you can't beat an SD40-2! (Of course, none of the SD40-2s are painted in their scheme...)

On a completely different note; look at this!

[EJE818]

After this year, I could care less about IAIS. They are looking for 12 more new engines, probably more GEVOs to delivered this fall on top of the 12 GEVOs they already have. This means any remaining GP38-2s and SD38-2s still in service will either be confined to Iowa or Rock Island for local service or stored/retired. It's hard to believe just 5 years ago on this exact same railroad you could see 4-7 GP8s, GP9s, GP10s, GP38s, GP38ACs and even M420Ws in paint schemes of IAIS, ICG, PNC, IC, CSX, LLPX, Conrail and Chessie. Now most of the time its a pair of GEVOs or a GEVO in front of a GP38-2 or a SD38-2. Now the chance of seeing good EMD power on IAIS will pretty much be zero.

Enough ranting against what used to be one of my favorite railways until today, at least we still have the WSOR and the DM&E/IC&E (Ok, its CP now but it's not like you could ever tell). Actually, there is a funny thing about the DM&E/IC&E. Right before the merger, they had a bunch of CITX and CP SD40-2s on lease. Now, after the merger, all those have been reassigned and you actually see more pure DM&E/IC&E consists now then you did before the merger! In fact, nearly every train running here in the Chicago area has had pure blue and yellow. The only times when they aren't pure blue and yellow are when the DM&E patched ex-CP SD40-2s or IC&E 6102 (still in IMRL paint!) are thrown in.

Also, check this engine out! Coming to a line near me soon! Note, This is NOT my photo! http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=97468

That is the first engine painted for the Illinois Railway, and I must say, that is one HECK of a paint scheme!!!

[B.Erdmann]

well today i didnt have school cuz of teacher inservice since new semester starts tomorrow. today is also the day i got my braces taken off finnaly so i got to do some fannin in neenah for a bit. while i was there i seen this

they shoved about 20 loads of coke into the yard & all were either UP or DRGW coal/coke cars

i didnt stay long since i wanted to get  home so i could do some more railfannin but this time on the snowmobile. so im going hom i heard MRF say that 118 was leavin point so i figured get home get dressed & go. well i decided i was gonna go to Anton, at first i was gonna go to medina jct but idk if i woulda had enough gas. well i missed 118 by about 10 mins.

anyways about 40 mins since i left home i arrive to Anton North. waited bout a hour & a half then this shows up.

well i bet your thinking its the front end of the train but the EOT gives it away, also the 1st i seen the DPU backwards

then my hands got cold 407 was working in Neenah so i head 6 miles to readfield. well i wait around there, 3 people pull over & ask if i needed help which i hate, obiously you cant see a scanner, camera & headphones on me, person gave me a  the hands up as what the hell im doing, girl i know from school drives by, then the 407 comes

had ot get a pic of my sled in the pic

then 5 mins later 595 comes.... remember the portable ditch light?

i coulda waited for the 408 but i was cold, iot was getting dark i hadn o flash light which i carry on me if i go at night, & dinner was gonna be ready at 5:30

 

[WCfan]

TrainManTy

Yeah, I agree! If you know where to look, you can find older power. And even on the mainlines, they're still trains, right? I'm with Atmo here...

Within driving distance of me there is a whole host of rare power, including:

Mass Central: NW5 (one of only 13 built and one of the only active ones in the world!), high-nose GP9.

Providence & Worcester: 4 GP38-2s, 2 B23-7Rs (super 7 rebuild from a U23B!), 2 GP40-3s, 5 B30-7ABs (ex-BN B unit!), 9 B39-8Es, 4 B40-8s.

CSX: GP40-2s on the Leominster branch, due to weight restrictions they are the largest locos allowed. I've also seen GP40-2s on the mainline, a C40-8, a C40-8W, and of course AC6000CWs in the last year.

New England Central Railroad: 3 GP38-2s, 22 (!) GP38s, 3 GP40s, 1 GP38AC, 1 SD40, 1 SD40-2.

MBTA: 20 GP40MCs, 18 F40PHs (may have decreased over the years) 37 F40PH-2Cs (M-K F40PH clones built on GP40 frames)

EDIT: Guilford too, has a hodge-podge of EMD Geeps, some widecabs, others not, plus run-through NS units on the Bow (NH) coal train...

You just need to know where to look...

Well, the closest Railroad that I know will have Spartan cab power is the WSOR, which is about two hours south of here, the next would probably be the DME/ICE at 3 hours, and last would be the Iron Range at 3-4 hours depending on where I go. Personally I don't get the same thrill seeing or hearing a GEVO lead; it just doesn't do it for me. You're lucky you live in Short Line heaven, around here; I'm stuck in the heart land of CN...

[wctransfer]

Max, this isnt complaining, its talking about the crap that is coming and the cool stuff that is leaving (see EMD 1966-1971, and EMD 1972-1981) because of it. GEVO's dont look or sound as good as a standard cab EMD, and for some reason you dont see that. But, no matter how wrong someones opinion is they are entitled to it.

 It was always fun going out and not knowing what would show up, but now thats practicly gone. I mean, you could bet some serious money on what a train will have leading now adays, and win! That sucks, this whole new wave of stuff sucks. And you complained about stuff that NOT ONE PERSON complained about, something many people envied. You also used such toddler phrases as "Zombies" (and arent you the one that puts human features on a locomotive, then yells at someone for calling an Empress such as a straight SD40 a she? If that isnt the most hypocritical thing Ive ever seen) and "2 Eyed".  Most people here (atleast Robby and Jordan) dont like what the future is either, because its all the same, just different colors. You KNOW what your going to see, and you KNOW what your going to hear.

Oh, and your always saying "give GEVO's and blah blah blah a chance" and I have, and it still doesnt do anything for me. Ive been giving them a "chance" going on 2 solid years now, and I believe Ive formed a pretty solid opinion. They uttlerly blow.

Alec(ugh.....)

[EJE818]

Heck, it's getting so bad here on BNSF we have B40-8Ws regularly leading locals that used to have four geeps on them! Like I said before, UP is so boring now, practically the same thing over and over again. It's almost always a SD70M, a GEVO or a AC4400CW in the lead. All the SD40-2s that could actually lead are pretty much gone, the last C40-8 that could lead was just retired not long ago, even the SD60s are going. To top it all off is CN taking over the EJ&E, IHB getting gensets and IAIS continues to get junk.

I'll say it once again, I am thankful to have the Illinois Railway, the BRC, the IHB and CP's DM&E/IC&E nearby for a nice break from the endless parade of junk.

[coborn35]

 We have a fully restored GN NW5 hehehe  Beat cha