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[ns3010]

Today I did some Railfanning by the Shore in Bay Head. After biking 6 miles to get up there, I saw three Bay Head shuttles between BH an Long Branch in about an hour and some cars stored in the yard. When I got there, I realized that I forgot the top of the tripod where the camera sits, so the pictures are a little shakey.

 

First, 4331 pulls in early with GP40PH-2B class leader 4200, a Comet III, a Comet IIM, three more CIIIs, and 5001 trailing:

 

Three strings of retired Comet Is are sitting in the yard:

 

After leaving for a while, I came back to find 4200 still idling away in the yard:

 

Soon after, 5005 pulls in on train 4335 with three more CIIIs and 4218 trailing before turning in the loop:

What is all over 5517?

 

Immediately after 4335 clears the station, 4200 pulls out of the yard with train 4352 on the way up to Long Branch:

 

There’s other pictures on my flickr too.

And there’s a slideshow with a video of train 4352 here

 

And that’s about it. All in all, it was a good day, although I didn't see 4011. And no one questioned me like last time I was in Dover, even though the engineers, conductors, and a BH police officer saw me in plain sight. Great time, and I'll definately be doing it again.

[WCfan]

I the flares on those GP40s!

Alright, where here is my June 20th-21st Iowa/Illinois Trip Report. (Sorry for any grammer mistakes, I haven't proof read it yet, btu I'll fix them when i seem them)

Well we left around 2, 2:30 in the morning to head south to Lacrosse/LaCresent. We stopped in Wisconsin Rapid first to see my luck with EJ&E 674. No luck, seems as they might have died on hours out in Taylor WI. We got to Lacrosse around 5:30 in the morning. The BNSF was very busy at this time and I could hear a lot of scanner action while waiting on the ICE line. Around 11 we headed over to the CP on the Wisconsin side as I had heard the 486 on the scanner. Well we missed them because of a street light that never changed. We headed out toward Tomah, but they where bookin' and it would take some time for use to catch them. So we went back to Lacresent to head south on the ICE with out tails between our legs. We where defeated in catching the 486, and the MSPKC (170).

Heading south I took note of some nice locations; that line is the most scenic line I have ever been on (Besides Moffet Tunnel). We stopped in New Albin IA (Just across the Boarder from MN) and I took some pictures of the small "Station" there. We started to head south when we heard a track detector go off on the ICE; right when it went off two CP SD40-2s came around the corner head north. Well, it was a train, so we took them north. I don't remember the locations where I got them at so I'll make my best attempt.

I think this was south of Reno and North of New Albin.

This one I think was north of Reno.

I'm almost positive this one is South of Brownsville.

That train was sort of a let down, no blue and gold power, and terribly lit.

We turned around and kept heading south. That chase north took some time and it wasn't looking good that we would hit the MSPKC at Marquette. We went through Lansing Iowa, which is a neat little town with a short section of street running. It was one o'clock by the time we got to Marquette. From my information they should have been there, but the MSPKC must have had a pretty good start. We kept heading south, passing through some beautiful scenery, with no trains. We got to Dubuque and checked out that area, but nothing was there, just some CN power. Keeping our course heading south our next stop was Bellevue Iowa. I was now starting to pick the ICE up on the scanner, and we had heard of a NB train there. When we got to Bellevue that north bound train had already gone through town and was starting to leave. We back tracked to a bridge that I could get them off of. This was a difficult shot as the line side poles where in the way.

Here is a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFAmzbl_ZHs&feature=channel_page

We took the time to head up on the bluff that over looked the town. I took some shots and then we where off again to Sabula/Savanna. Nothing was at Sabula Junction, so we headed across the River to Savanna. At the yard, a small Pac-Man CP SD40-2 was leading an ICE SD40-2. I won't post the pictures as they aren't very good.

Another train was working in the yard, and this one was a pretty nice one too! Five blue and gold ICE SD40-2s!

It was nice to actually listen to SD40-2s again. Seeing as though nothing was leaving, we headed to out hotel in Clinton. In Clinton we found two DME geeps tied down for the night.

The trailing geep is a rare one. This is a former PRSL (Pennsylvania Reading Shore Lines), note the extended cab.

In Clinton we had a hotel room that looked over the UP tracks. While checking into the hotel I caught a UP train heading out, nothing special on it, but it did have a mid train.

That night looking out the window the ICE train with 5 SD40-2s went by, must have been the MCCNA (273). I was starting to think I had bit off more than I could chew. I didn't get what I really intended this trip for. Tomorrow I wasn't expecting anything heading east, at this point I just wanted to head to Rochelle and relax! One thing of irony, I wanted the 20th to be blue skies, as I thought I would get the most shots. It was sunny on the 20th, but now I wish the good weather would have come on the 21st, as that is when I got most of my shots.

The next day I wasn’t concerned about getting out early to Savanna, as I knew there would be no train coming. At Savanna we looked around the yard, for anything. The Pac-Man SD40-2 was still there getting a fresh crew. Another train came in with a CP SD40-2 leading and an ICE SD40-2 trailing. On the scanner I heard "Your clear of East Savanna UPXXX". I had no idea what this UP train was doing on the line, but I figured since nothing was in Savanna that we would head east. West of Lanark Ill I glanced over to my left and I saw the rear of an Ethanol Extra! I knew we wouldn't beat them to Lanark, but we didn't miss them by much. As I watched them cross the grade crossing, to my surprise DME 6094 (The 20th anv. unit) was leading a trio of blue and gold SD40-2s! The chase was on now. We wheren't quite sure if we beat them to the highway 72 crossing west of Forreston, so we kept on heading east until we pulled into West Adeline. I'm still not sure if we did beat them at the highway 72 crossing, but better safe then sorry. Sure enough they headed through, going slower than what I had thought.

We chased them to Leaf River Illinois. Now the crew had put the coals to it! It was great to hear a trio of SD40-2s under load! This shot I think next time I'll try and get some elevation.

The next town I wanted to get them at was Bryon, but there was a second set of tracks that confused me, not realizing that the main was just to my left, we decided to keep heading east, and we caught them here at Stillman Valley.

The next spot I wanted was the highway 72 bridge at Davis Junction. I knew that the other side of the bridge was a popular shot, but the train was heading east, so I had to shoot from the other side of the bridge. I don't recommend this shot. This bridge doesn't have a whole lot of room; I had to lean my tri-pod legs against the bridge guardrail so it would obstruct motorists. This spot isn't even that great, power lines ruin it. This was my last spot in the chase and those SD40-2s really did sound good.

Here is my video of the chase. I love the sound of that trio of SD40-2s!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g1JZARQU1o&feature=channel_page

Next stop, Rochelle. We headed in, and it was fairly quite, but I saw some rail fans gravitating to the BNSF side of the tracks, so I figured a BNSF train was coming. The rail fans never lie, and I heard the horn outside of town. As they came around the bend I noticed that the ditch lights where alternating; somthing BNSF locomotives don't have, and as the train came into view a NS Dash 9 was leading a NS SD60, and a BNSF Dash 9.

I really wished that NS SD60 would have been leading, but oh well.

I caught a few more trains, but all of them where UP, and they didn't have anything good on them. They where also all West Bounds, so the angle of the shots wouldn't be anything different. So I won't post them.

It was starting to die down at Rochelle, but then I heard a horn blast on the BNSF. Around the corner came a very nice consists, a NS SD60 was leading a NS Dash 9 on a stack train, how ironic!

Robby gave me a tip that UP 1995 was going to leave Global 2 to head to Global 3 (Outside of Rochelle), but he figured and I figured that it wouldn't show up before 3. So around 2 we started to head out of town, I was check out some BNSF power in Rochelle, when just then we heard a horn on the UP, and blasting right by us was UP 1995! How unlucky!

We decided to head down to Global 3 and check out what was there. Off in the distance we could see the UP 2001 and 2002, but we couldn't get a picture. At the West end of the yard there was the normal GP15-1 and SD40-2 pair switching. I took some pictures, but I'll only post my SD40-2 roster shot.

Well that was it, there was many let downs, but there was also many great catches. I'm not sure how to rate this trip. I would like to return to the river again, but I don't think I make it in such a big trip. In august I'll be heading back to the ICE Chicago sub for two days to rail fan that line some more.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Neat pacing video Alex! I like it.

Nice stuff Joe. Like Jordan said, I like the flared radiators!

Doesn't look like a bad trip at all to me Jordan. You did have excellent luck finding that ethanol extra! I love the class lights on the 6094 always. I just wish they were lit up. I like the shot north of Bellevue a lot too.

I think the second shot of 171 was taken at Reno Bottoms if I'm seeing things right. If there was an earthen causeway that the train ran on through a swamp just to your left, then that's the place. The curve and bridge there is where the ICE had one of their big wrecks last year.

The second set of tracks you saw in Byron was the former CGW main line. It confused me the first time I was there too. It's intact from just in Byron to the Nuclear Plant south of town, and it crosses the big bridge you see in town as you leave Byron eastbound. They moved a few transformers down there back in IMRL days that Lance Wales has photos of on his Flickr site, but I don't know if the ICE has ever gone all the way to the plant or not.

The bridge at DJ is definitely a little close clearance. I've done the eastbound shot once too, but you're right the wires get in the way. I remember being down on my knees and resting the camera on the concrete barrier and I could just get the wires out of frame.

I certainly wouldn't be unhappy to have come back with those photos and video. The trio of SD40-2s rounding the curve at Leaf River is a great sound...

Noah

[WCfan]

Yea that Ethanol Extra was all luck! I also really like the class lights on 6094. Yea I looked at an Aerial View of Bryon and I saw that. Here is Lances' photo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wales23/3011303443/in/pool-imrl

I've been told that there is a wooden bridge that a farmer uses that crosses the tracks just west of the 72 bridge, here are two shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wales23/2639971554/in/set-72157605992078786/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wales23/2639142291/in/set-72157605992078786/

It looks like a great spot...but what scares me the most about that shot is the fact that it is pretty deep in that farmers property.

Thanks Noah for the compliments too!

[B.Erdmann]

Well i have some stuff to post finnaly this was from last week friday when i went to Rapids

 

 

 

i have more pics i need to finish editing from this morning which ill post later, prolly tmmrw after work.

[ns3010]

Nice shots Jordan! I really like the one with the 5 ICE SD40-2s!

I like the flares on the GP40-2Bs (the ex-CNJ geeps and -2As also have them) too. The ex-CNJ geeps were pretty cool in their original form, with the squared hood and rear numberboards (photo not mine, I wasn't around until after the most recent rebuild of the geeps). But they look better with the extended flares than with the shorter ones.

[B.Erdmann]

well this is a RP reject of one of my pics. did it twice today. neither make sense

 http://www.railpictures.net/viewreject.php?id=700672&key=806242468

http://www.railpictures.net/viewreject.php?id=700476&key=481877489

 

[coborn35]

 No, they both make perfect sense. Use a little bit more contrast and you'll be fine.

[Railfan Alex]

Nice photos guys!

Joe, I see you caught the class unit, 4200. The curve looks pretty sharp in that last photo. I like commuter operations, and I am still debating if I should model a "set" or two.

Really nice trip report Jordan! Glad it went so well. Not that I want you to loose your ICE/DME power, but I wouldn't mind if a unit or two strayed North!

Brent, those are nice photos. That's why I don't bother with RailPictures anymore.

[Anonymous]

I rode the MBTA Red Line yesterday... My point-and-shoot portable camera (I use my Canon 30D for most photography, but carry a Panasonic DMC-FX01 around with me just in case there's a train to shoot...) actually takes comparable video to my camcorder, but the audio is very lacking and the camera doesn't have an auxillary mike.

First, a set of older stock (too much time spent reading books on the London Underground...) arrives in South Station. Then there's a clip of riding over the Longfellow Bridge, then the train departing Kendall/MIT. Then on the way to my class at MIT, I stopped by where the line comes up from the tunnel to go onto the bridge. There I caught a meet between two newer trains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX4FlRc3Jaw

Enjoy!

[ns3010]

Alex- It's kinda sharp. But that angle just makes it seem worse than it really is. The third from last shot is the same curve and it's not nearly as sharp because I was standing on the other side of the tracks. The 5 mph speed limit isn't for the curve, it's just there because that's where trains enter the yard and/or the loop.

Tyler- Nice job catching the meet. I wasn't expecting that second train to pop out like that!

[EJE818]

Here is the beginning of my Dells trip report, this is just the good stuff I saw minus one IC&E train that I still haven't gotten onto RRPA yet. I also have some North Freedom stuff I haven't put on RRPA, but they've recovered quite nicely from the big flood last year!

Anyway, here is CP 486 crossing the bridge in the Dells with a IC&E trio, mission accomplished! http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1646495

They stopped and picked up some cars from the stub track next to the Dells depot, which allowed me to nab 486 again at Bowman Road. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1646496

Here is a spectacular consist on 283 heading west, CP 5911, one of two large multi-mark SD40-2s left and a MP15! http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1646497

Then as seen from the balcony of our hotel, 487 heads west with 6401 in the lead again, two days after it was on 486. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1646498

You can probably see the fact that the good stuff came when the clouds were in the area. Seems that always happens these days! I did get some sunny shots of CP, BNSF and Amtrak trains crossing the bridge, pretty good considering the forecast for the trip was flat out nasty each day. I'll have more from the Dells in two days. I also got a UP OLS special with 1983 leading, EJ&E 670 at Homewood and IC 1029 of all things switching Homewood Yard! Three trains, all with good power!

[B.Erdmann]

well i have my pics done from yesterday,

first of all before i went to my workout i decided to stop in at wega. sure neough as soon as i get there theres a yellow, later " CN East RTC to 342 CN 2231 south over, you guys are gonna meet 347 at weyauwega, there out of anton right now., rtc to 347, 347 your going to meet 342 & 416 is right behind them at weyauwega.

heres 342

rp rejected that shot too

i took this for atmo

suprise of the day

heres 347 this isnt a good northbound location light wise

the 416

it was itme for me to run,  had to get to the weight room in 15 mins. i plan on going back in the morning. i also have a pic to hsare i took today of a item i never seen before.

 

[B.Erdmann]

Well the othe day while at work in iola. i was with my supervisor since he wanted to show me what to do if he wasnt there & it started with a trip to the post office across the st i noticed a caboose so today before work i stopped & sure enough its a caboose, a DMIR one, they have a depot here too.

[WCfan]

I think we need to start a new page. After this post we can start a fresh page that won't be over loaded with pictures!