I may have burned half a tank of gas from my grandparents to shoot it, but the Housatonic Railroad is a gem of the Berkshire Hills.
https://youtu.be/JKIV0QS4fho
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Do you have any videos of the Housatonic in Massachusetts? We used to have a weekend ski house in Great Barrington.
I watched Harrison's video (Very enjoyable!) of the Housatonic RR and with that cool old preserved train station and the very scenic country it passes through all I could think of was "What a great location for a steam tourist railroad!"
Maybe the Housatonic should get a pet steam engine and some passenger cars for a little extra income?
Flintlock76I watched Harrison's video (Very enjoyable!) of the Housatonic RR and with that cool old preserved train station and the very scenic country it passes through all I could think of was "What a great location for a steam tourist railroad!" Maybe the Housatonic should get a pet steam engine and some passenger cars for a little extra income?
Don't think any steam engine can be considered a 'pet'. The maintenance required to keep it operational soon makes it a MONSTER when it comes the organization's financial bottom line.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDDon't think any steam engine can be considered a 'pet'. The maintenance required to keep it operational soon makes it a MONSTER when it comes the organization's financial bottom line.
Oh for goodness' sake, can't you tell when I'm joking and having a little fun?
I know how expensive running steam can be. Before anyone decides to get a "pet" steam engine they've certainly got to do a "cost-benefit" analysis. Obviously US Sugar did one before they restored that old ACL Pacific, so did SMS Rail in NJ when they began restoration of that soon-to-be in service 0-6-0.
C'mon man, lighten up!
Much of the Canaan depot was destroyed in an arson fire in 2001. I believe your video shows the rebuilt part.
About 30 or so years ago the Housatonic did run excursion trains south of Canaan but with a diesel locomotive. They used to have a "Railroad Days" festival in conjunction with the runnng of the train. There was an excursion from Lenox, MA to Great Barrington that I rode in about 1988 that used old Erie Lackawanna coaches. I don't recall if that was the Housatonic RR or not.
Their ex Conrail RS3M would make for a great pet, but I assume by the video that their own motive power like that and the GP35's are out of service.
Is the former BAR GP7 (Obviously one of the Santa Fe rebuilds that they bought in the early 1990's) theirs, or another leased unit?
My impression from bits and pieces I've read over the past 20 years is that they're struggling compared to the 1990's when they appeared to be growing and thriving. Is that accurate?
54light15 Do you have any videos of the Housatonic in Massachusetts? We used to have a weekend ski house in Great Barrington.
Nope but my buddy Ryan has some.
https://youtu.be/D8geDcHKBuI
Leo_Ames Their ex Conrail RS3M would make for a great pet, but I assume by the video that their own motive power like that and the GP35's are out of service. Is the former BAR GP7 (Obviously one of the Santa Fe rebuilds that they bought in the early 1990's) theirs, or another leased unit? My impression from bits and pieces I've read over the past 20 years is that they're struggling compared to the 1990's when they appeared to be growing and thriving. Is that accurate?
The BAR GP7u/m has HRRC reporting marks, therefore I think it's safe to assume they own it.
They certainly are not doing as well as they once were, but they still have a decent business going compared to other shortlines in the area.
Leo_AmesTheir ex Conrail RS3M would make for a great pet,
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Not 1:1 scale, but still worth a watch.
https://youtu.be/MEiihsg3cNo
My dad filmed this one for me... Some great catches!
https://youtu.be/tGqPkIdfNYY
Every railfan's dream: A special interest locomotive shows up twice, in daylight, when they happen to be railfanning a particular line. In my case, that was CSXT 1776 on the River Line. Follow along as we catch it twice!
https://youtu.be/-1qNEcmNAJk
At the end of the video you said something like- that's a lot of stacks for Mechanicsville. Did you mean they were heading for there, or would be now diverted from there over CSX Boston line?
MidlandMike At the end of the video you said something like- that's a lot of stacks for Mechanicsville. Did you mean they were heading for there, or would be now diverted from there over CSX Boston line?
On 22K/23K, any part of the train that includes double stacks is bound for mechanicville. The single stack sections are bound for Ayer, as a general rule. This 22K was a Mechanicville only train, as all will soon be once the Ayer section is routed via the southern route/B&A.
Do the double stacks get unloaded at the Mechanicville intermodal facility, or do they go on to someplace else, like Montreal on CP ?
MidlandMike Do the double stacks get unloaded at the Mechanicville intermodal facility, or do they go on to someplace else, like Montreal on CP ?
All go to Mechanicville. Many are trucked to industries in Plattsburgh, and places around the capital region. Hopefully a CP intermodal service could resume someday, but right now they are hyper-focused on St. John.
In this video, we're in Plattsburgh practicing some driving for my road test when 929 arrives with an awesome lashup and consist. By the way, I passed my test! I hope to be roaming the northend this summer alone and with a friend.
https://youtu.be/21L73JMhARs
Congratulations on passing your road test Harrison! That's certainly going to open up a new world for you!
Just one word of advice, "Watch out for the other guy!" As in don't trust ANY other driver on the road to do the right thing! I shake my head every day at the foolishness I see out there on the roads.
Congrats on passing your test. I hope you will keep your eyes on the road and remember that things can occur quickly that will suprise you. It is easy to get distracted and trains will do that. Driving requires attention. But I am preaching. Good luck and thanks for the great videos.
We're very close to home for this video, but that doesn't make it any less exciting. Outrageous? I know it isn't really outrageous, but a man has got to get views somehow...
https://youtu.be/WUOsuLsSNQI
In this video we're out in Plattsburgh getting chilled and wet for a very special 929. Union Pacific power leads a trio of GP40-2s going to Montreal for servicing before heading to the New Brunswick Southern. For whatever reason, it was easier to send the units all the way back to Binghampton and back to Montreal than transfer them a few blocks over from CN to CP in Montreal.
https://youtu.be/L2GG8KvmaDk
We're over in Burlington in this video to check out progress on the Ethan Allen Extension. BD-1 is also featured.
https://youtu.be/X0a8hgdqC8Y
We're up in the Adirondacks in this video, exploring Lyon Mountain, NY. Someday I may actually explore the old mine site if I can get permission.
https://youtu.be/l1aV4Gx2o-4
In this video, we're chasing a Southern Pacific AC44 down the northend.
https://youtu.be/-mlJLdvApIM
We're closer to home and revisiting a video I shot in April of 2021. CP D11 on the D&H Ausable Branch.
https://youtu.be/RFTuuhOqaE8
Approximatly how far does the AuSable branch still extend from its junction with the mainline?
MidlandMike Approximatly how far does the AuSable branch still extend from its junction with the mainline?
A little under 2 miles.
In today's video we're heading across northern NY (and Ontario) looking for a variety of action. Only one train a day, but Four unique railroads in total!
https://youtu.be/b6x6Hp383-4
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