Railfanning 3-27-10

Hi, Friends Stan Short and Jack Bruce, and I had a very enjoyable day on CSX's former RF&P on Saturday. We met at Elmont, VA but the light did not favor southbound trains so we headed to Glen Allen, VA. Jack's wife had spotted some Dogwood trees in bloom. In short order we photographed Q439 and Amtrak #67.


We then headed back to Elmont to see if the light had come around and it had to a degree. However, first up was northbound Amtrak #194.

Right on the Amtraker's heals was a northbound empty coal train shot splitting the signals at Elmont.

We next caught Amtrak #89, our first southbound here. This interlocking is only a few years old. When CSX installed it they built a berm up on either side of the track which make a nice spot to shoot from.

We then headed to Ashland, VA to see if any of the trees up there were in bloom. While a couple of Tulip Magnolias had been bitten by the previous night's frost the Bradford Pear trees were magnificent. First up was Q741. This train brings empty orange juice reefers back to Bradenton, FL. It almost always carries a block of intermodal on the head end. It is shown here passing the station, which now serves has the town's welcome center.

About 10 minutes later Amtrak #79 rolled through town past the station,

and then through the commercial area.

After a lull of a couple of hours things picked up again as T104 made an appearance, again passing the station,

and then through the commercial area.

As T104 cleared Amtrak #80 put in an appearance. By mid afternoon shadows become a problem if you move away from the downtown area, so we decided to head back to Elmont.

First up at Elmont was Q173 running left handed on main track 2.

About 10 minutes later, Q740, the northbound orange juice train, showed up.

CSX still had one more arrow in its quiver, Q703, a trash train.

We ended our day at Doswell, VA. The Buckingham Branch, which leases the former C&O Piedmont Division from CSX, had 3 locomotives sitting dead in the small interchange yard.


Our first train here was Amtrak #53, the Auto Train,

and #90.

Then CSX ran a coal empty on the Buckingham Branch.

The day ended with Amtrak #66. The locomotive is the same one that went south on #67.

I hope you enjoyed the photos. Bob

Scans of some old slides

Hi, I got to thinking about how to share some of my older slides, and there only a few, when I remembered scans made by good friend Dave Oroszi. Here are the New Haven and New York Central photos I like best.

The first 4 photos were taken in June 1957 at the New Central's Woodlawn Station in the Bronx on NYC's Harlem Division. The photo below was taken north of the station and shows an EP-4 passenger locomotive inbound to Grand Central Terminal.

The next 2 photos also are of inbound trains. I believe the locomotives are EP-3s, the first being in a scheme introduced during the McGinnis era. About a 1/2 mile north of this location New Haven trackage begins as it heads east to New Rochelle to join up with their route out of Penn Station.


The New York Central commuter train is running express on its way to North White Plains, NY. This was very new equipment at this time.

A couple of black & white photos scanned from prints will finish the material taken in the Bronx. The photo below shows an oil electric box cab on the New York Central freight line that served the west side of Manhattan. The caboose hop is crossing Spuyten Duyvil which connects the Harlem River on the left with the Hudson River on the right. This is now part of Amtrak's Empire Route into Penn Station.

About a mile east of the previous photograph is the Marble Hill section of the Bronx. The train, behind a former Cleveland Union Terminal Electric, is on the Hudson Division headed for Harmon, NY and an engine change. The former Putnam Division runs along the wall in the background.

Exiting the tunnel under the Detroit River, this CP train is approaching Michigan Central Station in Detroit. The photo was taken in June, probably 1959, when I was a student at the University of Michigan.

The following three slides had developed a magenta cast when I sent them to Dave. I was amazed at his ability to restore them to as shot condition.

On the same day passenger power awaited assignment out side the station. Below is an E8A/E7B combo.

Behind the E units was a pair of Fairbanks-Morse C-Liners. I believe these are the only example of these locomotives I have ever seen.

I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Ships in New York City

Hi, The area along the Hudson River from 42nd Street in New York City up to about 53rd Street was the area where ocean liners arrived and departed. One could visit the ships before they left and then watch them sale from the end of their piers. Also, navy ships sometimes docked here and were open for inspection. Here are some of the ships photographed in the late 50s and early 60s.

Italian Lines SS Saturnia. 4-57

SS New York. 6-59

Cunard Lines RMS Mauretania docking. This was the 3rd largest ship in Cunard's fleet at this time. 4-57



A Moran tug pushes the RMS Queen Elizabeth out of her berth into the Hudson River. 6-59

RMS Queen Elizabeth. 6-59

French Light Carrier Boise Belleau. Ship was laid down as a light cruiser but finished as a light carrier. She joined the US Fleet in March 1942 as the Belleau Wood. In 1953 she was transferred to the French Navy. 6-59

French Cruiser. 6-59

French Destroyers. 6-59

USS Leyte. 4-57

Hope you enjoyed the photos.