Railfanning 2-18-2013

Hi, Friend Doug Koontz finally found a bright, sunny day for some railfanning so we headed up to the former PRR Middle Division for some NS action.  After checking out Enola Yard and finding nothing of interest we headed west.  At CP Banks, just east of Perdix, PA we came across a Loram rail grinder.  We were able to grab a photo as it backed up through Marysville

and then out on Rocville Bridge.  It used the bridge as the tail track of a wye so the consist could be turned with the locomotive facing east.

We were able to get to the west end of Enola Yard to catch the grinder one last time.

After the rail grinder cleared #12R arrived from Linwood, NC.

Simultaneously, a yard switcher with a high short hood locomotive was working and a road local was doubling its train (in the middle).  #12 R is on the right.

Road local HH01 continued its double as #12R entered the yard.

We started west again from Enola but had only gone a few miles when we encountered first a slow moving coal train, which we let go, and then roadrailer, #262.  We got turned around and were able to get a shot.  We headed for Marysville where we almost beat the coal train.  After waiting about 20 minutes for the roadrailer we again drove west.  It was a good thing as the roadrailer was still sitting at CP Banks when we passed by.

Our destination was Mifflin, PA.  While there we photographed an auto rack train,

#22W,

#36A,

a westbound auto rack train,

Amtrak's Pennsylvanian, and

and an eastbound double stack train.

Our final train of the day was at Mexico, PA with the Wabash Heritage Unit trailing in second position.

I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Raiflanning 1-21-2013

Hi, Its been almost a month since I posted and since these photos were taken.  Friend Doug Koontz and I were able to get together for a day of rail photography on MLK's birthday.  Even though the day was cloudy I enjoyed it and we saw some neat trains.

First up was #64N, a train of Bakken crude oil, shown here eastbound at Marysville, PA.

From Marysville we went to the west end of Enola Yard were we found some light power backing down onto a train and a train of coal empties leaving.

Our tank car train used the mainline by pass track to avoid yard congestion.

As we walked back to Doug's SUV this westbound merchandise train departed.

The #64N tied up at the east end of the yard in West Fairview.  While it was sitting there local #H18 left town.

We heard on the scanner that #H95, the local known as the Yorkie by some area railfans and train crews, was returning from York so we set up for it.

Trailing in 3rd position was the Wabash heritage unit.

We jumped ahead and got another shot as it entered Enola Yard.

Next we headed west, and when we encountered this eastbound tank train, we turned back and beat it to Banks.  The train is #68Q, carrying ethanol.

We then beat the train to an overhead bridge in Paxtang, PA.  Before the ethanol train showed up an intermodal train came east.

Finally, the ethanol train showed up running left handed.

We finished the day shooting two sitting Keystone Service trains from the parking lot at Harris Tower.

Thanks for looking.