Summerail Trip - 5

Hi, On Wednesday, August 15 we achieved my second main objective for this trip, quality photo opportunities for the Lake State Railway.

We started our day back at the yard in Saginaw. As we approached the yard we spotted this train coming off the Saginaw River bridge just to the west of the yard so we headed to an open spot and then

to the pedestrian bridge east of there.

Based on information we had received on Tuesday from Kevin Burkholder we headed to Wenona Yard hoping to intercept the train coming from Alpena. We were successful. After a Huron & Eastern crew that had been working here departed the Alpena train pulled to the south end of the yard (above and below).

Here it waited for a passenger extra carrying railroad executives to a golf outing in Gaylord, MI.

Once the passenger train cleared the Alpena train continued its journey (above and two below).

We caught up to the train on the northeast side of Bay City.

After the Alpena train pulled into a small yard in northeastern Bay City the Bay City Turn arrived (above and two below). We could not see what was going on but it seemed like both trains did some switching.

After the Bay City Turn left the Alpena train backed out of the yard, went around a wye and pulled across the Saginaw River.

In this photo the train has crossed the Saginaw River with the bridge is out of sight to the left. The train actually needed to go in the opposite direction but that wasn't possible coming off the bridge.

 So the crew pulled about a mile west to a siding and ran around their train (above and below).

While they switched after their run around we waited in Essexville for a shot and then beat the train to the south side of Bay City (above).

Just south of Bay City the railroad crosses Chebovganing Creek.

This tractor is used to move hoppers around a siding adjacent to the Lake State yard in Saginaw.

After a while the Alpena train arrived in Saginaw, shown with one of the railroads Saginaw River bridges in the background and

pulled through the yard.

After lunch we drove up to Gaylord so we could chase the passenger train south toward Saginaw.

This former Pennsy observation car was on the rear.

The chase was easy as Old Highway 27 South closely parallels the railroad. We shot the train at Arbutus Beach,

along Otsego Lake,

at Waters, and

north of Frederic (above and below).

Thanks for looking.