Norfolk Southern - March 10, 2021

Hi, On Wednesday, March 10, friend Jim Kleeman and I spent the day railfanning Norfolk Southern's Lurgan Branch and Hangerstown Line. The Lurgan Branch is made up of portions of the former Reading and Pennsylvania RR (Cumberland Valley RR) north of Hagerstown while the Hagerstown line is former N&W track and is south of Hagerstown.

We began our day in Hagerstown, MD with a visit to Norfolk Southern's Vardo Yard where we spotted cars slowly moving  south. Not knowing whether this was a train leaving or a switching move we decided to find a location and see what happened. We set up along Jordan Road in Fairplay, MD and after a short wait the train we saw in Hagerstown came south (above and below).

After photographing the train at Fairplay we returned to Vardo Yard and I went into the yard office. One of the men on duty, after informing me that I was tresspassing, told me that #211 was called for 10 AM. As it was after 9 we moved north to the Martin Elevator in Maugansville, MD. Number 211 showed up running about 20 minutes late.

While #211 changed crews we headed south again, eventually finding this location at Mondell Road in Sharpsville, MD. 

Not hearing of anything else in the area, and being reluctant to try the Vardo Yard office again, we decided to explore the Lurgan Branch in the hopes of locating something. On our return to Maugansville I left the car and looked north. Coming right at me a couple of blocks away was #13R.

We returned again to Vardo Yard to see what #13R would do. When the crew was directed into one of the yard tracks we knew it would be awhile before the train left. However, there was a power set sitting on the main so we set up at Saint James, MD for what turned out to be the power of #228. This crew would pick up its train at the Virginia Inland Port in Cedarville, VA and take its train towards its final destination in Norfolk, VA.

Once again we had no indication that anything was imminent so we decided to set up again at the Martin Elevator in Maugansville in the hope that something would come south. Instead local #H34 came north

and worked in downtown Maugansville.

While #H34 switched in Maugansville Jim and I explored to the north hoping something would come south. Hykes Road in Milnor crosses NS just south of the former Greencastle, PA intermodal facility. Number H34 was first to enter the scene (above and two below).

When Jim called to inform me he could see a stack train waiting on the main at the north end of the yard I walked up toward the overpass and photograhed #201 as it came south.

One last time we took advantage of the crew change in Hagerstown to set up at Rench Road, on the south side of Hagerstown. However, before #211 could leave #16T had to arrive (above).

After #16T cleared #201 departed and so did we.

Thanks for looking.

Railfanning February 25, 2021

Hi, Jim Kleeman and I spent a very enjoyable day photographing the East Penn Railroad and Amtrak. We started at the East Penn Railroad headquarters in Kennett Square, PA where we learned the train, which was sitting in front of the building, would be heading west to Nottingham, PA. 

Our first stop was at Toughkenamon, PA.

 

While the crew switched in Avalon, PA we went continued to Lake Road where we encountered Rich Jahn. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to talk to him for the first time.

Our next stop was West Grove, PA (above and below). Rich was there ahead of us as we spent some time looking around. The train had stopped to work another industry so we had plenty of time.

Then it was on to Kelton, PA (above and below) where once again we met up with Rich.

At Elkview Trestle Rich flew his drone and Jim walked in to a more open shot.

Jim and I easily beat the train to Oxford, PA where the crew switched (above and 3 below) and where we had one final opportunity to visit with Rich.

We found a spot with clear view of the track west of Oxford, PA.

We got our final East Penn shot as the Train entered Nottingham, PA. We knew the train would spend some time switching and that either the light would be strongly from the west, not very good for an eastbound train, or gone. Therefore we decided to head for Havre de Grace, MD for the rest of the short day.

The first and last photos in this series at Havre de Gras were taken from the boat landing just down stream from the bridge.

This photo was taken from the Frank J. Hutchins memorial park.

Thanks for looking.