Trackside Log for Sunday, December 31, 2006

Today I was heading back to Ontario and I decided to take the scenic route. I checked out of the Super 8 in Altoona, Pennsylvania and meandered my way to Lewistown Junction. The Juniata Valley Railroad is based there but everything was tucked into the shops when I arrived. I stuck around the station for a while though to see if Norfolk Southern would run any trains by. It took a while, but some patience paid off.

• 1155 Lewistown Junction, PA - NS 21G west - NS 9424-BNSF 5229-NS 9773
• 1205 Lewistown Junction, PA - NS westbound - NS 9882-NS 9138-NS 9433-NS 9957

Two days previous I visited the Nittany and Bald Eagle in Lock Haven. It was on my way back home so I decided to head back there to see if anything had changed. The North Shore switcher was still there and NBER 1601 was parked in the yard, but the CF7 was nowhere to be seen. I'd already photographed everything there so I moved on. I followed the Norfolk Southern Buffalo Line north out of town with a destination of Mount Jewett in mind. The scenery along the river valley was spectacular. I'll definitely have to drive this route again!

After a while I arrived at Renovo. At one time this town was host to a huge yard and shop facility. Sadly much of it is now gone. However, sitting outside the Renovo Rail Industries facility was an old Pennsylvania Railroad caboose and boxcar.

• 1409 Renovo, PA - stored cars - PRR 411846-PRR 498313

Just after arriving in town I heard a Norfolk Southern crew talking to the dispatcher about parking their train. Just outside of town I found the locomotive consist.

• 1418 Renovo, PA - NS power - NS 8675-NS 3445-NS 3051

I then continued along the river valley first encountering Keating where R.J. Corman meets the Buffalo Line. There was nothing noteworthy so I moved on. Next up was Driftwood where the former Pittsburg and Shawmut (now Buffalo & Pittsburgh) interchange is located. I'm unable to express my surprise for what I found there.

• 1507 Driftwood, PA - parked power - NBER 2427

The missing CF7 was found. I certainly didn't expect to see it on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh tracks!

I continued my journey following the Buffalo Line until arriving at Emporium. Here I turned west and left the Norfolk Southern tracks behind and briefly followed an abandoned right of way on my way to Mount Jewett. It was getting pretty dark when I got to Mount Jewett. I considered visiting the remains of the Kinzua Viaduct but elected to pass by since it would be difficult to see in the waning light. I could find nothing else notworthy in town at first glance so I turned north for the border. I didn't photograph very much this day but I had a fabulous day. My mini trip to close off 2006 was excellent.

Trackside Log for Saturday, December 30, 2006

I awoke to a beautiful sunny morning in Altoona, Pennsylvania. I drove immediately to Lilly to take advantage of the good light. It was early enough that I had to search for a location with direct sunlight.

• 0924 Lilly, PA - NS westbound - NS 9513-NS 8346
• 0935 Lilly, PA - NS westbound - NS 9248-NS 9752
• 0943 Lilly, PA - Amtrak eastbound - AMTK 160
• 1013 Lilly, PA - NS westbound - NS 3349-NS 3346-NS 9631-NS 8845
• 1032 Lilly, PA - NS eastbound - NS 2622-NS 9910-NS 3431-MNCW 203 w/ helper NS 3335-NS 3423
• 1043 Lilly, PA - NS helper westbound - NS 3425-NS 3343
• 1057 Lilly, PA - NS eastbound - NS 2767-NS 2746

I figured the light would be nice at the steel bridge in Cassandra so I pulled up and gave it a try. The westbound angle was beautiful. Dave and Laura also dropped by for a bit.

• 1120 Cassandra, PA - NS helper westbound - NS 3373-NS 3339
• 1137 Cassandra, PA - NS 20B east - NS 9773-NS 2542
• 1155 Cassandra, PA - NS 20W east - NS 8427-NS 2570
• 1216 Cassandra, PA - NS eastbound - NS 2628-NS 9562
• 1219 Cassandra, PA - NS eastbound - NS 7536-NS 2632
• 1231 Cassandra, PA - NS westbound - NS 9287-NS 9436
• 1241 Cassandra, PA - NS westbound - NS 6705-NS 6708
• 1243 Cassandra, PA - NS eastbound - NS 3354-NS 3379-NS 3366 w/ helper NS 3349-NS 3346-NS 3425-NS 3343
• 1253 Cassandra, PA - NS eastbound - NS 9278-NS 8675 w/ helper NS 3339-NS 3373
• 1315 Cassandra, PA - NS helper westbound - NS 3380-NS 3351
• 1316 Cassandra, PA - NS eastbound - NS 2759-NS 9512

I decided it was time for a change so I drove over to Cresson where I found the coal train with seven SD40-2's again.

• 1339 Cresson, PA - NS eastbound - NS 3354-NS 3379-NS 3366 w/ helper NS 3349-NS 3346-NS 3425-NS 3343
• 1413 Gallitzin, PA - NS westbound - NS 9624-NS 9896
• 1438 Cresson, PA - NS eastbound - NS 9642-NS 8909 w/ helper NS 3357-NS 3374
• 1453 Cresson, PA - NS eastbound - NS 9559-NS 2722-NS 8378
• 1504 Cresson, PA - NS westbound - NS 7574-BNSF 7610-NS 9796 w/ helper NS 3423-NS 3335
• 1508 Cresson, PA - NS eastbound - NS 2624-NS 9651
• 1510 Cresson, PA - NS eastbound - NS 9497-NS 9109 w/ helper NS 3338-NS 3344-NS 3351-NS 3380
• 1516 Cresson, PA - NS westbound - NS 2641-NS 9790-NS 8929

By this point the clouds were beginning to roll in and the sun was getting low so I meandered my way back to the Super 8 in Altoona. It has been a productive day indeed.

Trackside Log for Friday, December 29, 2006

Today I met up with Dave and Laura in Altoona, Pennsylvania. We headed out to find the Nittany and Bald Eagle starting in Tyrone and heading north. The first item of interest was the Bellefonte Historical Railroad.

• 1018 Bellefonte, PA - Bellefonte Historical Railroad power - BHRX 9153-BHRX 9167
• 1020 Bellefonte, PA - Bellefonte Museum - snow plow

The we continued on along the Nittany and Bald Eagle.

• 1109 Lock Haven, PA - NBER power - NBER 2427
• 1110 Lock Haven, PA - North Shore power - NSHR 430

While poking around Lock Haven NBER 1601 pulled into town.

• 1123 Lock Haven, PA - NBER westbound - NBER 1601

We finished with Lock Haven and reversed direction to head back to Altoona. On the way we encountered the NBER 1602 heading east.

• 1309 Unionville, PA - NBER eastbound - NBER 1602

Next we went hunting for the Everett Railroad. We found them switching the Appleton plant in Roaring Spring.

• 1448 Roaring Spring, PA - Everett Railroad northbound - EV 1712-EV 1828

Next we were off to the Cresson area to see what Norfolk Southern would offer on the former Pennsylvania Railroad in the waning light.

• 1545 Gallitzin, PA - NS 23W west - NS 2742-NS 2567 w/ helper NS 3425-NS 3343
• 1641 Lilly, PA - NS eastbound - NS 6702-NS 6707-NS 3365 w/ helper NS 3351-NS 3380-NS 3337-NS 3359

It was quite dark when the coal train pulled through Lilly so I called it quits on the photography for the day.

Trackside Log for Thursday, December 28, 2006

Today I met up with Marcus in Hamilton to see what we could find roaming the rails. The weather was somewhat unpredictable, but we made the best of what we had. We decided to start in Hamilton and venture westward.

• 0931 Bayview Jct. - Via 70 east - VIA 911

On our way west we dropped by Canadian Pacific's Aberdeen Yard to see what power was parked there.

• 0944 Hamilton - CP power - CP 5750-CP 5687-CP 9020
• 1119 Brantford - CN 392 east - GTW 5944-IC 6072-CN 5611
• 1220 Woodstock - Via 72 east - VIA 908
• 1256 Ingersoll - OSR southbound - OSRX 183
• 1334 east of Thamesford - CP 159 west - CP 8780-CP 9833
• 1355 Thamesford - CP westbound - CP 8713-CEFX 1044
• 1437 Ingersoll - CN westbound - CN 2656-CN 5366
• 1522 Woodstock - CN 331 west - CN 5668-CN 5371

By that time it was getting pretty dark so we headed to Kelsey's for food and then I drove to Altoona, Pennsylvania for a couple days railfanning in Pennsylvania.

Trackside Log for Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Once again today I planned to photograph Norfolk Southern train 328 before work. This time the Jordan trestle seemed like a good spot. Before 328 arrived CN train 422 west blew through.

• 0902 Jordan Station - CN 422 west - CN 5430-CN 5726-CN 7076
• 0928 Jordan Station - NS 328 east - NS 9236-NS 8913

Train 328 looked nice crossing the trestle in bright sunshine. Then I was back to work.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, December 19, 2006

I checked the #railfan channel on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) when I woke this morning and learned that Norfolk Southern train 328 was on its way again this morning. I would be able to catch it before I got to work. I decided to photograph it at Cooks Mills which meant it would be closer to 1000 so I got some work done at home before heading out to catch the train.

• 0959 Cooks Mills - NS 328 east - NS 9159-HLCX 5951

After the train I drove into Welland and back to work.

Trackside Log for Monday, December 18, 2006

Today while en route to work I heard Norfolk Southern train 328 approaching Merritton. I took the opportunity to photograph it.

• 0914 Merritton - NS 328 east - BNSF 5697-NS 6768

My timing was excellent. I waited for about two minutes. After the photograph I was off to work.

Trackside Log for Saturday, December 16, 2006

Today I was hoping to see Norfolk Southern train 328 since the word is that it will be discontinued by the year. First I drove to St. Catharines station for Via train 97. While waiting Steve called to let me know 328 was en route.

• 1002 St. Catharines - Via 97 east - AMTK 38

After 97 passed I went to Merritton for 328.

• 1029 Merritton - NS 328 east - NS 9762-NREX 783

This afternoon I was meeting Bruce in Brantford so I headed that way next.

• 1150 Brantford - CN 580 - CN 7080
• 1234 Brantford - Via 72 east - VIA 914
• 1243 Brantford - CN 385 west - CN 5549-KCS 4019-WC 7525
• 1258 Brantford - CN 392 east - CN 2570-CN 2583
• 1317 Brantford - CN 271 west - CN 2524-CN 5367
• 1323 Brantford - Via 73 west - VIA 6428

After 73 I left to meet Bruce and then to to visit my family in Binbrook.

Trackside Log for Sunday, December 10, 2006

Weather forecasts really are useless. According to last night's report today was to be mostly cloudy. When I awoke the sky was remarkably clear. For a change of pace I crossed the border to check out CSX and Norfolk Southern.

• 1112 Angola, NY - NS 310 east - UP 4518-NS 2531
• 1135 Angola, NY - CSX Q117 west - CSXT 647-CSXT 495-CSXT 8768
• 1152 Angola, NY - CSX Q164 east - CSXT 7922-CSXT 9031
• 1200 Angola, NY - CSX Q140 east - CSXT 7341-CSXT 4722-CSXT 315
• 1210 Angola, NY - CSX eastbound - CSXT 604-CSXT 685
• 1216 Angola, NY - CSX Q161 west - CSXT 7721-CSXT 7352
• 1241 Angola, NY - CSX V836 east - CSXT 645-CSXT 376
• 1254 Angola, NY - CSX Q362 east - CSXT 9052-CSXT 4404
• 1317 Angola, NY - CSX Q381 west - CSXT 7773-GCFX 3077
• 1321 Angola, NY - CSX V740 east - CSXT 8020-UP 8254-SP 332
• 1329 Angola, NY - NS 205 west - NS 9284-NS 9414

The light angle was starting to worsen so I moved to Lake Avenue in Blasdel. Train Q362 was parked south of the crossing when I arrived. I heard on the scanner that CSX had a derailment at Union Road. I wasn't stopping traffic though. Later I read that four cars of vegetables derailed off the bridge onto Union Road. Doh!

• 1415 Blasdell, NY - CSX westbound - CSXT 7338-NS 9674
• 1427 Blasdell, NY - CSX westbound - BNSF 7761-HLCX 9001-HATX 416-HATX 176
• 1431 Blasdell, NY - CSX Q362 east - CSXT 9052-CSXT 4404
• 1538 Blasdell, NY - CSX L157 west - CSXT 7920-CSXT 467
• 1551 Blasdell, NY - NS 28A east - NS 2764 with an SD70M and a C40-9W
• 1557 Blasdell, NY - CSX Q268 east - CSXT 7314

Well, the sun dipped below the South Buffalo tracks behind me and ended my light. I called it a productive day and returned to Canada.

Trackside Log for Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Last night I was at work until 0444 so I didn't wake up until around 1330 today. I was going to be heading back into work again tonight so I took the opportunity to catch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train between Hamilton and Cambridge. The train held its official visit to Hamilton the previous night but stayed overnight.

I estimated it would depart Hamilton at approximately 1500. When I arrived at Hamilton shortly before that time I could hear the crew testing the brakes. Good estimate. I decided to photograph the train at Kay Drage park in Hamilton. If I was lucky and the sun peeked out from the clouds it would look quite nice.

• 1526 Kay Drage park, Hamilton - CP Holiday Train north - CP 9714

Luck was on my side. The sun was out. I then headed up to Puslinch to see it again before driving into Cambridge to photograph it on the Grand River Bridge.

• 1832 Cambridge - CP Holiday Train west - CP 9714

This was the eighth year for Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train and I've photographed each of them. I always enjoy seeing the train.