Kriegsloks Rail Adventures

[KriegslokBR52]

Hello all who are reading. Do to the fact that one of my favorite past times is train watching, chasing, or how ever one dares to name that hobby, i've decided to share my trips on this separate topic. My adventures have taken me all over the lower 48 states, as well as Canada, Europe and a few odd countries on other continents. Today i got off early from work, it's fairly warm but crisp, windy with a very clear air. After working out i headed to Strasburg Railroad in hopes of catching live steam:

Eight car passenger train is being pulled back to Strasburg by their "Mogul:;

The smell of soot and steam was intoxicating.

 

[migalyto]

i've decided to share my trips on this separate topic.

This will be cool to follow along with.

I have enjoyed the photos you have shared in the Coffee Shop.

You usually photo some really cool stuff, not just railroading!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

This will be cool to follow along with.

I have enjoyed the photos you have shared in the Coffee Shop.

You usually photo some really cool stuff, not just railroading!

Good to know. I started this one, because i get lost in "Coffee Shop" and other topics where i post the real stuff. This way all will be in order.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Past weekend day trip started out with a photo stop at Harrisburg, City Sprinter was waiting for boarding time with "Keystone" service train:

Looks like train shed in Harrisburg is getting some remodeling. In addition to that all tracks through the station have been rebuilt, as well as the platforms. Getting to the west shore i drove past Enola Yard, but there was nothing sitting close enough to the road for me to photograph. When i got to the west yard throat, a couple of railfans let me know about Wabash heritage unit being parked under Keystone Bridge approaches, so i went there to snoop around. First time seeing the Wabash unit:

Long coal train with two more DPUs all the way by Marysville train station as i was to find out. The steel girder above is leading to Keystone Bridge.

Still having several hours of daylight, i drove to Spruce Creek on the "Middle Division" to try to capture some action by the tunnels. Spruce Creek is actually in the middle of nowhere, although there is a small town about two miles away from the railroad tunnels. It turned out to be very busy for Sunday;

This eastbound mixed was actually waiting for a double stack to pass it on the westbound track. Here it is just starting out. Closer to the tunnel another eastbound headlight is showing:

This location had three track long time ago and there is another tunnel to the south, which was abandoned probably during Penn Central or early Conrail time;

Used tunnel was rebuild several years ago to be able to handle double stack traffic:

 

[Bruette]

Mac, you take the best photos, and this thread is a brilliant idea!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Mac, you take the best photos, and this thread is a brilliant idea!

Thank you and i'll try not to disappoint.

 

[migalyto]

Thank you and i'll try not to disappoint.

We know you aim to please!

 

[logandsawman]

Past weekend day trip started out with a photo stop at Harrisburg, City Sprinter was waiting for boarding time with "Keystone" service train:View attachment 208053
Looks like train shed in Harrisburg is getting some remodeling. In addition to that all tracks through the station have been rebuilt, as well as the platforms. Getting to the west shore i drove past Enola Yard, but there was nothing sitting close enough to the road for me to photograph. When i got to the west yard throat, a couple of railfans let me know about Wabash heritage unit being parked under Keystone Bridge approaches, so i went there to snoop around. First time seeing the Wabash unit:View attachment 208054
Long coal train with two more DPUs all the way by Marysville train station as i was to find out. The steel girder above is leading to Keystone Bridge.View attachment 208052View attachment 208051View attachment 208050View attachment 208048
Still having several hours of daylight, i drove to Spruce Creek on the "Middle Division" to try to capture some action by the tunnels. Spruce Creek is actually in the middle of nowhere, although there is a small town about two miles away from the railroad tunnels. It turned out to be very busy for Sunday;View attachment 208055
This eastbound mixed was actually waiting for a double stack to pass it on the westbound track. Here it is just starting out. Closer to the tunnel another eastbound headlight is showing:View attachment 208056
This location had three track long time ago and there is another tunnel to the south, which was abandoned probably during Penn Central or early Conrail time;View attachment 208057
Used tunnel was rebuild several years ago to be able to handle double stack traffic:View attachment 208049

All these photos, they seem to be very liberal with their ballast application. Under the bridge the ties are completely covered, elsewhere there are lots of rocks on top of the ties

Thanks for posting!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

All these photos, they seem to be very liberal with their ballast application. Under the bridge the ties are completely covered, elsewhere there are lots of rocks on top of the ties

Thanks for posting!

Yeah, they are going insane with ballast lately. Most of those are mainlines with heavy traffic and the former Pennsy mainline does carry heavy mineral traffic. That place under the bridge was very muddy untill recently, so the railroad has definitely improved the whole area. Norfolk Southern is actually pretty good at maintaining their infrastructure (of course accidents happen, like the one on Ohio).

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Being an opportunitist, i try to make grab shots when i can during work. Here are a few from past week; first one is of City Sprinter waiting for some reason on the approach tracks to Philadelphia 30th Street Station:

Shot from the cab of my truck as i was going slow in heavy traffic. Closest tracks are the long distance approach tracks to the lower level (Amtrak), next; that steel structure is the "High Line"-a freight bypass through the whole complex, and at one time electrified. Then on the other side a few maintenance tracks and far behind SEPTA Silverliners are seen at the commuter equipment storage leading to the upper level of 30th. Street Station.
Next shot is the hard to photograph from west shore of Skuykill River; Pennsylvania Railroad stone bridge, which carries Northeast Corridor toward New York and North:

The sun angle was just right for it. This bridge is well over 100 years old and the catenary towers date from about 1928. The bridge is 5 tracks wide, although the middle track was taken out years ago.
Today i'm down in Baltimore area, and just happened to be near former Baltimore and Ohio mainline in town of Jessup. While my trailer was being unloaded, i cought a freshly painted CSX unit with auto racks:

 

[Rico]

Great photos!
I noticed there’s a transfer caboose in this pic much like the one I just posted in the coal train thread, tres cool!
What’s the story with the building in the upper left, being built or being demolished?

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Great photos!
I noticed there’s a transfer caboose in this pic much like the one I just posted in the coal train thread, tres cool!
What’s the story with the building in the upper left, being built or being demolished?

View attachment 208097

I'm not sure about that building, several years ago that would not be seen, as there was a huge coal plant behind the High Line. Nice catch on that caboose. 30th. Street Station is very interesting and there is always a big variety of equipment parked in the coach yard.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Blast from the past and since we are at 30th Street Station, i'll share a few photos from my highschool years. This first one was taken on December 30, 1992 and i'm at the ZOO junction on the north end looking toward the 30th. We have an inbound Silverliner pair just switching from the main Amtrak track into commuter track. Conrail freight is led by the hottest thing on the rails at the time: C40-8W and an SD40-2 trailing a coal hopper train. Conrail has just switched over from the "High Line" (two closest tracks to me) and is heading toward B&O/Reading interchange. It was rainy, foggy and wet:

Next is a more colorful and pleasant July 1993 and a pair of elegant AEM7s is leaving 30th St. Station northbound toward New York. What is interesting, about this time the original pantographs on AEM7 electrics were being switched over to the so called "Hi reach" pantographs. The black ones on trailing 935 are the original ones and they are almost identical to those used on French TGV high speed trains. Red pans on 920 are new "Hi reach" type and were actually developed in Great Britain from what i have read.

Last pick is from December 31, 1993 and i am only few days away from leaving to Paris Island to became a jarhead. Place is the parking lot in the middle of 30th. St. Station on what today is a multilevel huge structure build sometime in 2000s. But in the 90s the station was still as build for the most part. We are looking down into Race Street coach yards and inspection pits.

There are still plenty of heritage coaches present mixed with Amfleet coaches. On the bottom right a few old baggage cars are seen including one with celestory roof. But straight up there are at least three E60 electric locomotives seen along with a "Screamer" AKA; F40PH. Above those is a single AEM7, although a sharp eye will spot another AEM7 coupled to the middle E60. Philadelphia Art Museum is visible up above.

 

[migalyto]

Blast from the past and since we are at 30th Street Station, i'll share a few photos from my highschool years.

Even back then you had an eye for photography!

Great thread, enjoying it very much, keep it coming!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Last week after getting off of work a little early on Wednesday the 8th, i've headed to a junction of former Reading Columbia branch with Reading mainline between Harrisburg and Reading. The town is Sinking Springs and i've spotted one of East Penn Railroads diesels waiting to get on the mainline:

This is the nearby grain mill located between Woodrow Ave. and Columbia Ave.:

After a short time the train got a clearance and is crossing Woodrow Ave:

After it got on the mainline i cought it above Shillington Road:

As soon as i got back to Woodrow Ave crossing, a westbound Norfolk Southern TV/double stack approached:

I live only a few miles away from there, so there are plenty opportunities to photograph passing trains.
On Saturday i've had to take care of some business in The City of Brotherly Love. On the way back i've made a stop in Whitford on Pennsy mainline. While not a large or well known location for typical railfan, Pennsy fans know it very well for a spectacular steel bridge which spans the railroad at the location:

The bridge was build around 1904 and used to carry what was know as "The Low Grade Line". The Low Grade Line was actually a series of lines and bypasses for heavy freights, build by Pennsylvania Railroad to smooth out their very heavy freight traffic at the time. This particular section was known as "Philadelphia and Thorndale" and it started in a town of Thorndale; about 8-9 miles to the west of here. It left Thorndale and going eastbound it merged into "Trenton Cutoff" just about 3 miles east from here. During Pennsys electrification program, P&T branch also got a catenary in 1938. The line was initially two track, but reduced to single track sometime during late Pennsy/early Penn Central time. Catenary was used by Conrail untill early 1981 and according to my research it was still hanging there into 1984. In 1990/1991 the branch was abandoned and by the time i first traveled by train there in 1992, tracks were already ripped out. I'm standing on the "Mainline" on #2 track looking eastbound. Track #3 to my left was ripped out also sometime during early Penn Central era. For those who notised something odd in track numbering; Pennsylvania Railroad numbered their tracks from south to north...why, because their main rival New York Central numbered their tracks from north to south, talk about competition. There is a signal box still visible up on P&T grade, as well as a catenary mast with a bracket:

Amazingly the little station building build by Pennsylvania Railroad in XIX century is still standing and recently refreshed with new paint. The Pennsy brick platform is also visible to the sharp eye. The Whitford stop is strictly for SEPTA commuter trains, but up ahead another set of lights is seen; that is Exton and Amtrak trains stop there.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Yesterday after lunch, i put on my camouflage pants, hiking shoes, back pack in the car and drove out toward Harrisburg. Kind of a dreary weather, but one has to live. After just missing a set of freight diesels heading east off of the Keystone Bridge, i kept driving west on US22 to a junction of US11/15. Hopping south onto US11/15 i drove toward Marysville. Spotting an eastbound coal train sitting at what used to be Marysville rail yard, my hopes of spotting another Norfolk Southern "Heritage Scheme" were rewarded again. A set of DPUs in the middle of consist included my first time up close encounter with the Monongahela unit:

The DPUs are sitting right next to the station building in Marysville, which has been repurposed as a kayak and rafting headquarters: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6PNDsiBum8wakoBr7
I highly recommend them (Blue Mountain Outfitters) if anyone likes a canoe/kayak trip down Susquehanna River and seeing trains at the same time. I have taken trips with them several times and it always was a great experience.

Driving under the yard reveals once again "castle style" building of the great Pennsylvania Railroad at the turn of XIX-XX century:

The coal train was parked waiting to get into Enola Yard:

Before i crossed over the east throat of Enola Yard, i took a few shots of technology gone by:

First shot is looking west with the lowest track coming into the yard. Next, turning around is the entrance to the lower yard river tracks, where coal trains normally go to await further dispatch east:

It was eventually time to go home and i did stop east of Steelton to snap a few photos of abandoned Pennsy sidings east of the steel mill. The characteristic railing on the left side of the bridge, gives is away as Pennsylvania Railroad trackage:

 

[ctclibby]

Yesterday after lunch, i put on my camouflage pants, hiking shoes, back pack in the car and drove out toward Harrisburg. Kind of a dreary weather, but one has to live. After just missing a set of freight diesels heading east off of the Keystone Bridge, i kept driving west on US22 to a junction of US11/15. Hopping south onto US11/15 i drove toward Marysville. Spotting an eastbound coal train sitting at what used to be Marysville rail yard, my hopes of spotting another Norfolk Southern "Heritage Scheme" were rewarded again. A set of DPUs in the middle of consist included my first time up close encounter with the Monongahela unit:View attachment 209510
The DPUs are sitting right next to the station building in Marysville, which has been repurposed as a kayak and rafting headquarters: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6PNDsiBum8wakoBr7
I highly recommend them (Blue Mountain Outfitters) if anyone likes a canoe/kayak trip down Susquehanna River and seeing trains at the same time. I have taken trips with them several times and it always was a great experience.View attachment 209508View attachment 209509View attachment 209513
Driving under the yard reveals once again "castle style" building of the great Pennsylvania Railroad at the turn of XIX-XX century:View attachment 209517
The coal train was parked waiting to get into Enola Yard:View attachment 209514View attachment 209515
Before i crossed over the east throat of Enola Yard, i took a few shots of technology gone by:View attachment 209516
First shot is looking west with the lowest track coming into the yard. Next, turning around is the entrance to the lower yard river tracks, where coal trains normally go to await further dispatch east:View attachment 209512
It was eventually time to go home and i did stop east of Steelton to snap a few photos of abandoned Pennsy sidings east of the steel mill. The characteristic railing on the left side of the bridge, gives is away as Pennsylvania Railroad trackage:View attachment 209511

Hay Mac:

The pix with the telephone pole in the middle: What is the grade of the fly-over. Poles along the hiway to the right are probably 100 to 150ft apart and we have diminishing horizon - so guessing 300' from the turnout to the foreground pole and 8ish feet up to the fly-over: maybe 2.6%?

Great Pix too!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Hay Mac:

The pix with the telephone pole in the middle: What is the grade of the fly-over. Poles along the hiway to the right are probably 100 to 150ft apart and we have diminishing horizon - so guessing 300' from the turnout to the foreground pole and 8ish feet up to the fly-over: maybe 2.6%?

Great Pix too!

I'm not sure about that grade, but it is pretty sharp as you said. It's fairy short though as it is just one of the cross overs at the Enola yard throat. Maybe i can do some research, since i have a whole stack of materials on Enola Yard.

 

[KriegslokBR52]

This is the spot i was standing on when looking west at that telephone pole: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3jcHkYag2otYW8CR6
This is a fragment of Enola Yard diagram which i have, very compressed version:

The crossover track is pointed with a pen:

According to my diagram the crossover starts at milepost 89. This crossover was and is really used mostly by locomotives cutting off a train and going to locomotive inspection tracks:

Next milepost 88 is visible at westbound classification yard, so this crossover is deffinitely less than 1/4 mile long, pretty sharp.
This diagram is obviously from the steam era and it was printed in February 1979 issue of "Rails Northeast".

 

[logandsawman]

Yesterday after lunch, i put on my camouflage pants, hiking shoes, back pack in the car and drove out toward Harrisburg. Kind of a dreary weather, but one has to live. After just missing a set of freight diesels heading east off of the Keystone Bridge, i kept driving west on US22 to a junction of US11/15. Hopping south onto US11/15 i drove toward Marysville. Spotting an eastbound coal train sitting at what used to be Marysville rail yard, my hopes of spotting another Norfolk Southern "Heritage Scheme" were rewarded again. A set of DPUs in the middle of consist included my first time up close encounter with the Monongahela unit:View attachment 209510
The DPUs are sitting right next to the station building in Marysville, which has been repurposed as a kayak and rafting headquarters: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6PNDsiBum8wakoBr7
I highly recommend them (Blue Mountain Outfitters) if anyone likes a canoe/kayak trip down Susquehanna River and seeing trains at the same time. I have taken trips with them several times and it always was a great experience.View attachment 209508View attachment 209509View attachment 209513
Driving under the yard reveals once again "castle style" building of the great Pennsylvania Railroad at the turn of XIX-XX century:View attachment 209517
The coal train was parked waiting to get into Enola Yard:View attachment 209514View attachment 209515
Before i crossed over the east throat of Enola Yard, i took a few shots of technology gone by:View attachment 209516
First shot is looking west with the lowest track coming into the yard. Next, turning around is the entrance to the lower yard river tracks, where coal trains normally go to await further dispatch east:View attachment 209512
It was eventually time to go home and i did stop east of Steelton to snap a few photos of abandoned Pennsy sidings east of the steel mill. The characteristic railing on the left side of the bridge, gives is away as Pennsylvania Railroad trackage:View attachment 209511

We have similar consists on the BNSF coming out of Wyoming/Montana and heading to Duluth/Superior. Waiting at the crossing one day I counted 141 cars with two locos similarily situated towards the center.

That was Aitkin Mn on the east end of town.

I love the pics!