Kriegsloks Rail Adventures
- Thread starter KriegslokBR52
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All high cars are directed onto Southern most tracks into receiving yard. All double stack trains are directed into Keystone Bridge to Harrisburg side where they are either disassembled, or directed to points east.
The Howard Street Tunnel Project consists of vertical clearance improvements along CSX’s I-95 Rail Corridor to allow double-stack trains (trains transporting shipping containers stacked on top of each other) to travel between Baltimore City, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The primary obstacle to double-stack service along this corridor has been the Howard Street Tunnel, under the heart of Baltimore City that was originally constructed in 1895. With current vertical clearances up to 18 inches less than the 21 feet necessary for double-stack, the HST and 21 other clearance obstructions currently restrict the ability to move double-stack trains along this section of CSX’s network, including to and from the Port of Baltimore.
The Howard Street Tunnel Project in Baltimore is expected to be completed by late 2025.
What's even more interesting, one of those T-1s was used as a power for the 1976 Freedom Train, later used as the Chessie System special engine. That one is residing in Baltimore in the railroad museum, and plans are to restore it to its American Freedom Train paint scheme. Here is the link to the R&N excursion schedule: https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/schedule
The other is also in Wyoming, in Douglas
maps.app.goo.gl
The one in Sheridan is being worked on to make it more presentable. Those Burlington O-5a are some of the most beautiful northerns in my opinion.
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KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
If i remember this "Crazy Train" with auto racks being backed up under the low bridge happened in Nashville. I saw that video.
All high cars are directed onto Southern most tracks into receiving yard. All double stack trains are directed into Keystone Bridge to Harrisburg side where they are either disassembled, or directed to points east.
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Today just two snap shots after work. Yesterday heavy snow fall and a very cold night. Crispy clean air today with sun poking out from mostly cloudless sky and since i finished work with plenty of daylight, i made a side trip from work through town of Gap (not really on the way). Looking at Amtrak train tracker revealed late running westbound "Keystone" coming my way. I ended up by the Pennsylvania mainline just in time:
Gap is one of just three places on electrified Pennsy utilizing a triangular cross section catenary. The famous landmark: Gap clock tower is visible just to the left and up from that control cab. The control cab is a former Metroliner, built sometime between 1967-69. Long time ago there were four tracks here, giving the name "Broadway" to Pennsylvania railroad mainline from New York to Chicago. And going away shot:
According to train tracker, "Keystone" was running over 30 minutes late.
Gap is one of just three places on electrified Pennsy utilizing a triangular cross section catenary. The famous landmark: Gap clock tower is visible just to the left and up from that control cab. The control cab is a former Metroliner, built sometime between 1967-69. Long time ago there were four tracks here, giving the name "Broadway" to Pennsylvania railroad mainline from New York to Chicago. And going away shot:
According to train tracker, "Keystone" was running over 30 minutes late.
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
During the work week i ended up down in Dundalk, near Baltimore. SW1500 build back in 1969 was picking up a few coil cars from nearby plant:
That was Monday.
On Tuesday while coming back from work, i had a little daylight left. Ended up in Sinking Spring on former Reading; Harrisburg line. An unexpected power came at the head of a westbound:
A Canadian grain hopper is parked at the mill:
I was just about to get in the car, when a noise from the west got me back at the trackside:
I later found out, that do to CSX making a major upgrade in Baltimore, CSX trains are bypassing the city way out of the way through Reading. Old Howard Street Tunnel built by Baltimore and Ohio is getting rebuild with extra clearance for double stack trains. From what i've read work will last close to a year, so i can expect many more Jersey bound (and bound from Jersey) CSX trains through here. Baltimore is a major bottleneck for both Norfolk Southern and CSX, as no rail line with sufficient clearance for double stack containers exists through town. All tunnels through the city were built in the XIX century and are in need of either major rebuild, or outright replacement.
Today was a major steam chasing day:
Old European style stone arch bridge north of Reading on former Philadelphia and Reading mainline. More in the next post
That was Monday.
On Tuesday while coming back from work, i had a little daylight left. Ended up in Sinking Spring on former Reading; Harrisburg line. An unexpected power came at the head of a westbound:
A Canadian grain hopper is parked at the mill:
I was just about to get in the car, when a noise from the west got me back at the trackside:
I later found out, that do to CSX making a major upgrade in Baltimore, CSX trains are bypassing the city way out of the way through Reading. Old Howard Street Tunnel built by Baltimore and Ohio is getting rebuild with extra clearance for double stack trains. From what i've read work will last close to a year, so i can expect many more Jersey bound (and bound from Jersey) CSX trains through here. Baltimore is a major bottleneck for both Norfolk Southern and CSX, as no rail line with sufficient clearance for double stack containers exists through town. All tunnels through the city were built in the XIX century and are in need of either major rebuild, or outright replacement.
Today was a major steam chasing day:
Old European style stone arch bridge north of Reading on former Philadelphia and Reading mainline. More in the next post
logandsawman
Well-Known Member
What is the story behind the steam engine with all the passenger cars? I watched the video on Youtube and was curious if this is a regularly scheduled event, and if it was hauling many passengers.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
You were in my neighborhood!
The Howard Street Tunnel is a 1.4-mile-long tunnel under Howard Street in downtown Baltimore. It was completed in 1895 and was the longest tunnel on the B&O's system. The tunnel is brick-lined with iron-arched centering.
The Howard Street Tunnel Project consists of vertical clearance improvements along CSX’s I-95 Rail Corridor to allow double-stack trains (trains transporting shipping containers stacked on top of each other) to travel between Baltimore City, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The primary obstacle to double-stack service along this corridor has been the Howard Street Tunnel, under the heart of Baltimore City that was originally constructed in 1895. With current vertical clearances up to 18 inches less than the 21 feet necessary for double-stack, the HST and 21 other clearance obstructions currently restrict the ability to move double-stack trains along this section of CSX’s network, including to and from the Port of Baltimore.
The Howard Street Tunnel Project in Baltimore is expected to be completed by late 2025.
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KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
This is a Reading T-1 class. Several were build out of consolidations right after WW II by the Reading Locomotive Shops in Reading, Pennsylvania. This particular one is outright owned by Reading and Northern Railroad and was completely rebuilt about three years ago. The Reading and Northern is a regional railroad and one can say, a "new" version of Reading Railroad. So the locomotive is used on excursions on their own trackage called "Steam Rambles", which correspond to actuall steam rambles back in 1960s by the Reading Railroad. This very locomotive was in fact one of four such locomotives used by Reading after retiring of their steam locomotives, for the "Rambles". So this beautiful steam dragon is basically back on its home rails doing what she was doing decades ago. For anyone who wishes to experience travel just like back in 1920s and 1930s, i highly recommend taking a trip. Next Steam Ramble is supposed to take time in April, and the trip will go all the way from Pittston to Jim Thorpe and back. Trip will be on former Lehigh Valley trackage. Here is my own clip of the train just few miles out of Tamaqua heading through Mahanoy junction:
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KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Yes, i go there a lot.
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
A few more pictures from last Saturdays Steam Rambles; first two is the Lehigh Gorge train outbound from Jim Thorpe. The train is going past old tower near what used to be a coal yard:
With that train out of the way, steam powered Rambles train was being backed onto the bridge and the wye, to turn it around and have it back up to Jim Thorpe in preparation for a trip back to Reading:
Short film with train accelerating through the west leg of the wye:
Here the consist is being pushed one again through last leg of the wye and back to Jim Thorpe:
Few minutes after that, a very short one car freight showed up. The tank car was brought in by SW8 diesel from Nesquohoning, with water for the steam locomotive:
Back in Jim thorpe T-1 pushed its consist out of the station area and came back near the station for servicing:
On the other side a long line has already formed to visit the cab. I have of course got in line eventually to be able to enjoy the warmth of the cab (it was cold outside) and to chat a little with the crew. Being inside the cab there's always an opportunity to learn something about steel horses and this time my questions centered around water injectors under the cab. Here i'm scoping out some of the details:
The side rods and valve gear of a steam locomotive in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful mechanical designs humans ever created.
The Lehigh Gorge train came back into the station and we have a line up of classic diesels with the station tower in between:
With that train out of the way, steam powered Rambles train was being backed onto the bridge and the wye, to turn it around and have it back up to Jim Thorpe in preparation for a trip back to Reading:
Short film with train accelerating through the west leg of the wye:
Few minutes after that, a very short one car freight showed up. The tank car was brought in by SW8 diesel from Nesquohoning, with water for the steam locomotive:
Back in Jim thorpe T-1 pushed its consist out of the station area and came back near the station for servicing:
On the other side a long line has already formed to visit the cab. I have of course got in line eventually to be able to enjoy the warmth of the cab (it was cold outside) and to chat a little with the crew. Being inside the cab there's always an opportunity to learn something about steel horses and this time my questions centered around water injectors under the cab. Here i'm scoping out some of the details:
The Lehigh Gorge train came back into the station and we have a line up of classic diesels with the station tower in between:
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trailrider
Well-Known Member
Those 4-8-4 Northerns are something else! Too bad the only Burlington O-5a is welded to the rails at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Great pics!
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Actually there are at least two more O-5a locomotives saved which i know of. One is in Sheridan, Wyoming, https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwsPKueZk31yX9qr8
The other is also in Wyoming, in Douglas
42°45'31.9"N 105°23'15.6"W
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trailrider
Well-Known Member
Forgot about those two. Be nice to see one run again. They were great for either freight at speed or passenger.
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
A little more from the Steam Rambles day on Reading and Northern:
Back in Port Clinton and the T-1 is being shut down for the night:
Back in Port Clinton and the T-1 is being shut down for the night:
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
I forgot to post a clip from the Steam Rambles with the Reading T-1 starting to move its train into Jim Thorpe railroad station:
End of the day shots:
On Sunday February 9 i went up to Allentown to document the former Central Railroad of New Jersey passenger station:
Unfortunately this has been long abandoned. Looks like it was used as a diner for a while and there are two heavyweight cars parked and litterary built into the station;
I don't know about the history of those two cars.
After visiting the station i drove to the hump in the Allentown yard and luckily there was a freight heading over the hump, rebuild SD60 leading:
On Sunday February 9 i went up to Allentown to document the former Central Railroad of New Jersey passenger station:
Unfortunately this has been long abandoned. Looks like it was used as a diner for a while and there are two heavyweight cars parked and litterary built into the station;
I don't know about the history of those two cars.
After visiting the station i drove to the hump in the Allentown yard and luckily there was a freight heading over the hump, rebuild SD60 leading:
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
One more shot of the Allentown hump showing the bend the train was navigating:
From the east end of Allentown yard i went to a junction where long time ago Lehigh Valley diverged from what i believe were Jersey Central tracks and crossed over Lehigh River to south shore of the river toward downtown Bethlehem and its huge steel mill. At this point i'm in the City of Bethlehem:
The bridge visible ahead is the Route 378 "Hill to Hill Bridge". Behind me was the station and warehouse of the old Jersey Central:
Walking west past the bridge, junction is just ahead:
The track diverging to the right and back of me; is former Lehigh and New England Railroad and its line to Bath and the cement region. The track is still used by Norfolk Southern and this is one of only two sections of L&NE still in use. L&NE liquidated it's assets back in 1961. Turning around we have the Lehigh Valley bridge across Lehigh River:
1909 year is visible on a culvert of Jersey Central track:
It was getting dark at this point and time to head back home.
On Sunday, February 16 i went once again to Antracite region to Tamaqua. The object was to get (dare i say sneak in) to Greenwood coal breaker (Lehigh Antracite) property to try getting some shots of their switcher:
This thing has been sitting in this spot for years, but hard lessons from the past when i told myself; maybe next time, only to have the item of interest disappear, drove me to this spot. Visible from the railroad grade is one of two existing Lehigh and New England round houses;
L&NE long time ago had Arlington Yard here, and collected coal hoppers from several nearby coal breakers were formed into trains to be hauled east to Penn Argyl and to customers.
The bridge visible ahead is the Route 378 "Hill to Hill Bridge". Behind me was the station and warehouse of the old Jersey Central:
Walking west past the bridge, junction is just ahead:
1909 year is visible on a culvert of Jersey Central track:
It was getting dark at this point and time to head back home.
On Sunday, February 16 i went once again to Antracite region to Tamaqua. The object was to get (dare i say sneak in) to Greenwood coal breaker (Lehigh Antracite) property to try getting some shots of their switcher:
This thing has been sitting in this spot for years, but hard lessons from the past when i told myself; maybe next time, only to have the item of interest disappear, drove me to this spot. Visible from the railroad grade is one of two existing Lehigh and New England round houses;
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Good evening all, i haven't posted here in a while, but my camera was not idle. I'm on a road trip with one of my closest friends and we started a trip to New England yesterday. Being an electric traction fan we stopped in Bridgeport, CT., by the so called "Chinese Wall" in south part of the city.
Although i have driven through Bridgeport many times, this is only the second time when i made a stop in the city. The south part has a bunch of factory buildings straight from the industrial revolution and the former New Haven had a lot of sidings here back in the day. All of the sidings are pretty much gone and the old factories are being converted into lofts, but the wonderful industrial climate can still be captured by the camera:
From Bridgeport there was a short ride to a place called Devon. This is where the New Haven Maybrook line diverges from the Northeast Corridor. Unfortunately this being Saturday, there was no trains to be seen:
A few interesting details about this not so great shot: the catenary bridge on the first plan is the original New Haven construction from 1912-1914 extension to New Haven. A concrete tower typical of New Haven can be seen beyond that. The huge high towers (also originally built by New Haven) carry the high tension wires above the river so the sail boats could navigate the river when the railroad bridge was opened. Amtrak plans to eventually replace this bridge, but no one knows yet when this will be done. The concrete bridge next to the railroad is the I95.
From Bridgeport we really didn't make any long stops until we reached North Conway, NH for the night and as soon as we got into New Hampshire it started to rain. Today still raining in the morning, but we made it to north side of Mount Washington to a town of Gorham. The weather was slowly getting better and i took several shots of the railroad equipment which has been sitting here for several decades:
I like wood sided with steel bracing box cars, but the real gems are a pair of newer auto carrier box cars coupled to that 1924 box:
The auto mobile box car is from 1929.
Although i have driven through Bridgeport many times, this is only the second time when i made a stop in the city. The south part has a bunch of factory buildings straight from the industrial revolution and the former New Haven had a lot of sidings here back in the day. All of the sidings are pretty much gone and the old factories are being converted into lofts, but the wonderful industrial climate can still be captured by the camera:
From Bridgeport there was a short ride to a place called Devon. This is where the New Haven Maybrook line diverges from the Northeast Corridor. Unfortunately this being Saturday, there was no trains to be seen:
A few interesting details about this not so great shot: the catenary bridge on the first plan is the original New Haven construction from 1912-1914 extension to New Haven. A concrete tower typical of New Haven can be seen beyond that. The huge high towers (also originally built by New Haven) carry the high tension wires above the river so the sail boats could navigate the river when the railroad bridge was opened. Amtrak plans to eventually replace this bridge, but no one knows yet when this will be done. The concrete bridge next to the railroad is the I95.
From Bridgeport we really didn't make any long stops until we reached North Conway, NH for the night and as soon as we got into New Hampshire it started to rain. Today still raining in the morning, but we made it to north side of Mount Washington to a town of Gorham. The weather was slowly getting better and i took several shots of the railroad equipment which has been sitting here for several decades:
I like wood sided with steel bracing box cars, but the real gems are a pair of newer auto carrier box cars coupled to that 1924 box:
The auto mobile box car is from 1929.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
@KriegslokBR52 Thank you sir!
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Continued walk around in town of Gorham:
From Gorham we drove to and all the way to the top of Mount Washington;
This shot is on the way back below the cloud cover.
After getting turned North west again, we slowly started to look for a place to sleep. This one was unfortunately abandoned:
Our final destination for the night turned out to be Saint Albans in North western part of Vermont. Our hotel was only few blocks away from former Central Vermont roundhouse.
My buddy was hanging inside, i went night stalking:
From Gorham we drove to and all the way to the top of Mount Washington;
This shot is on the way back below the cloud cover.
After getting turned North west again, we slowly started to look for a place to sleep. This one was unfortunately abandoned:
Our final destination for the night turned out to be Saint Albans in North western part of Vermont. Our hotel was only few blocks away from former Central Vermont roundhouse.
My buddy was hanging inside, i went night stalking:
KriegslokBR52
Well-Known Member
Saint Albans roundhouse scenes:
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