USA By Rail

26/01/2024

The latest trip to the USA for all things rail related, was a trip with a difference. Barton Jennings had, once again, organised a rare mileage event on the South Central Florida Railway. The three day event featured steam locomotive 148 a 4-6-2 Pacific built by ALCO in 1920. This was ably assisted by one of the fleet of GP11 diesels, no. 312. Day 1 covered the route to Sebring, FL with a lay over in Lake Placid on the return to Clewiston. Day 2 covered the Fort Pierce line to the limit of operations at MP K15.5 with a slight diversion into Bryant Yard from the mainline on the outbound trip. Day 3 took the train to the Okeelanta Mill, with the train turning on the wye. In order to ensure the train was facing the correct way when we returned to Clewiston, the train ran into the refinery yard at Clewiston and was turned on Sugar Junction Wye. An excellent 3 days. Thanks go to the people at the South Central Florida Railway, US Sugar Corporation, the volunteers and crews of the railway and to Barton and Sarah Jennings who made the whole trip something special.

Either side of the excursion trains, time was spent riding commuter and Amtrak trains. Firstly Florida, where Tri-Rail had just commenced operations into the Miami Central station, offering direct connections to Downtiwn and Brightline. A quick trip on Brightline was made to Fort Lauderdale before riding the evening commuter service on Tri-Rail. After the excursions a quick relocation to North Carolina to ride the Piedmont trains which operate between Raleigh and Charlotte. Then a chance to try out Amtrak State Supported service by riding the Carolinian throughout between Charlotte and New York Penn. A nice way to spend a week across the pond.

Captions with each picture.

20/11/2023

Spent a few days in the USA last week, riding about on commuter rails and on Amtrak.

Thursday 9th November I flew from the UK via Amsterdam and Salt Lake City, to Chicago (it's a long story and I won't bore you with it).

Friday 10th & Saturday 11th were spent in Chicago before leaving on the Lakeshore Limited on Saturday night, through to Springfield, MA on Sunday evening.

Monday 13th November, the day was spent riding ConnDot's Hartford Line services before heading to New York City.

Tuesday 14th November was spent in the "Big Apple" before returning to the UK on Wednesday 15th November. Just the 6 days but a very pleasant trip.

25/03/2023

Eastbound manifest NS 126 with a BNSF leader scoots by a stopped NS 288 in Elliston, VA. Sometimes I get lucky with shots like this haha.
3-16-2023

22/01/2023

Arrived back in the USA on Thursday 19th January to ride the Sugar Express rare mileage excursions on the South Central Florida Express, organised by Barton Jennings.
Day 1 on Friday 20th January used ALCO 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive no. 148 for a run from Clewiston, FL to the mill at Okeelanta, FL. The train was turned on the wye at the Mill before returning to Clewiston, FL.
Day 2 on Saturday 21st January headed to Sebring with diesel power. SCFE GP40-2 501 and GP11 304 provided the power in "top 'n' tail" mode. A short 75 min break was taken at Lake Placid, FL before returning to Clewiston, FL.
Day 3 is today, Sunday 22nd January. The train is heading to the extremities of the SCFE near to Fort Pierce and the connection with the FEC at MP15.5 where the train will reverse and head back to Clewiston, making several photo stops on the way. Diesels 501 and 304 are again providing the traction for this trip.

25/12/2022

To all of you who support this page I would just like to say that I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to our friends across the pond in the USA. This is a public page so please feel free to post your photographs of North American Railroad movements. For my part as Admin and page owner I have tried to share some of the best photography I have found on the Internet. This is not always possible as many people are adding blockers to their pages.
I'm back in the USA in January and will let you know what we are doing. In the meantime have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Simon.

20/09/2022

11/09/2022

As the engineer throttles up the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad's freshly repainted MLW M420W, the MLW smokes it up as it leads northbound freight as it comes into Titusville, Pennsylvania. The train is crossing over Oil Creek and the Oil Creek State Park Trail on a six span girder bridge.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtnclimberjoe50/52344383518/

====Info====
5/28/2022
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Titusville, PA

Unknown Symbol (Local; Titusville, PA to Rouseville, PA Turn)

OCT 3568 M420W Ex. NYLE 3568, TRRY 3568, CN 2568 Blt. 1976

08/09/2022

Southbound Smoke Show

Here's another one from the archives a dozen years ago long before Genesee and Wyoming took over. This was a fun chase and a lucky catch while home on vacation from Alaska for a week

A classic A-B-A set of 4-motor GE's (two ex LMX B39-8Es bracketing an ex BN B30-7A) are working hard as they accelerate southbound near MP 37.5 with a heavy train of unit ethanol (that came off CSXT symboled K638 from Chicago to Worcester) destined for the Motiva facility in South Providence, RI. The uniform joint pattern on Providence and Worcester's well maintained Class 3 track is clearly good for the 40 MPH top speed on the line.

Millbury, Massachusetts
Wednesday January 27, 2010

05/09/2022

Over/Under At Walong

I'm overdue for another trip to Tehachapi. Who wants to go? Until then here's another from 8 years ago.

One of the most legendary locations in all of American railroading. Truly an engineering feat of its day, Southern Pacific assistant chief engineer William Hood devised the ingenious method of 18 tunnels in 28 miles of track climbing up over the Tehachapi Mountains from Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley below. Constructed between 1874 and 1876 the signature achievement on this remarkable mountain railroad is the famed Tehachapi Loop.

Rising at a steady two percent grade, the track gains 77 feet in elevation in the loop and any train more than about 4,000 feet long passes over itself at Tunnel 9 seen here at MP 351 on modern day Union Pacific's Mojave Subdivision.

This short southbound UP intermodal with two EMDs up front and one DPU on the rear is just about the perfect length to get this over/under shot as the head end of the train passes over its own rear right on the loop. The train still has 10 more miles of climbing before reaching the 3970 ft crest in downtown Tehachapi where they will begin the descent to the Mojave Desert on these famed former Southern Pacific rails that are busier than ever.

Kern County, California
Saturday May 3, 2014

02/09/2022

Waiting For A Lift

Outbound Keolis/MBTA train 403 cruises west headed to Wachusett from North Station as they pass through HILLS interlocking on Main 1 at MP 17.7 on the Fitchburg Line. This location is just west of the Lincoln station on this once important Boston and Maine freight route that now sees only commuter trains. F40PH-3C 1025 is passing GP40MC 1137 that is marooned on the set out spur. It suffered a traction motors fire the prior day and are awaiting the wreck crew to arrive with the crane and an idler axle so the offending wheel set can be removed and the it can be safely towed back to BET for evaluation and repair.

Lincoln, Massachusetts
Friday August 26, 2022

16/08/2022

A classic Donner Pass scene unfolds as the UP 7952 leads the eastbound MRVSP into the snow shed at Norden. The classic Southern Pacific searchlight signal bridge has since been retired (November 2021). Photo taken with permission from railroad representative.

I have published a new railroad photography guide on my website titled “Donner Pass Snow Fighting: Starter Guide”. This guide is for anyone who is interested in learning the basics about snow fighting operations along the Donner Pass Route. If you are planning to head up there this winter, check it out:

https://jakemiillephotography.com/2022/08/15/donner_snow_fighting_guide/

UP 7952 — MRVSP 17 — Norden, California

December 17th, 2020

jakemiillephotography.com

30/07/2022

Bridge Meet By Bridgeview. Any visit to the Bridgeview Bed & Breakfast in Marysville, Pennsylvania involves be alert for an endless stream of trains crossing the Susquehanna River over the Rockville Bridge, the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct in the world. On November 11, 2020, Amtrak 43 (Pennsylvanian) NS 07T with AMTK 115 (P42DC) was heading geographically west, while at the same time as Norfolk Southern Corp Train 30A with NS 8062 (ES44AC) was going east. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is presently working with both railroads to add a second daily passenger round trip on this line.

Full resolution and prints:
https://www.riverrailphoto.com/amtrak/e3a6ede37

17/07/2022

Water Level Tow Service. The mechanical failure of MTA Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line Train 8727 (M3A 8094 leading) on June 12, 2022 brought a rapid response from the railroad as the passengers were accommodated on the next train and GP35R 104 (née-PRR 2350, GP35, 2/1965) was dispatched to remove the equipment. The set is seen at the curve on the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, New York approaching Waterfront Park. About 11.5 miles in the background, the George Washington Bridge frames the Manhattan skyscrapers.

Full resolution: https://www.riverrailphoto.com/metro-north

14/07/2022

The rocky shores of Turnagain Arm near Beluga as ARRs freight from Whittier rolls north.

28/06/2022

Welcome Back To Canada. For the first time since 2020, the Amtrak Maple Leaf (Train 63/VIA Rail Canada Train 98) returned to Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 27, 2022. Due to a suspension related to the pandemic, service on the Maple Leaf had been operating between only between New York’s Penn Station and Niagara Falls, New York. For the occasion, Amtrak 108 (P42DC, 50th Anniversary, Phase VI) was selected to lead the first run. The train is seen at the end of the day with the CN Tower emerging from the Toronto, Ontario skyline, entering the VIA Toronto Maintenance Centre where it will spend the night before returning as Amtrak Train 64/VIA 97 the following morning.

Full resolution:
https://www.riverrailphoto.com/amtrakempireservice/e1b8d64a2

More on the Maple Leaf return:
https://media.amtrak.com/2022/06/amtrak-maple-leaf-travelers-can-now-buy-tickets-to-and-from-toronto-with-service-set-to-resume/

More on Amtrak's Commemorative 50th Anniversary Locomotives:
https://media.amtrak.com/2021/03/amtrak-releasing-six-50th-anniversary-commemorative-painted-locomotives/

18/06/2022

photo courtesy of Shane Alexander · CSX 3107 at the load out in Greenwood, WV, along the Pond Fork Subdivision.

28/05/2022

Over/Under Down East

After swinging by Hinckley to see what SAPPI was up to (nothing!) as seen here: https://flic.kr/p/2nnp9SV I headed back to Northern Maine Junction for another stab at Pan Am train NMWA after my abominable luck on Friday.

Upon arrival I was pleased to see the crew was there and at the west end of the yard with the power that I hadn't even gotten to see on Friday. This alone was already a positive development and with the OT-1 power parked here it made for a nice side by side. While the classic Guilford painted GP40-2LW would make a nice leader I didn't consider that good old Pan Am doesn't have air conditioning on their power and with it shaping up to be the hottest day of the year so far with temps in the 90s they would certainly leave the dreaded nose door open for ventilation...but really who could blame them?!

Knowing it would be a while I took a swing down by Canadian Pacific's nearby 'farm yard' and was surprised to see no trace of the local power. This was surprising account CP normally doesn't operate around here on the weekends. A quick check with a friend revealed they'd called a rare Saturday extra to run light to Searsport to pick up some cars.

So I headed back over toward the Freight Main and when I got back I could see cars moving on the connecting track between the old Bangor and Aroostook and Maine Central. Sure enough it was the CP crew pulling that interchange they never did get on Fri as told in this caption: https://flic.kr/p/2nmZ8Ex

The sun was out but it was a bit earlier in the day so it was higher with the light not nearly as good as Friday's was on the old BAR sign. And with the Pan Am crew working down below I set up in hopes for an elusive over/under. And sure enough, low and behold I got a little luck! In actuality this was a LOT of luck considering normally there are no crews from either road working on a Saturday let alone both. Considering how few trains run on either road compared to the past getting both roads with live crews working is a rare feat regardless of the day. Alas, the nose door and a last minute cloud marred what would have been the shot of the year so far....I guess my good fortune could only take me so far...since it is Pan Am after all!

CP local G13 shove south with their standard pair of GP20-ECOs about MP 29.6 on CP's (ex CMQ, MMA, nee BAR) Bangor Subdivision mainline. Meanwhile down below the 9 AM Waterville Relief crew on PAR train NMWA-13 is air testing their 4261 ft long train of 59 loads and 4 empties behind a GP40-2LW, GP40, C40-8 combo on the west end of Track 4 at MP 64 on the Freight Main. On track w/e 3 is OT-1's GP40-2LW/GP40 power tied for the weekend.

Northern Maine Junction
Hermon, Maine
Saturday May 14, 2022

24/05/2022

21/05/2022

Big changes coming in the Northeast.

The four configurations of the Siemens "Intercity Trainsets" for Amtrak's Northeast Regionals, Empire Corridor, and Cascades services.

Diesel-Electric Hybrid Trainsets for the Empire Corridor
https://www.esparail.org/resources/climate-change-and-rail/

27/04/2022

Endangered species. Soon to be relegated to locomotive history, the last few remaining unrebuilt Metra F40PH-2 locomotives are working out of Ogilvie Transportation Center, bringing commuters Downtown from the North, Northwest and Western areas of the city. Photo taken 26/04/22.

27/04/2022

08/20/2020 - CSX K442-17 makes a random appearance on the CSX LCL Subdivision. K trains are very rare on this line. This unit empty ethanol train originates in Lawrenceville, GA, usually heads up the CSX Henderson Subdivision but today's came a different way. It's ultimate destination is back to Bensenville, IL, to where it came from before heading to Georgia. Here they are with a pair of CP Beavers coming down Main Street in La Grange, KY.

22/04/2022

04/22/2022 - CSX Q208-22 passes through La Grange, KY, dragging 12,125 feet of train behind it along with a DPU in the consist assisting.

14/04/2022

CSX northbound empty coal train, E320, meets the DPU’s on its counterpart, southbound N320 (Carlisle, IN - Cross, SC) as they pass each other at Nortonville, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on March 8th, 2022.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/400, ISO 360.

09/04/2022

Finger Lakes Rwy at Watkins Glen NY - Joe Scaglione Photo Circa 2007

06/04/2022

10/06/2021 - Back late last year CSX Pride in Service LEO painted unit 3194 was floating all around the area for many weeks. Here is another shot I haven't posted as it leads Q688-06 crossing the Ohio River out of Louisville, KY, northbound on the LIRC. In the shot also is a UPS Boeing 747 in the landing path approaching SDF and the huge hub UPS Worldport.

01/04/2022

One of the first things Watco and Ithaca Central restored upon taking over the Sayre to Lansing Ithaca Secondary was to reactivate the track on the left - the only remaining trackage of the former Utica, Ithaca and Elmira RR, which was later known as the EC&N (Elmira Cortland and Northern) / Lehigh Valley RR. This is a 13 car siding in Spencer NY that is used to "Double the hill" coming out of Ithaca on a steep 1.6% grade. If there is a large salt train coming out of Ithaca, the crew may take 11-13 cars to Spencer first, then come back for another 36. The resulting 49 cars would be reassembled in Spencer and head to Sayre on the more level Lehigh Valley mainline from Van Etten to Sayre.

31/03/2022

RJ Corman in Kentucky is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

31/03/2022

Amish in the house along the RJ Corman Memphis line.

28/03/2022

Coming Round The Mountain At Troy

It's not 'Rotary Day' anymore so I won't share another shot of the beasts themselves. But how about a shot of one of the few other trains we saw on this day to remember.

After hiking on snowshoes in the high Sierras I found myself on this overlook with a few good friends and a whole bunch of other intrepid photographers. We camped out in the glorious sunshine, drank beer, and told stories while waiting for four hours before the show finally commenced. But we were graced with four other moves, all on Main 1, before the rotaries finally came east to cut the bank on Main 2.

The only two freights the UP let over the mountain during our time up there were two westbound Z trains. Other than that we also saw the flanger sets pass in both directions providing their advance es**rt for the passage of both the east and westbound Amtrak California Zephyrs. Besides these six movements the rotaries owned the hill this glorious day.

This shot is of the fourth and final train to pass our vantage point on the hill before the rotary show commenced. I do not know the symbol of this westbound priority stack train seen here on Main 1 at about MP 184.6 at Troy where until about 1975 Tunnel 40 cut through the hill, and what today is Main 2 was back then the center siding.

Donner Pass, California
Saturday February 25, 2017

25/03/2022

Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 1072, Illinois Terminal, and NS 8090 bring up the rear of a coal train as they at the Warrior Coal Mine loop, outside Madisonville, Kentucky on March 18th, 2022.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.