There was going to be a meeting of four railfans this morning in Little Ferry, but due to bad weather last night I thought the whole plan was going to be a bust. Two outside- the-City guys couldn't make it. But lo and behold, just as planned Russ called me at 7 AM and said, "Hey, Johnny.......what the hell. Let's go for it"! Russ picked me up at 7:45 and we were in Little Ferry within 15 minutes or so. We barely had time to grab our cameras and jump from his van when the first southbound came barreling down on us on the new 1 TRACK just recently installed! Lo and behold.......LOL..........Russ had dead batteries in his camera and I forgot to load my camera! What a case of Murphy's law! Russ thought the freezing cold night killed his batteries, and I had just gotten my camera back from the shop and put my lens on but forgot to load it............. ARGH!!!!!!!!! LOL! Within minutes we were shooting more trains! We ran across the grade crossing and shot a northbound CSX on the NYS&W bridge, but missed a southbound on the other side of it. We could have stayed in the middle of the very wide grade crossing but it isn't the smartest idea in the world. There's two parallel tracks (CSX) with a good twenty feet between them and the third track (NYS&W). We caught more trains up at the old NYC station in Ridgefield Park. All the engines were covered in thick snow! What a show we were having!!!!!!!! Each train had at least 3 to 5 engines on them. The TOFC/COFC's looked so great covered in snow. We went back to the bridge also. They were still coming! We saw crossovers from the NYS&W track to 2 TRACK, from 1 TRACK to 2 TRACK, etc. The water in the bay rose dramatically! It nearly reached the bottom of the bridge!!!! In fact, down the dead end street across the tracks near the water, it began to flood!!!!!!!! We were perfectly safe, but the bridge was getting lower! LOL! I just want to thank Russ for a great run this morning, and I can't wait to see his photos posted in TB! I will be sending him some of mine and hopefully they will be good enough to post also. One funny thing was when we did decided to stay in the middle of the grade crossing so we could catch one of the NYS&W GP18's coming out of the North Bergen yard, and onto the bridge. When we saw the GP18 coming, I yelled, "LOOK! THERE'S ANOTHER ONE COMING!" We started jumping up and down like little kids! LOL! LOL! LOL! Russ said, "I hope no one was watching us"! Here were two trains coming at us at the same speed on different bridges and we were right in the middle. Of course the GP18 stopped at the end of the yard, only to head back. But we saw the northbound CSX come by us. The one with the dark future unit tucked in the middle running backwards so we never noticed it until it was passing us. LOL.
Sounds like you guys had a fantastic morning. I look forward to seeing the pics posted here. Did Russ have a digital camera or a conventional one?
When you become a kid again, that's railfanning at its best. I haven't done much snow railfanning. Maybe I should change that state of affairs.
Sounds y'all had a GREAT DAY!!!!! The day you forget how to act like a kid is the first day of the end of your life!!!
The most hysterical thing was we weren't acting when we started jumping up and down! HA! HA! I told my wife, and she said, "You should never have told me that.............". Oh oh. Thanks for the replies! It was really a first for me to be able to shoot some trains with that much snow on them! If it wasn't for TB I would not have made a such a good friend as Russ! Glad to have someone who lives nearby because we are all so spread out across the world! Oh, Russ was using digital, and I had an old Minolta x370, which I hope is shooting well. It's my first roll after the little visit to the fixit shop. GULP. I'll have my prints tomorrow afternoon. [ 05. January 2003, 02:34: Message edited by: Johnny Trains ]
Another funny story- My wife called me while we were there and asked how the "train show" was. (She thought that we were indoors at a train show) When she found out that we were sitting in the cold waiting for trains, she laughed her buns off! I told her that was no different than fishing and indeed, we WERE at a "train show". We were wating for the TRAIN to SHOW! I never had so much fun in the snow! Oh yes, and just to confirm Johnny's story.....we were indeed jumping up and down like kids in a candy store! Russ
And now for some pics... #1- CSX on Susy-Q's tracks over the old bridge: #2- A nice "cold" piggyback: #3- Another cold shot. CSX southbound on the #2 track: Russ
A few more- #4- Same southbound as above: #5- Northbound out of the yard on the new track #1: #6- Same train, 2nd unit: #7- View from Ridgefield Park station:
WAY "COOL" RUSS!!!!!!! Those shots make me feel like I was there again! Freezing again! LOL! Thanks for posting them!!!!!!
I can see JT jumping up an down like a lil kid in a candy store with a dollar in his pocket! That woulda been the funniest sight of the whole day! Just kidding JT, but a little kid... HA HA HA As for Russ too.... Sheesh! That musta got some body heat. HA They say keep moving in the cold to keep warm. apparently you both done that! As for the pictures, they're looking good! BUT that piggyback train is a chillin' like a villin'!! MAN I'da hated to have to touch that thing! My hands would've stuck to the cold metal! I wish their were bridges an all like that around Meyersdale! I sure would be out along the tracks in all kinda weather! P.S. You 2, I can just hear your wives when you both got home.. looking like an ice cube! But you both had fun while freezing. HMMMMM Is is me or doesn't that make any sence? Freezing and having fun at the same time..... THATS railfanning at its very best!
Sometimes Little Ferry can be pretty quiet. It was fantastic to have that much action while bringing someone new there! It was cold, but worth the trip! There were other railfans there too (ALL THE TIME) as you can see in the station shot. That gentlemen didn't know what a photoline means. We had to shoot around him at least twice. I also heard the RR police are very very strict around there. One must be careful and not go where one is not wanted. The temptation to go out on those bridges is great. Also, quite dangerous too! No cab rides there! Thanks again Russ! Great shots!
When you two get together, there is no way you will not have fun. I know from your visit into my territory. Great pictures. The snow really gives them special character. That railfan didn't hurt, either. You did a good job of including him in a way that actually enhanced the shot.
Thanks Peirce! [We can't wait to get back to Danbury!!!!! May bring others! LOL!] That guy that got in the photo by the station also walked right in front of us as one of the trains approached us. He caused me to get a 3/4 shot of the engines and Russ mumbled some thoughts as he had to change his position too. He also walked much closer to the tracks than Russ and I, almost causing a cell phone call to the bulls! LOL. I don't mind folks in my shots, but I didn't want to shoot the lone gunman along with the train! Russ, my shots came out good, but lack that ERIEe feeling yours have! I love that "weathered" look! Makes people in Florida shiver. HA HA! Me too! I will be sending all my doubles to you and would ask that you scan one of the shots of how high the water was! Hope you enjoy my photos.
Here are some more pics. #1-Another southbound complete with railfan! #2- Same train, rear view: #3 Another cold bridge shot:
Yo, Russ and Johnny, man, that sure looks like what I remember from upstate NY many years ago. As for the A**hole that got in your way, they are everywhere. It's another one of Murphy's Laws: If there is an idiot who is so self centered as to not look around and see how many others are in the photo line, he will definitely put himself between you and the photo of a lifetime. (and he probably wears red suspenders.)
Russ, I must say, that CSX "C-60AC" sure will chill the guys in FLA! WOW! Its the loco with the yellow CSX lettering outlined in blue... Thats some serious snow on that loco! I bet you both were half froze when ya got home to a laughing wife! Good shots tho! Keep 'em commin'!!!!!
Thanks guys. Here are just a few more... #1- This was a fast moving trash train. I only got off a quick pick because Johnny and I were in between tracks trying to catch a Susy-Q GP-18 on the other track that looked like it was racing with the trash train: By the way- that is the "Rush"mobile in the background-LOL #2- The Susy-Q Geep coming towards the bridge. (You can see the trash train on the left) Unfortunately, the GeeP stopped just at the bridge and switched back: The spot where Johnny took me was perfect because it was right before the entrance to the yard (North Bergen?). Most of the trains stop while awaiting clearance to the yard. Johnny also had his scanner which enhanced the event further. At the station, you literally had 10 seconds after the crossing gates went down to catch any trains on film. They come through pretty fast! Thanks again Johnny! Russ
TAHNK YOU RUSS! If you hadn't picked me up I'd be at home like an immigrant! LOL! Fitz, I knew you'd comment on the stupid railfan. I don't mind people in my shots, but not one self centered buffoon who gets his shot of a lifetime. We all jumped off the station platform to shoot a couple, but he went way too close for safety and an arrest record. Plus messed up the photo line. Russ, nice photos! Mine are on their way to you Priority Mail. Same trains but a different perspective with a wider angle lens. There's two shots of the tide coming in and going out, and it was darn near up to the rails when it was high. I say that because I've mostly seen it when you can see the muddy bottom right by the bridge.
I can't wait to post them photos! That was an exceptionally bad day for the tide. I watched the tide rise 3 feet to the girders of the bridge and fall 3 feet all in a 4 hour period. Any higher and we'd have been swimming home! Russ
