Weekend Proto Fun time! WooHoo! I saw a couple of trains this week but no pics so I'll kick it off with this shot from a couple of weeks ago in Frisco Texas. Even in need of some love and attention, I think this unit looks great. Maybe she look all shiny and new again someday but for now, just happy to see she didn't go to scrap. So, what's new from everyone this week?
Today's CSX L645 at Elgin, SC in the overcast. This is on the former SAL main; we're 336 miles from Richmond, VA. I wish those durned approach-lit signals would illuminate sooner! I'd hoped to have a nice spot of red in the shot. [Dan K.]
Russ, Looks like that car nosing in the picture behind the big red truck is a little newer than 1969, perhaps 1989? But if you have a time machine, will you share??
I'd love to see Rollins Pass in operation, and hike the Tunnel District in the 1960s. Also, to see Tennessee Pass in the 1970s, Marias Pass in the 60s, Mullan Pass in the 60s, Pipestone, St Paul and Snoqualmie Passes in the 60s, and while we're at it, see Hagerman Pass before Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel was built, ride the RGS Galloping Geese in the 40s, La Veta Pass in the 50s. Not asking for too much, am I?
The VMT transferred 611 from across the street at the Strasburg RR to the yard of the RR Museum of PA for the rest of the winter. Those rods sure gleam in the afternoon sun.
Monday's trip to Saginaw was interesting. Got a couple of photos of an old gas station, and then on the way home, had a railfan adventure that didn't happen on the rails at all. Top photo shot through the windshield by my daughter Grace.
Nice catch! Anyone know where that caboose is going? In ice fog on 16 Jan 23, an 86-car CP transfer gets a diverging proceed signal at Soo Tower and throttles up behind a former Soo alumni; that Roots blower was howling, it was a glorious sound! The high headlight was a nice touch, too.
Don't know for sure who's getting a caboose. At first, I thought it might have been the Saginaw Railway Museum, but they turned south instead. We broke off the chase east of Birch Run, MI and went to get some food. All I can say is that the driver may not have been entirely sure, either. He kept swinging to the left side of the road and looking at addresses, so I'm thinking it wasn't too far away.
I caught this going through the Reno yard. Almost missed it and had to shoot through the windshield so not a very good picture. I don't often see, or catch anyway, many of the "special" schemes.
And I had that smile today, when I saw this hospital train, The sad part is, the NS unit was offline due to bad dynamics. So the lead GE and the DPU GE were all the power to take 25 dead SD70MAC's east up Beaver Hill. I was waiting for them to leave, and listening top the scanner. They were talking with PTC support because they couldn't get permission from the computer to leave. So, they had to re do the consist list manually. The dispatcher had a pen and paper to write out all the unit numbers and re enter them manually. Then the PTC guy, then I had to leave because the grandson was coming over. It was an hour later that I heard and saw them actually leave town. And was that lead unit smoking! It looked like an ALCO leaving town! So either it had a bad turbo about to fail, or it was a supremely hard pull! Would have been fun to watch it and get it on video, but the grandson comes first...! He and I watched some steam loco's on video, and he is mesmerized by them!
Hopefully all going to another good home, been seeing these popping up on other shortlines, so hopefully got some more miles to go!
