Eastern Railroad Discussion > Color in the Lehigh Valley - Jan. 25th, 2015

Over the weekend, my friend and I took Sunday to visit the Allentown area. We didn't find the CNJ and DL&W, since they had escaped up to Hazelton. Having caught both these units leading trains individually, they were old news to us. NS gave us a plethora of Canadian power to see throughout the day, along with a few other surprises.

1. In Allentown, we see that NS 10N had just pulled into the yard with CP SD60 and C44-9W behind the NS D9-40CW.

2. Next in Bethlehem, we catch the local H76 with two SD40-2s fresh out of the paint shop snaking through the interlocking at CP 88.

3. Right behind the H76 was the H74 heading for Jersey with two GP59s leading.

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4. NS 19G starts to pull through CP 88 as it heads for Allentown yard.

5. NS HA-15 shoves a long string of cars back into the yard at CP HAM with two N&W veterans in charge, and operating in the proper configuration.

6. Our first Canadian prize of the day was this W3A with CN 2278 leading a former BC Rail Dash 9.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/15 20:22 by PennRailVideos.

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7. Here's BCOL 4647. Too bad it's not in BC Rail blue!

8. Now at this point, we knew that the "Go Rail" 6963 was in play, waiting to head east on a 66Z tied down at River Yard. In the meantime, we set up just west of Allentown yard at MP 34 hoping for a westbound, since they have a good grade here. Instead, NS gave us three eastbounds with NS power. He's the first of three, NS 24Z.

9. 20E is next in line. The leader did have a nice RS3L horn.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/15 20:33 by PennRailVideos.

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9. 20K is the final eastbound in this parade of intermodals. As 20K was passing us, we heard 66Z beginning its air test at River Yard. So we packed up and raced across Bethlehem towards Steel City.

10. In Steel City, we set up to catch NS 212 with a CN C40-8M second out.

11. C40-8M 2453. And as luck would have it, this wouldn't be our only cowled CN unit of the day.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/15 20:35 by PennRailVideos.

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12. After catching the 212, we saw the 66Z pull up to the firehouse with the "Go Rail" 6963 leading. So we made a bee line to a spot further east. I had thought Phillipsburg, but traffic in Easton decided that Easton would be where we caught the train. He had a track authority from Florence to Richards, so we figured he'd cross back over and start calling signals. Well after a good 25-30 minutes, the radio finally crackled and 66Z could be heard roaring up the grade at Easton. Someone needs to send 6963 to Conway so it gets a bath!

13. 66Z had a BNSF C44-9W trailing.

14. We considered this the catch of the day. Yeah the "Go Rail" was neat, but this was even better! We set up at Klines Lane in Emmaus for 38G. Now earlier in the morning, we noticed a CN unit facing west, and old habits indicated that this may lead 38G. As we heard 38G call the 33 signal, we then heard the haunting sound of a Nathan K3L, which meant that a Canadian unit was on its way. Through the trees we could see the train rounding the bend at Harrison Street, and a faded-red cab and high-mounted bell came into view. Behind it were to SD70s, all three engines working hard to get the long train up the grade as it heads west.

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15. After a well deserved lunch at the Tilted Kilt, we headed back out to squeeze what we could out of the daylight. In timely fashion, 15T got on the horn and told the dispatcher that he was ready to go. He announced that he had UP 8914 was the lead unit. So we set up at Harrison Street and round the bend came a fresh SD70AH.

This would end our exciting and very fruitful day along the old Reading's East Penn Branch.

That's all folks!
- Adam C.

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Looks like a great day Adam!!
Dan

Posted from iPhone

GOOD stuff...!! Thanks for sharing.

A-B-E area still looks to be a great railfanning place! My town from 1969 to 1973!

Tom Y