Eastern Railroad Discussion > "PC" on ex-NYC and ex-PRR, plus a bonus

Overall, I've had better luck catching Norfolk Southern's Penn Central heritage locomotive on former Norfolk & Western lines than on "home rails," but on Monday and today I caught it on the former New York Central and Pennsylvania main lines, respectively.
1) On May 30, 2016 I headed for Vermilion, Ohio, which was the closest place to me that train #11V -- reported to have the 1073 leading -- runs on ex-NYC rails. I didn't try going any farther east because I thought the train might overrun me, but instead it took a long time getting through Cleveland and I would wait here more than 90 minutes before it showed up. I don't know if the Vermilion Sailors water tower was there in Penn Central days -- it's a fairly modern design -- but it's still a landmark establishing where this train was running.
2) On May 31 I got word that the PC unit was leading #12V, which runs via Mansfield rather than via Cleveland. I was in Attica, Ohio at the time and the #12V was already south of me, so I headed for Crestline where the light angle would be good once the train made its left turn at Bucyrus to get off the Sandusky District and onto the ex-PRR main. The signals here at East Crest are a Conrail-era installation but they still establish location.
3) I had hoped to also get the Penn Central unit passing under the authentic PRR signal bridges at Mansfield, but I also didn't have all day to wait for that to happen, so I did not welcome hearing the six words no railfan hoping for a quick move through Mansfield wants to hear: "Hold up at the steel mill." #12V would end up being told they'd have to do some switching there, so I abandoned the chase and instead started following the Ashland Railway's track toward Willard, Ohio, since I had heard an ASRY train getting instructions for departure from Willard while I was driving to Crestline. I didn't have to go far before I found the southbound train's two Geeps and 23 cars approaching Shelby, Ohio at a rural grade crossing. I chased it back toward Mansfield and got a bunch of shots, including my favorite of it crossing a main street in Shelby with downtown buildings in the background. I don't often go for engines-only pictures, but this one worked for me because of the surroundings.

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Nice shots.

I really like your first photo.
Dan

Posted from iPhone

Third shot's a winner ! IOTD material IMHO then again what do I know I'm not a big fan of roster shots, Third shot a winner.

Yes the water tower in Vermilion was built in 1941 took out of service in 1992 and a small park was built at its base