Eastern Railroad Discussion > W. New York & PA Great Time 10-8 Part Two

October 8 started differently at the WNY&P enginehouse and office at Olean, NY. It was still fogged in because of the early morning moisture, a malady common in the east but us westerners are not used to it, and it took some time to lift. In front of their office, they were positioning a nice truss-rod platform observation lettered for parent railroad Livonia, Avon & Lakeville called "Traveller" on the rear of a short train, and said it was out of the shop for the first time since the Santa trains of pre-Christmas last year. Their Director of Safety was there, and mentioned that they were having a safety meeting for employees on board, and he wanted to check the ride of new rail that was just installed east of there, on the ex-Erie. Cool! "Traveller" was purchased from Arkansas & Missouri in May of 1998. It was built in 1884, and with CN until 1988 when A&M purchased it. That was the precursor of a good day, with this and two of their nicer-image power on the front of two different trains, here goes...

Photo 1 - "Traveller" in the less-than-stellar morning light in front of the blockhouse office building in Olean, NY.

Photo 2 - I was very happy that repainted C430 No. 430 ended up on the point, here leaving Olean Yard on the ex-Erie with the obs on the back and another parked oil train empty visible behind that. WNY&P has two C430's painted in this corporate image, but of the two (the other is 421), this is the locomotive number you would choose! 430 was built for NYC as their 2050, then PC and CR 2050. It was then NYSW 3000 before WNY&P obtained it. Research tells me this might be called Train OL-3.

Photo 3 - LAL "Traveller" truss-rod platform-observation brings up the rear at MP 404 on the ex-Erie a short distance out of Olean at the Ten Mile Creek area next to the Allegheny River.

There's mooore...

 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/15 11:01 by highgreengraphics.

---

---

---

Photo 4 - One of the shots of my trip I am happiest with, here the eastbound on the ex-Erie passes under the dual double-track skewed trusses of the Genessee & Wyoming - owned Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, originally B&O at Carrollton Village NY near Salamanca. The rail installation here is so new (and brand-new steel!)  that crossing signals were not wired in yet, so the train had to stop to flag across Schoolhouse Rd. I was already positioned on a stepladder next to the silent crossing signal, so I was able to photograph above the head of the Conductor who was flagging, and adjust my camera ISO down for better quality under the overcast since the train had stopped. The whole train can be seen, with the obs hanging on the rear in lieu of a caboose. Both railroads parallel each other until Salamanca, and there is an interchange connector crossover a little over a mile ahead.

Photo 5 - Emerging from the double-track truss bridge at "Casino" at Salamanca, NY over Little Valley Creek.

Photo 6 - Going over the slowly crumbling concrete road underpass at Corbett Hill Rd  and Ireland Rd between Steamburg and Randolph, PA.

There's mooore...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/15 19:43 by highgreengraphics.

---

---

---

What a great set of photos. Thanks for sharing these.
Bob

Photo 7 - Whistling for the crossing at Goodwins Landing Rd. west of Randolph. Pretty, but I was imagining Erie-Lackawanna. It was here I owe my behind to the other railfans who were chasing, as here they decided to go back toward Olean as their information said the southbound train would be called out of Olean in the afternoon and it was time to return there if we wanted to see it. I hated leaving this train, but it made sense to see more variety. Thank you fellow railfans for all the times you have saved my behind, I only hope I can help any of you in my usual territory! 

Photo 8 - Upon arriving back at Olean, what was on the front of the power consist but C630 No. 630, looking positively regal in the sun in its Arkansas & Missouri relettered Burgundy attire! While I was a semi-frequent visitor to A&M, I only got to see this unit in a deadline in Springdale, AR with a cloudy future, so it was like I had the second chance I had wished for. It was A&M 70, built by MLW as CP 4500. Time to grab lunch and split for lead time for a complicated photo setup...

Photo 9 - I was glad the sun was on the opposite side at North Eldred beneath the inactive ex-Pennsy signal bridge so I could get the station sign on the signal bungalow. The side of the right-of-way sloped so much that I was not much above rail height, so I lugged across my stepladder and proceeded to dig it in to something approaching level. And here is the result, this bit of elevation only doable with a stepladder, as the southbound turn bound for Emporium makes hurried pleasant Alco sounds at speed. That 630 sure looks good on the point!

There's mooore...

---

---

---

Nice work.  The pics almost have that model railroad feel.   Especially with obs o the rear of the train.   I thought they might offer you to ride along.

Photo 10 - Blowing through South Eldred, where 630 went the morning previous for fueling but not today. The oil empty patiently waits for the following day when it will leave, in upcoming Part 3.

Photo 11 - Off the overpass at Larabee, got some nice sun here between clouds! 

Photo 12 - Approaching an unidentified side road crossing between Larabee and Keating Summit.

There's mooore...

---

---

---

Photo 13 - And the same crossing I didn't keep track of, a closer view.

Photo 14 - On top of the railroad, at the station sign at Keating Summit. 

Photo 15 - An odd view of ex-BRC WNY&P 426 at Emporium reflected in a large puddle indicating how much it had rained in these environs. The next day would turn out to be a challenge with more of the wet stuff forecast. This day was ending with the sun too low to do much more.

Next is part 3, another good day with a surprise, but part of the day was spent under a much-needed umbrella!

Happy Western New York and Pennsylvania railfanning! === === = === JLH

 

---

---

---

Youare killing it with this stuff. Great work and thanks for sharing.

Wow, these photos are ssomething to admire. Being a visitor from the west, you have hit it out of the park with your photos. 
John

jmbreitigan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow, these photos are ssomething to admire. Being
> a visitor from the west, you have hit it out of
> the park with your photos. 
> John

No kidding.  You did awesome.   I've visited the WNY&P 3 times and don't even have half the amount of quality shots you've got.  

More GREAT stuff....!!  Thanks......

I got to get out there someday and get my own Alco fix.  Those shots are fantastic!!

Sweet!!!!

Always have admired your western work.  But WOW what an awesome job you have done on the alco roads near me.  You are a very talented photographer.

CV the civil E in NJ

Every time I view ALCO locomotives on this site, I remark to myself that at the time ALCO was building these locomotives they must have had a large following from the Railroads because I sense that they must have sold a helluva lot of these monsters as there just seems to be so many out there and I'm surprised of the condition that folks have put them in. It's a nice feeling to see so many in service and being used for what they were intended for. Great pictures and thanks for sharing.

Jim
Hatboro, PA​

Great photos! I miss it up there. Can't wait to go back.

Really great series of photos.

Ronda Thomas