Eastern Railroad Discussion > D&H Land - Just One of Those Days

Saturday November 21, 2020

Just one of those days when nothing seemed to quite come together.

A sampling of the salvaged shots.

1. First off is this morning's 22K on the journey from Binghamton to Ayer, MA. Lot's of the 6900's due to, or so I am told, the need for ACSES II PTC on the MBTA. Power this morning was NS 6958, 4340, 6965. The overpass at Pony Farm approaching Oneonta.

2. The other side of Oneonta, "The City of the Hills"  coming around the bend to Emmons.

3. Splitting the signals at West Richmondville



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/20 17:45 by train1275.

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4. As seen across the valley near Richmondville coming down the hill.

5. Rolling through Delanson.

6. and away he goes heading for Schenectady.

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7. After a meet up with the 30T which was coming down from Saratoga, the 22K is seen at Waite Road in Crescent. He will wait on the siding at Elnora for counterpart 23K. That is the Pan Am (Boston & Maine) line to Rotterdam Junction in the foreground.

8. And here he is sitting in the hole at Elnora waiting for the 23K.

9. But he doesn't have too long to wait before the 23K comes around the bend and is about to  duck under the overpasss. Power on the 23K is NS 6952, 4183 and 6951.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/20 17:33 by train1275.

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10. And here is the meet through the exhaust of the 23K. Soon the 22K will head to Mechanicville, the Hudson River bridge, Hoosic Tunnel and Ayer, MA while 23K will head to the Mohawk River, Susquehanna Valley, Binghamton and points West.

11. We will follow the 23K and here the lead unit is on the approach spans to the Mohawk River bridge about to enter Schenectady.

12. The light was tough and at times dead flat. Couldn't seem to do much with this one taken as they passed the feed mill at Central Bridge.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/20 17:34 by train1275.

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13. Grinding up Richmondville Hill at West Richmondville with SD60 exhaust shooting skyward.

14. Over the top and on the downhill at Brooker Hollow.

16. Approaching Schenevus, NY

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16. With the ISO up to 800 and the shutter dropped way down, it is super dismal dark at 3:45pm as 23K finally arrives at Oneonta "City of the Hills". I am not so sure the interpretor from days gone by didn't misunderstand the Mohawk tongue and it really means "Place where the Sun rarely shines".

17. Headed home pacing him from Interstate 88 for one last look just south of Oneonta on the way to Otego.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/20 17:47 by train1275.

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Superior shots. I especially like the framing on 11.

Posted from Android

I am really surprised NS is doing anything as far as the need for ACSES II on MBTA territory. Honestly, it would be cheaper to just have Pan Am use one of their equipped units to lead from Gardner to Ayer.

Thanks for posting this great chase day.  Gerry

I was wondering why all of a sudden NS had taken to adding a 69xx locomotive at Binghmaton to lead 22K up the D&H, across CP, PAS, and then over the final 20 miles on MBTA between Wachusett and Ayer. So these 69xx units must also support I-ETMS GPS-based PTC for the short run over CP between Schenectady and Mechanicville?

ST214 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am really surprised NS is doing anything as far
> as the need for ACSES II on MBTA territory.
> Honestly, it would be cheaper to just have Pan Am
> use one of their equipped units to lead from
> Gardner to Ayer.

That would require an engine change, and would require PAS to have a serviceable unit hanging around. 

I had noticed the recent arrival of "Admirable Cab" units on these trains, but hadn't figured out why. Nice to know. (Also, nice to have something roll by that isn't a standard GE wide cab....) 

Great series!

I like Pic 12!!

Well, I surely enjoyed just one of your days : )
John

Do the 6900s need anything beyond the Amtrak standard cab signal with LSL (Ultra-Cab II) in order to run ACSES on MBTA?

Not really a engine change, but just tack one on the head end. Should not be a problem, I hear most of the GE's have ACSES II and they are all scheduled to have it installed. IF they were insistent on NS providing power, they have plenty sitting around doing nothing that two units could be shipped up there for that dedicated task. I guess I am thinking from a "How would Pan AM handle this" view. 

march_hare Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ST214 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am really surprised NS is doing anything as
> far
> > as the need for ACSES II on MBTA territory.
> > Honestly, it would be cheaper to just have Pan
> Am
> > use one of their equipped units to lead from
> > Gardner to Ayer.
>
> That would require an engine change, and would
> require PAS to have a serviceable unit hanging
> around. 
>
> I had noticed the recent arrival of "Admirable
> Cab" units on these trains, but hadn't figured out
> why. Nice to know. (Also, nice to have something
> roll by that isn't a standard GE wide cab....)