Eastern Railroad Discussion > Another boat in Lorain and More MofW Work - Lake Erie Land

Wednesday May 31, 2023
Seasonably Warm

1. NS 4002 leads the 310 east by the Mark IV tamper working the Main Street grade crossing project in Vermilion. Train 310 has NS 4002, UP 6207 and 8162.

2. Then the 22X comes past in the high bright noon-hour sun. Power is NS 4257 and 7621.

3. The business end of the Mark IV at work.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/23 19:58 by train1275.

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4. Train 28M with NS 4385 and 1207 comes east.

5. Then 23G with NS 1041, 8142, BNSF 7539 and NS 9835.

6. After lunch, thanks to a heads up from TO member Notch76, we got back to Lorain to watch another boat come in. This one is the H. Lee White and he has two EMD 20-645's, in railroad terms that is two SD45's. I don't know why he was in, he went to the stone dock but didn't stay long. Riding high he appeared empty.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/23 19:59 by train1275.

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7. As the H. Lee White was coming up the Black River, this heron was munching on his freshly caught lunch.

8. Here is a really cool photo I like a lot. The H. Lee White passes the Calumet unloading what appears to be salt at the Amcor dock in Lorain. The "White" is about to go under the N&W built lift bridge on the former NKP Cleveland - Bellevue line. Now here is what I think is cool; the dual EMD 20-645 power boat is passing a dual Alco 16-251 power boat. It is like two SD45's meeting two C430's or two C630's. Then throw in the railroad lift bridge for a little added subject matter and it was a good afternoon.

9. After dinner we catch an unknown eastbound intermodal *(22H) coming through the Vermilion work zone with NS 1005, 4605, 4340, 8075 and 3672 kicking up a little dust. And umm, yes we had fish, or rather scallops. That heron with his fresh fish dinner made me hungry.

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/23 05:01 by train1275.

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10. The 316 is released from Bellevue for Conneaut and is seen here at Coen Road west of Vermilion at "GC" the connector to the Chicago Line. 316 will not take the connector, but a straight shot to Conneaut via the NKP. Power is BNSF 6937 and UP 8958.

11. Looking at the going away shot as he goes east through the interlocking at GC, it will be Nickel Plate all the way.

12. An old NdeM boxcar, now FXE 873892 in the 316.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/23 20:05 by train1275.

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13. A few minutes after the 316 cleared GC, the switch points moved to line the connector, and this westbound (17N) came off the Chicago line, Bellevue bound. Power is NS 4093 and 7622 on the head end.

14. & 15. This neat CNW boxcar was in consist; CNW 520082, complete with logo.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/23 05:04 by train1275.

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16. & 17. Rear Mid-Train DPU is the UP 3067.

18. Coming home and we find the H. Lee White now in our backyard. He has left Lorain and is bound for Marblehead, OH.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/23 20:05 by train1275.

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Like the heron!

TJY

A few thoughts.
The Harsco at work reminds me of the immense amount of men it took to man the section gangs that did this work with tamping bars, without laser guidance, using only the trained eye of the foreman to lay his head on the track and "eyeball" the level of the rails. Not to mention the sagging joints, loose joint bars and beaten rail ends of stick rail.
 Great catches today, like the Heron, the lake boats and the scallops for dinner. We do not go out to eat often but we did tonight. The discussion of an amazing meal my younger son and wife had in a recent Jamaican vacation included what was described as incredible Scallops! Scallops were a favorite meal years ago but health and financial reasons prevailed and I don't recall the last time I partook of that delightful treat. I do recall that legally there was a substitute, perhaps sea skates?
 The mention of the switch points moving. I'm not sure what electrical switch motors and points sound like (perhaps I should spend a few hours by the new NS interlocking plant by my home?), however from several experiences around various ex-Pennsylvania RR interlockings, mostly Paoli, PA, they were or are electro-pnuematic. They offer up a whoose-thump-clunk sound. The last time I experienced this was the occassion to see the very last westbound Amtrak Broadway Limited. The tower operator cleared a westbound MU into Paoli Yard and relined the yard lead switch to set the main for the Broadway Limited. A truly sad experience to hear the station announcer break-down with a trembling voice, " Arriving is the very last Broadway Limited". The following day we met the first "Three Rivers". The announcer in a much more upbeat voice , "The First Three Rivers". I'm not sure how long the Three Rivers ran but it was cut and replaced by the still current regional Pennsylvanian. How the mighty have fallen.
Seeing vessels at sea or in this case on the lake at night with lights shining is always awe-inspiring.
Great images and memories.
Thanks,
Gonut

 

Great work

Thank you for sharing your shots!!

Nice catch of the 2 Lakers!

Posted from Android

Nice pics!!  I also like Pic 7!!

Simply excellent. Love seeing the lake freighter in the river. Reminds me of sailing with my uncle in the Oakland estuary when a container ship comes in. They dwarf everything. 

That Mark 4 is doing some good work. Anyone who's done some hand tamping will worship that machine.