Eastern Railroad Discussion > The Boats are Back and Train Action in Lake Erie Land

Sunday March 24, 2024
North Central Ohio
Temps in the 30's - Sunny

The Soo and Welland canal locks opened up on Friday and the boats are once again moving through the Great Lakes.

1 -3. This morning there were two boats in at the NS Sandusky coal pier to load coal;
The H. Lee White powered with two EMD 20-645's and the Sulzer powered Algoma Sault. In the top image a flock of Greater Scaup ducks enjoy a morning swim.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:17 by train1275.

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4. The Algoma Sault waiting to load at Sandusky Coal Pier.

5. & 6. Train 257 is sitting in the ex PRR yard at Sandusky waiting to go to Bellevue and west to the UP Global 2 facility in Chicago with NS 4692 and 8121,



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:18 by train1275.

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7. Dropping down to Kimball just east of the Bellevue Yard where the B&O used to cross, we get an unexpected surprise of Train 316 heading out on the NKP with UP 6568 and 6401.

8. A friendly wave and smile from the engineer.

9. Rolling across the flat Ohio countryside approaching Shinrock.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:18 by train1275.

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10. At Shinrock is Train 740, loaded coal out of Shire Oaks, PA moving slowly west for a rolling meet with the 316. Power on the 740 is NS 4567 and 1234.

11. Train 316 crosses Wickel Road.

12. And here in the lush Ohio farm fields the 316 meets the 740.

 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:19 by train1275.

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13. Trains 316 and 740 do a rolling meet at Shinrock, OH.

14. The NS 4567 and 1234 on coal train 740 now cross Wickel Road and head for Bellevue.

15. We follow the 316 east and catch him at East Shinrock (Barrows) going out on the single track heading for Vermilion, Lorain and a meet with the 315 at Sheffield.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:20 by train1275.

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16. - 18. Train 316 slid away from us and met the 315 as planned. We staked out at RU bridge at MP 210.21 to catch counterpart 315 at the lift bridge over the Black River in Lorain, OH. His power is a little less colorful with the NS 1135 leading BNSF 8138, but sure looks good in these views as the conductor and engineer give hearty waves.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:18 by train1275.

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20. To end the day we catch the 22H with NS 9732 and 9671 coming over the Vermilion River in Vermilion from the north side of the bridge.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:19 by train1275.

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What a great set of photos, I especially like the NS Coal operation, it looks like one heckuva Rube Goldberg machine.

Dan

Posted from iPhone

So many good scenes - My favorite is photo 16 with NS 835.
Bob

Lots of variety with good weather. Especially like seeing the Lakers! Not familiar with those ducks. One day maybe 20 years ago, picking my along the railroad and river here, I saw a few odd ducks and had to Google them. They were a Chinese duck of some sort, very, very colorful, more so than a male Mallard! Never saw another one.
(Edit) Just checked, they were Mandarin Ducks here in the mid-atlantic states, go figure.
Thanks.
Gonut



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/24 18:53 by Gonut1.

Excellent series!

Last time I saw this bridge I was ten and I was being shown the NKP and B&) in Lorain by my paternal grandfather. He was a big PRR fan, but had a soft spot for the NKP apparently. Took me out to Amherst to see the NYC too. Good memories thanks to your images.
—Mac

train1275 Wrote:
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> 16. - 18. Train 316 slid away from us and met the
> 315 as planned. We staked out at RU bridge at MP
> 210.21 to catch counterpart 315 at the lift bridge
> over the Black River in Lorain, OH.

Great series

Posted from iPhone

Thanks, the bridge seen here was built in 1974 in N&W years replacing a 1904 built structure. 

That was some good stuff. especially the bridge shots. Should inspire
others to get out in the springtime.

Nice catch of the rolling meet right in front of your camera!

Is Sandusky->Bellevue then west on the ex-NKP the usual routing for 257?

I get that NS does some IM block swaps at Sandusky, but that's an odd way through Chicago to get to Global 2 where staying on the ex-NYC via Elkhart is a straight shot through Ashland Yard to reach the UP.

pbouzide Wrote:
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> Nice catch of the rolling meet right in front of
> your camera!
>
> Is Sandusky->Bellevue then west on the ex-NKP the
> usual routing for 257?
>
> I get that NS does some IM block swaps at
> Sandusky, but that's an odd way through Chicago to
> get to Global 2 where staying on the ex-NYC via
> Elkhart is a straight shot through Ashland Yard to
> reach the UP.

My understanding is he comes west into Sandusky, then down the old PRR where I caught him, and into Bellevue. Then he goes out the old W&LE to Oak Harbor and regains the former NYC RR west to Toledo and Chicago.