Eastern Railroad Discussion > Sand Patch Fall...

To spread a little thanks on this holiday, I thought I'd share some shots from a visit to Sand Patch last month. Trains are longer and fewer than in the glory days when getting a double digit number of moves was not only common but expected. This years array of colors was muted by a very dry and warm fall. But the drone now offers up angles only once seen in the minds eye, and it was a day well spent!
1. As is often the case, the first train of the morning was the Capitol Limited, seen here rolling through Yoder on the west slope. The CSX dispaatcher is doing a good job of keeping them on time. They've run around an M421 at Garrett and have an empty ethanol train waiting for them around the bend at Salisbury Jct.
2. After 30 passed, the other trains remained stopped. 30 minutes later, the reeason became apparent in the form of I-116, seen here at Garrett. Those with sharp eyes will spot the M train stopped and waiting their turn on #1 track.
3. Getting a freshly painted and clean MAC on the point was a nice treat in the sea of GE widecabs, seen here at Yoder.


 

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4-6: Primo power like this was worth a chase over to Mance, where the drone and curvature allowed 3 seperate images. The maples at Mance turn early so colors were just a bit past peak.

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7-9: Not long after 116 passed, they could be heard exchanging pleasanties with a westbound climbing the grade near Philson. Just enough time to land the bird, change out the batteries and get 3 more shots around the horseshoe.

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10: With the westbound climbing the hill, I forgot all about the M421, now finally free to follow the 116. He rolled by just after I landed the drone, so a quick drive down to Philson allowed for a ground level shot.
11. Next up in the steady trickle of eastbound was M276, seen here ducking under the former WM Keystone Viaduct.
12. After a stop for lunch and a brief siesta, I relocated back west for I136 cruising along the Casselman River between Garrett and Yoder.

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Very nice photos, thanks for sharing them with all of us and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

13. I shot them again at Keystone..
14. One pleasant suprise was that 136 sported an actual manned helper on the rear, something I saw twice this fall out of Connellsville. Here they are shoving up to the summit at Sand Patch where they would cut off and return light to Connellsville. Manned helpers on the grade used to be common on both sides of the mountain but disappeared completely under EHH and with the adoption of DPU's on heavier trains.
15. The last few years have seen the operational patten change towards most westbounds operating after dark and today would be no exception. Fortunately another eastbound escaped Connellsville in the form of M332, which after a bit of a wait finally showed up at Salisbury Junction, slipping under the WM viaduct.

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16. Absolutely down on their knees through Keystone....
17. A final shot at Mance.
There were several westbounds jockeying to leave Cumberland, but the shadows were getting long and I judged that the chances of anything making it to me before dark were slim, so it was time to call it a day!
Thanks for looking!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/24 08:15 by DJ-12.

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Great bunch, love all the different drone angles. While many folks prefer the east slope I always liked the west side better, all the way down to the Yough ("Yock") at Confluence and beyond...

JG

Outstanding bunch.
JB

Fantastic! Imagine these shots with great power we
saw in the early 2000's.

tom

Posted from Android

Wow! Superior set!
Bob

This must be Saturday, 10/19, I shot the same Amtrak in Cumberland, and then proceeded to Meyersdale for another event. I could hear what seemed to be a steady parade of trains passing through town. Too bad the loaded drag at the Shaw loadout never moved.
Weather was exceptional for mid-October.

bigsavage Wrote:
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> This must be Saturday, 10/19, I shot the same
> Amtrak in Cumberland, and then proceeded to
> Meyersdale for another event. I could hear what
> seemed to be a steady parade of trains passing
> through town. Too bad the loaded drag at the Shaw
> loadout never moved.
> Weather was exceptional for mid-October.

You are correct on all counts. Bizarrely at one point, myself and another fan were sure we heard a crew on the drag talking about getting going but they never turned a wheel.

Posted from iPhone

Excellent series with your drone. The altitude at the spots I shot at ground level show a completely different perspective. KUDOS on your IOTD

John

Just beautiful DJ-12.  And I could "drone" on and on.  I'm (we're) glad YOU did!

Fantastic series!

Excellent group of photos. One of these years I have to make to the East for fall. 

globalethanol Wrote:
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> Fantastic! Imagine these shots with great power
> we
> saw in the early 2000's.
>
> tom
>
> Posted from Android

Back then I just climbed a lot more hills lol!