Eastern Railroad Discussion > Amtrak 48 - Late in Lake Erie Land

Saturday December 6, 2025
Vermilion, OH
32 degrees, dark, gloomy, breezy and very, very damp.

1. & 2. I didn't get out much the last few days and get anything very good. However, this catch of Train 310 (Elkhart, IN to East Binghamton, NY) made the cut with NS 1081 and 1018 (how's that for a pair!) at Joppa Road west of Vermilion on Friday December 5th. 310 is very short and has no autos.

3. First train today was 36N with NS 4635 and 9921 with NS 8057 as a rear DPU. It is as gloomy as it looks. 36N is a Madison (East St. Louis) IL to Conway, PA train.



 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/25 14:17 by train1275.

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4. - 6. Now for what we are waiting for; Amtrak 48 the eastbound Lake Shore Limited running 5 hours and 6 minutes late. Power is 107 and 118 with the restored Boston sleeper up front and the NY sleepers behind the coaches and diner. Looks like the last two are named Mohawk River??  and Charles River. I am not sure what the car numbers are, the lighting and speed didn't allow me to catch the consist.

Note the buzzards in the trees at upper left. They have been everywhere lately. I wish they would take their seasonal leave.

Lisa takes a different vantage point view. It is quiet now that the boats and people are gone and the docks rolled up.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/25 16:11 by train1275.

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7. As the train passed by, a Department of Homeland Security helicopter flew overhead. Looking for stowaways ?

8. & 9.  Shortly afterwards we cross the river and set up for Train 28B on the Nickel Plate. The old crane is working, doing some sort of dredging I guess. This is the first time in four years I've seen it operate. Pretty soon here comes 28B. I can't imagine if the light could be any worse. BNSF 8035 and 3864 are the power today. 28B seems to be a weekday train on the Lake Shore line, and a weekend warrior on the NKP side.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/25 16:50 by train1275.

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10. Trying to make something out of a bad lighting situation with 28B.

11. & 12. Next stop is at CP 224 at Risden Road west of town on the Lake Shore line as Tr 256 (Ashland Ave-Chicago to Croxton, NJ) rolls east with NS 4755 and 4304.

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13. The 256 roars east with Matson's up front. This train is a mix of international and domestic containers and he's a little early today, unlike the Lake Shore Limited.

14. And the final catch of the morning is 29P, 28B's Buffalo, NY to Park Manor -Chicago counterpart with NS 4100 and 4921 westbound at Poorman Road with CP 224 behind them.

15. Back to the beach chairs ..... that is pretty white sand??   Isn't it ???



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/25 16:15 by train1275.

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Was curious if that very late 48 would make it onto your radar, but the beach chairs in the snow is the keeper.
—Mac

Great photos , the sleeper " Mohawk River " was just released from Beech Grove as reported by SethAmtrak . Car number is 62042 .

The Lakeshore didn't get any better. It was about 2 pm when it went through Batavia, NY.

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