Eastern Railroad Discussion > Mid-Week Round Up in Lake Erie Land

Thursday February 26, 2026
Vermilion, OH
22 degrees and sunny this morning

It has been a hit and miss week, but here are a few worth posting.

1. & 2. On the afternoon of Tuesday February 24th we caught the 316 over on the NKP bombing through town on the way to Conneaut, Buffalo and East Binghamton, NY with NS 7640 and 8158.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 14:41 by train1275.

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3. A friendly wave from the Conductor of the 316, the NKP side is a good times railroad.

Wednesday February 25th 

4. & 5. This morning down at trackside at the Rail Park and we find the "steam duo", NS 4070 & 4449 returning west on 29P. We caught this duo the day before eastbound on the NKP hauling 28B.
 

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Today, Thursday February 26th

6. - 8. Amtrak Train 40 the Floridian was 1 hour and 40 minutes late today, showing the headlight at 8:04 am down at Vermilion Road crossing. There was just no way to shoot this with the intense morning sun. I wish NS would take away that landmark memorial tie pile from the 2024 tie renewal program. They always seem to be in the way here as they slowly rot away. Power was Amtrak 315 & 136. Diner "Madison", AMTRAK 68016, was no doubt serving up breakfast.

I guess I haven't followed Amtrak schedules close enough, but when did they change 40's schedule ?
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 12:36 by train1275.

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9. Sleeper St. Johns River, Amtrak 62509 is just ahead of Baggage Car 61045.

10. And there go the markers west. Too bad this wasn't an eastbound train, the light would have been pretty good.

Consist today was: 
Power: Amtrak 315 & 136
Coaches: 25063, 25004, 25123, 25016
Cafe: 28016
Diner: 68016 "Madison"
Sleepers: 62046, 62008, 62509 "St. Johns River"
Baggage: 61045
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11. Now over to the NKP side of town down at the Route 60 crossing as there is a 315 coming west that has just recrewed at Sheffield the other side of Lorain. While waiting we take note of the relatively new CWR, nice 136RE rolled in January 2019.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 12:02 by train1275.

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12. - 14. And here comes the 315 with the Illinois Terminal heritage unit; NS 1072 leading NS 4651. They had NS 1161 as a mid-train DPU and this train was a big monster !
Of all the NS heritage schemes, I think this is my least favorite. I just don't care for that shade of green.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 11:39 by train1275.

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15. - 17. That green sure is colorful, although the unit could use a wash.

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18. Beware !!  A rather ghoulish image on the WFRX 877722 hopper car.

19. NS 1161; mid-train DPU.

20. And a surprise of NYCTA locomotives; HL020 and HL021 riding flat cars.

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21. & 22. Checking out those transit locos.

And that ends the morning. Time to rescue the overdue laundry in the dryer and breakfast.

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You've done it again - being ready for the unusual movements in Lake Erie Land-!  Thanks for all the different images of NS 1072 and the New York City locomotives.  They look great on top of those flatcars.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 17:33 by cozephyr.

Nice batch for the mid week.  That first shot of Amtrak I can't stop liking.  I wish that good artist will find other palettes besides the side of a white covered hopper.  I also like the IT unit in tough light and the NYCTA subway units.

All fun images to view!

Dan

Posted from iPhone

Doug, I gotta say the IT is actually one of my favorite ones. 

MdRailfan Wrote:
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> Doug, I gotta say the IT is actually one of my
> favorite ones

No problem! It's what makes the world go around. I cover it just the same as any other.

Posted from Android

It's interesting that NYCTA's new R255 hybrid locomotives built by Wabtec are picked up at Erie PA to go ~175 miles west to Bellevue Yd before heading east to New Jersey on NS, presumably to be barged across New York Harbor to the NYCTA at Bay Ridge in Brooklyn by New York New Jersey Rail. I'm guessing the R255s will head east to Conway on 10Q and then maybe 10K to Croxton Yd?

I think NYCTA has 25 R255s and has recently ordered another 45 units to allow retirement of their diesel fleet.
 

JPB Wrote:
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> It's interesting that NYCTA's new R255 hybrid
> locomotives built by Wabtec are picked up at Erie
> PA to go ~175 miles west to Bellevue Yd before
> heading east to New Jersey on NS, presumably to be
> barged across New York Harbor to the NYCTA at Bay
> Ridge in Brooklyn by New York New Jersey Rail. I'm
> guessing the R255s will head east to Conway on 10Q
> and then maybe 10K to Croxton Yd?
>
> I think NYCTA has 25 R255s and has recently
> ordered another 45 units to allow retirement of
> their diesel fleet.
>  

It does seem a bit roundabout.

Posted from Android

1072 is my wife's favorite HU.  She goes nuts everytime it goes by her lol......

Interesting post.
—Mac

ns1000 Wrote:
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> 1072 is my wife's favorite HU.  She goes nuts
> everytime it goes by her lol......

Chicks dig the Glow Worm.

train1275 Wrote:
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> JPB Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It's interesting that NYCTA's new R255 hybrid
> > locomotives built by Wabtec are picked up at
> Erie
> > PA to go ~175 miles west to Bellevue Yd before
> > heading east to New Jersey on NS, presumably to
> be
> > barged across New York Harbor to the NYCTA at
> Bay
> > Ridge in Brooklyn by New York New Jersey Rail.
> I'm
> > guessing the R255s will head east to Conway on
> 10Q
> > and then maybe 10K to Croxton Yd?
> >
> > I think NYCTA has 25 R255s and has recently
> > ordered another 45 units to allow retirement of
> > their diesel fleet.
> >  
>
> It does seem a bit roundabout.
>
> Posted from Android

Seems like the 15M Bison Yard to Conway would be a better routing for the NYC MTA locos, but maybe there's a clearance restriction?