Passenger Trains > Phase VII Switcher on Delmarva - part deux

In spite of the intense heat and humidity yesterday, I took another shot at Amtrak's KP701 work train operating between Wilmington and Bear, DE. Instead of light power, I was glad to see a short train of wooden ties behind 742 headed for disposal. This image was taken south of Newark, DE about half way to the final destination of the Bear Maintenance Facility. Always nice to see something different - especially when it's colorful.

Enjoy !

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cr2581 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In spite of the intense heat and humidity
> yesterday, I took another shot at Amtrak's KP701
> work train operating between Wilmington and Bear,
> DE. Instead of light power, I was glad to see a
> short train of wooden ties behind 742 headed for
> disposal. This image was taken south of Newark, DE
> about half way to the final destination of the
> Bear Maintenance Facility. Always nice to see
> something different - especially when it's
> colorful.
>
> Enjoy !

Great catch and a neat subject!

While not nearly as artistic as your photo, I recorded the train this morning making another run down the Delmarva in Newark, DE.

Thanks,
Sean McCaffery

 

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Nice catch! Like that new color scheme a lot. 

With the population of Delaware exploding with retirees, I am glad that the FRA awarded "study money" for passenger service restoration. But I fear it will just be a "study" with nothing coming to fruition, but lets be hopeful!!! They really need a passenger rail line restored down the spine of Delaware from a junction at the NEC (e.g. near Newark, DE) to Salisbury, MD, at least. Amtrak used to operate a "special train" to the fair and racetrack at Harrington a few times a year. Years ago it was hard to find passenger riders for the PRR's "Blue Diamond," but the population and demographics have changed that I think the service would work well. LOTS of college and universities along the route!

I have no idea on the economics, but with summer beach season traffic, somesort of a commuter train to the lower DE beaches and Ocean City, MD would be unique.  Turn it into an Auto Train Light and let people skip the weekend traffic that plagues the area on a regular basis.  Yes, I'm aware that Amtrak would not be the best option to manage this sort of thing....

-Sean



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/24 11:21 by bigmc83.

Delaware only has interstates in its north county, New Castle County, in the Wilmington, DE area. Downstate, a toll road - State Route 1 - was completed around 2001 or so but only runs from a "tight connection" at Interstate 95 to Dover, at best. It's heavily travelled and needed to be widened from the day it was opened. The population explosion and tourist crowd still brings State Route 1 and US Route 13 and 113 to a standstill. There's plans to expand the highways, but it can't come soon enough. Delaware is ripe for north-south passenger rail route - especially with some sort of branch that heads out to the Shore from the main spine. Norfolk Southern sold or leased the Delmarva line to a regional railroad, so I would think the regional railroad would be open to receiving monies that would upgrade its main line and as a byproduct, handle passenger rail. Even the lower eastern shore of Maryland had though about dabbling in a tourist type railroad from Snow Hill, MD to Berlin, MD - Berlin is on one of the east-west options US Connect identified for rails to reach the Shore, namely, Ocean City (from Salisbury, MD). The Delmarva has had interesting and explosive growth. I had family that had property, grew up, lived, and worked on the Delmarva. All have since moved on or passed on, sadly. 

Great catch. That's a neat look on that engine. 

The 742 look sharp. Good scheme on that loco. 

Hey now that's a good looking paint sceme on that lead unit.
Plus I didn't know Amtrak maintained or owned any rails?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

First I heard that rail squeaking in video, then I zoomed in just on tracks, and saw that rail is really moving up and down a lot!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

All this time I thought the Bear shops were right on the NEC. Duh. How far do these trains need to go from the shops to the nearest spot on the mainline?