Passenger Trains > Snowpack on the NEC

The winter storm of almost two weeks ago left a layer of snow, sleet and freezing rain that remains largely in place thanks to the bitter cold.  We've had several easy winters the past few years around here and got spoiled.  Despite hundreds of high speed trains passing over the ice, it remains covering the tracks.  Owing to being a full time care giver to a handicapped family member and a full time night job, I seldom get out of late.  On Wednesday I had a brief respite and headed to a favorite spot, Princeton Jct.  Here are a few random samples from about two hours in the late afternoon.

1.  613 on train 97 headed south to warmer climes.

2.  615 on Keystone train 647.  He was about 35 minutes late and had no cab car or motor on the other end.  I will guessthey ran around the loop at Sunnyside or cutoff the other motor at NYP.

3.  Have to be honest, I don't like these things.  Enuf said.

 

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4.  ALP-46 4622 on a Trenton local.  All NJT trains seen this day were right on time.

5.  Most NJT trains were in push mode.  There is no set pattern on this line as to which way the trains face.

6.  An Amtrak Northeast Regional whooshs past.  Business as usual here.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/26 09:00 by thebluecomet.

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7.  639 brings train 42 from Pittsburgh headed to NYC right on time.

8.  Another Trenton to NYP local slowing for it's stop.  All NJT trains stop here.

9. Typical everyday activity.  Getting late and headed over to a favorite pizza place to get some slices for dinner.  Jersey has the best pizza, period, full stop.  Sorry NY.

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Wow, great set!  Thanks for getting out there and sharing.

texchief1

 

Great shots.  Perfect lighting.  While you say snow pack it's really an ice pack.  Normally snow would be blown off the ROW by passing trains.  But this stuff is frozen solid.  Been there 2 weeks now.

Gorgeous set - all well lit, nicely composed and crisp!

I don't think anyone likes the Avelia Acela II NexGen 
whatever they wanna call them this week.  They do 
photograph well, however!  Note the pantograph is 
on the rear of the train - another photographic perk!

Those NJT ALP's all need some new paint!

/Mitch

Tominde Wrote:
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> Great shots.  Perfect lighting.  While you say
> snow pack it's really an ice pack.  Normally snow
> would be blown off the ROW by passing trains.
>  But this stuff is frozen solid.  Been there 2
> weeks now.

It is being blown off the tracks, just at a much slower rate. I was in MD yesterday along the NEC, and whenever Amtrak went thru on the platform track, I got pelted with ice pellets!

Very nice.  Zoom shots really work well on the corridor.  I'll take an Amtrak 600 over anything else out there!

Andy

Great photos! I’ll be getting to those locations that you covered when the weather improves.

Posted from iPhone

ST214 Wrote:

>  I was in MD yesterday along the NEC,
> and whenever Amtrak went thru on the platform
> track, I got pelted with ice pellets!

It's pretty intense, right?  I had a camera to protect 
my face - I should go check the lens!



AndyBrown Wrote:
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> Very nice.  Zoom shots really work well on the
> corridor.  I'll take an Amtrak 600 over anything
> else out there!
>
> Andy

Seeing how Bennett's PRR E8's are unlikely to 
show up any time soon, I might agree, but still 
like to catch a "Legacy" Acela, or in its absence, 
I'll take No. 642.

/Mitch

Thanks for the pics...

Posted from Android