Railfan Trip Reports > Searching for that elusive heat exchanger...

was what I was looking for on this Saturday along the Lehigh Line. My travels took me to Pattenburg (NJ) where NS 214 came through around 8:40. Power was BNSF 4667 (C44-9W), primer painted NS 7566 (ES40DC) and NS 7107 (GP60). It was unusual to see stacked empty truck trailers used for carrying containers in 214's consist. I can't recall seeing that before. At 9:30, NS 21M, lead by NS 9380 (C40-9W) and two other units would head west past MP 68. Driving back east along I-78, NS 11J was heard calling signals at CP 64 around 9:50. At 11:15, NS 213, power unknown, would take the passing siding at Flemington Jct to hold for four eastbounds. The first eastbounder was NS 18G. Power would be NS 7602 (ES40DC) and NS 9952 (C40-9W). As 18G passed through Stanton Station, it would inform 213 that it would have to wait until the heat exchanger passed that they would continue their westward trip. Twenty minutes later, NS's ethanol train 64J would pass by with NS 2567 (SD70, ex-CR 2567) and NS 9261 (C40-9W) in command. At high noon, the third train, a intermodal whose symbol was unknown, passed. Motive power was two C40-8Ws, PRR 8324 (ex-CR 6068) and NS 8351 (ex-CR 6112). Drove down to Three Bridges where I finally caught the heat exchanger, its width fourteen feet and five inches, heading east at 2:10. Two NS units provided the power. Didn't get the lead unit's number but the second unit was NS 9550 (C40-9W).

---

---

---

Nice photos! Is the caboose on that train the same one that usually sits in Coxton?

I can only speculate where that caboose is stored when not in use. I would assume since it is Air Products that it might be located on the company's property in Pennsylvania.

11J had a single UP SD70M

TWL

---

Just curious, has a high and wide never been able to fit through Pattenberg tunnel?
James

Having railfanned the Lehigh Line since 1979, I have never heard of one that hasn't made it through the tunnel. Back when it was a two-track tunnel, I seem to recall that they would use the passing side track and not the main. Perhaps that side had a bit more clearance to accomodate a high and wide load.