Am I Allowed to Post These?

As you can clearly see, the top image features the Interstate heritage unit of Norfolk Southern. You can also clearly see that No. 8105 is trailing in the motive power consist of a westbound stack train passing through Olmsted Falls on the NS Chicago Line.

The bottom image features the Wabash heritage unit in the motive power consist of NS westbound manifest freight 309.

And you know what they say, “trail equals fail.” Maybe so but I photographed them anyway and I posted them anyway. Feel better now?

Wabash Heritage Unit Makes Appearance

The Wabash H-unit made a pass through Cleveland on Tuesday leading the 21Q. I was lucky enough to be able to get off work in time to catch it. As luck would have it, 21Q was held up near where I had set up to photograph it. Both scenes are in Olmsted Falls, the first one at Milepost 196 (Lewis Road) and then near the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern depot.

Photographs by Roger Durfee

The Wabash Was in Town

Norfolk Southern train 54K had the Wabash heritage unit leading earlier in the week on Monday. It is seen here passing the BF12 at Motor Yard. It led the train into Pennsylvania and as of Wednesday morning was reported heading west on the point of another NS train.

Photograph by Roger Durfee

Whew! That Was Close

On Sunday of Memorial Day weekend I was following the progress of the Wabash and Southern heritage units on a Norfolk Southern train.

Initially, Ursula and I were planning on a mid-afternoon dinner at Red Lobster in Ashtabula

But when I saw that the duo was approaching the Pittsburgh area around 3:30 p.m., I suggested that we do Applebee’s in Willoughby and politely suggested that we drive down to Bedford for an hour and a half after dinner

We had our meal then got to the tot lot at about 5:30 p.m. The only warning that I would have would be the westbound signal and a lot of luck.

We would have to leave by 7:15 to be home by 8 to Skype with my cousin in Arizona.

The first two westbounds were just that.  At about 6:50 p.m. the ultimate horror began happening again.

All I could see was what happened to Jeff Troutman and I a couple of months ago with the Norfolk & Western heritage unit. You may recall that No. 8103 leading a westbound through Bedford on Track No. 2 when an eastbound came along on Track No. 1 and blocked out view of the H unit.

I heard the grinding of an approaching eastbound and the signals for Track No. 2 westbound showed an approach indication.

The crossing gates for West Glendale went down but shortly thereafter they went back up. Then the West Grace gates went down and the Glendale went down again

Which train was going to get there first? And would it be what I was waiting for?

I didn’t want to cross the tracks because the early evening sun was in the perfect position.  Also, I was praying it would be the train with the Wabash unit on the lead and that it was not going to be blocked by the other train because I didn’t want to look like a complete fool in front of my wife.

Then I heard the locomotive horns and they sounded like they should.  But would it be the Wabash?  Thank God! It all worked out, but just barely.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Productive Train Chase on Saturday

I ended up chasing the 25V with the Southern and Wabash heritage units on Saturday.

But first I went to Kent where I caught an Iowa, Chicago & Eastern engine, the City of Lansing, leading a CSX train.

I’ve been told that all of the IC&E SD40-2s will have been sold to Genesee & Wyoming by the end of this month so that is now a rare catch.

Then it was off to Brady Lake where I caught the 25V.  My next stop was Berea where I got other trains before the 25V showed up.  One of those trains had a Union Pacific/Chicago & North Western patch job in the consist.

After getting the 25V again I had a decision to make. My plan was to wait for the Z4R oil train with the Penn Central heritage unit leading.

However, that train had been sitting in Toledo all afternoon – it was now 4 p.m. – and it didn’t look like it would get moving anytime soon.

I was told the 25V would change crews at Bellevue so that would be a good opportunity to catch it a few more times. So, off to Bellevue I went.

After arriving at Kimball, I discovered that I had missed the Penn Central unit by 15 minutes, such are the breaks.

Well, I waited and waited, and waited some more.  Finally, an ethanol train came after an hour later but no 25V.  I decided to head into Bellevue and at least see some moving trains.

I went back to the Route 4 overpass for some more activity and finally the 25V arrived.

I managed to get it by the old Pennsylvania Railroad tower and again at Route 18 west of town with the sun finally making an appearance.

Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon

 

 

Double Shot of H Units at the Dog Pound

After watching this pair make a couple of trips past me while working last week, I was finally able to snag a photo on Saturday. As has been the case in Northeast Ohio  lately, the sun was pretty much non existent. I wanted a different spot other than the usual East 26th Street or Berea areas, so I entered a parking lot off East Third Street in downtown. It was also a location that was easily recognizable with the Browns stadium in the background. The location also allowed a broadside of the two.

Article and Photographs by Roger Durfee

2 Heritage Units Sunday in Cleveland

Sunday, Dec. 22 was just a nice day to be out. A rare bit of sunshine and hanging out with some friends made for a good day.

The appearance of two Norfolk southern heritage units didn’t hurt either, the Pennsylvania Railroad unit on a coke train and the Wabash on No. 316.

A local (BR92?) got the call to take the PRR powered coke train down the hill to Campbell Road Yard.

Once that task was complete, the power was split and the PRR unit headed back up the hill solo to grab stone empties at Shelly Materials in Linndale.

In a bit of perfect timing, the 316 had pulled up and stopped in preparation to set off a long cut of cars at Rockport just as the PRR unit was pulling up to Linndale yard.

The result was the PRR meets the Wabash just west of CP 490 on the Cloggsville Line in Linndale (Cleveland).

Earlier in the day at Campbell Road Yard, the PRR unit is shown pulling up to the yard office then parked with the steel mill in the background.

In the fading light of the day the PRR unit sits tied on to empties at Linndale. Note their ex Lehigh Valley U23B off to the right and the Keybank building in downtown Cleveland on the left.

I had stopped earlier to bag the BX01 departing Campbell Road Yard. The first view is waiting for permission up the hill.

The second view if of the second one departing. The diamonds under No. 3401 are the crossing of the ex-Baltimore & Ohio’s CT&V Sub.

The diamond just ahead of the train is the former B&O CL&W Sub. Both lines are now owned by CSX.

Article and Photographs by Roger Durfee

Heritage Units I’ve Seen of Late

Here are a few less than perfect views of some Norfolk Southern heritage units that I have seen over the past week or so.

The Reading unit was the DPU on a 64R that is shown passing work (Motor yard) just as the sun came up.

I didn’t like the pole above the train, but I wanted to get the milepost in that second photo. This is a deep crop of a deep telephoto shot, but I like the angle enough that I will try that location again with better planning.

The Wabash heritage unit was leading the 19A and even stopped right at the yard office. But it was on ugly day weather wise. No. 1070 appears to have had some plow repair work done.

Article and Photographs by Roger Durfee

Getting Lucky with the Wabash Locomotive

The chase begins when I intercepted the Wabash heritage unit at the Conneaut Trestle.

I’ve had my share of blunders with heritage units. But on St. Patrick’s Day I had some luck of the Irish when I had caught the Wabash heritage unit on a coal train.

I knew that No. 1070 was out there so I took a chance and went to Conneaut in hope of getting it. I got out there about 3:45 p.m. and it showed up at 5:30 p.m.

I then followed the train to Ashtabula and recorded it backing around the connection from tnhe former Nickel Plate to the former Conrail Youngstown Line.

In the series of images, you can see the train backing into the northwest connection and then heading south on the Youngstown line after an eastbound cleared. The train headed south was my last shot because it just beat me up the hill.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Heritage Units Weekend in Northeast Ohio

After a three-hour wait the coal train with the Erie heritage locomotive finally got the signal at Crestline to cross the CSX Indianapolis Line.

Last weekend proved to be a busy one in Northeast Ohio for the Norfolk Southern heritage fleet. On Saturday, the Wabash unit came through westbound as a trailing unit, the Illinois Terminal unit led a CSX crude oil train eastward and the Central of New Jersey unit went west as helper power on an NS oil train. The latter two trains came after dark, unfortunately.

Sunday would prove to be just as active. The New York Central unit went west from Bellevue although this was too early for me to catch.

Next up, the Wabash came back east this time leading the 14N. This was our first target which we caught passing the NYC signals at Baumhart Road in Elyria. These signals will soon be replaced with new Safetran signals.

As exciting as this was, we got news that the Erie heritage unit was taking a coal train across the old Pennsylvania mainline. It would get a crew change at Mansfield so we had some time to run it down. We drove to Bucyrus, catching a CSX train at Attica Junction along the way.

Not seeing anything at Bucyrus, we followed the line to Crestline where we found the train waiting just east of town.

Several CSX trains went across the diamonds and the dispatcher informed him of a coal train coming from Bucyrus. We ended up chasing this train from North Robinson to Crestline. Another CSX train went across the diamonds. This was starting to be like the old days when Conrail ran all the routes here.

Finally, the dispatcher cleared the eastbound NS coal train and then sent another CSX train through the junction.

After at least a three-hour wait, the coal train with the Erie heritage unit was cleared to go west. We caught it passing Crest tower and also at the west end of the yard. It was getting late so we started to head for home.

On the way, we saw a headlight while crossing the PRR at Mansfield so we stopped to investigate. It was an NS local switching the local elevator.

Another headlight appeared and this turned out to be an Ashland Railway local working the interchange at the NS yard. We followed it and took pictures of No. 31, a GP10 that was originally a PRR engine.

At this point on what had been a wintery overcast day, the sun decided to make an appearance. This gave us some nice sweet light for our photos of the former Pennsylvania railroad mainline. It was a fitting end to a highly productive day.

On Monday, the Wabash heritage unit took a train north on the Youngstown Line to Ashtabula and then got onto the former Nickel Plate to go east toward New York State. The Savannah & Atlanta heritage unit was the third locomotive  on the 14N train. I managed to get a going away shot at Hudson.

Article and Photographs by Todd Dillon

The Wabash heritage unit leads the 14N near Elyria on Sunday morning.

An eastbound coal train passes the intermediate signals at North Robinson, Ohio.

Another view of the Erie heritage locomtive trailing in the motive power lashup. The image was taken in Crestline.

A former Conrail locomotive leads a CSX train at Crestline.

The day wasn’t over just yet. An NS local works in Mansfield.

The Ashland locomotive works in the setting sunlight at Mansfield.

The Savannah & Atlanta heritage locomotive trains in the motive consist of the 14N on Monday. The photo was taken at Hudson.