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12/24/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Rick Erben
Dates:9/28/2010 - 12/21/2010
Album Info:Railroading in Autumn
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Tackling the mountain
Title:  Tackling the mountain
Description:  BNSF 5860 lifts its train through the curve at Austin.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:58:17 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 5860(ES44AC) BNSF 5663(AC44CW)
Views:  380   Comments: 2
Bringing up the rear
Title:  Bringing up the rear
Description:  BNSF 5885 and an older AC are the last of nine units needed to move coal over Mullan Pass.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:01:40 PM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 5885(ES44AC) BNSF 9946(SD70MAC)
Views:  337   Comments: 0
Heading in
Title:  Heading in
Description:  BNSF 5990 is heading into the siding at West Austin as a loaded coal train is whistling down at East Austin.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:50:43 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 5990(ES44AC) BNSF 6133(ES44AC)
Views:  407   Comments: 0
Following blocks
Title:  Following blocks
Description:  Behind MRL 332 comes BNSF 5990 beneath the nice looking NP-era cantilever at West Bozeman.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:22:52 PM
Location:  Bozeman, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 5990(ES44AC)
Views:  260   Comments: 1
More grain
Title:  More grain
Description:  BNSF 7840 brings more grain west between Tobin and Austin, MT.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:11:47 PM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 7840(ES44DC)
Views:  211   Comments: 0
Notching out
Title:  Notching out
Description:  The westbound never stops but slowly creeps up the main and after the empty train with its DPU power has cleared the switch, the searchlight flicks to green and the load begins to accelerate into the grade. A good example of why MRL extended the siding about half a mile in 2008.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:54:16 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 6386(ES44AC) BNSF 9413(SD70MAC) BNSF 5860(ES44AC) BNSF 5663(AC44CW)
Views:  565   Comments: 1
Wide open
Title:  Wide open
Description:  Five SDs make an impressive sound as they lean into the rear of an eastbound ML ascending Bozeman Pass.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:29:09 PM
Location:  Bozeman, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  MRL 262(SD40-2XR)
Views:  341   Comments: 0
Arriving for a push
Title:  Arriving for a push
Description:  MRL 332 heads in at West Bozeman. There is a loaded grain train waiting to go west also.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:21:11 PM
Location:  Bozeman, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  MRL 332(SD45-2) MRL 327(SD45-2) MRL 311(SD45-2)
Views:  498   Comments: 1
Getting down to serious business
Title:  Getting down to serious business
Description:  MRL 332 deaprts Bozeman heading up the pass.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:27:25 PM
Location:  Bozeman, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  MRL 332(SD45-2) MRL 327(SD45-2) MRL 311(SD45-2)
Views:  435   Comments: 0
Raw power
Title:  Raw power
Description:  These MRL ACes look great! Five are spliced mid-train to boost yet another grain train up Mullan Pass. This is the third load today, and it is just 8:30 in the morning.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:47:18 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  MRL 4300(SD70ACe) MRL 4307(SD70ACe) MRL 4305(SD70ACe) MRL 4306(SD70ACe) MRL 4310(SD70ACe)
Views:  543   Comments: 0
Dropping downgrade
Title:  Dropping downgrade
Description:  Helpers off the coal train return to Helena.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:10:14 PM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  MRL 4301(SD70ACe) MRL 4303(SD70ACe) MRL 4309(SD70ACe) MRL 4304(SD70ACe) MRL 4311(SD70ACe)
Views:  667   Comments: 0
Impressive roar
Title:  Impressive roar
Description:  They are not nearly as loud as a set of SD-40s but still magnificent. The picture gives a good idea why this much power is required.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:48:52 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  MRL 4310(SD70ACe) MRL 4306(SD70ACe) MRL 4305(SD70ACe) MRL 4307(SD70ACe) MRL 4300(SD70ACe)
Views:  646   Comments: 0
The sound of sure-footed power
Title:  The sound of sure-footed power
Description:  MRL 4311 leads the mid-train helper set on BNSF 5860 West.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 11:59:54 AM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  MRL 4311(SD70ACe)
Views:  175   Comments: 0
Need a knuckle?
Title:  Need a knuckle?
Description:  These will come in handy at some point in time.
Photo Date:  10/3/2010  Upload Date: 10/12/2010 12:06:34 PM
Location:  Austin, MT
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  115   Comments: 0
Finally
Title:  Finally
Description:  Maintenance in the way has had the railroad backed up around La Crosse and tr^ffic has been slow all day. BNSF 4833 finally got threugh and approaches Savanna, IL in the late afternoon as a manifest heads west.
Photo Date:  10/14/2010  Upload Date: 11/4/2010 12:18:56 PM
Location:  Savanna, IL
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 4833(C44-9W)
Views:  122   Comments: 1
Morning along the Father of Waters.
Title:  Morning along the Father of Waters.
Description:  BNSF 4945 rolls along the banks of the Mississippi River near Lynxville, WI as the sun is just rising above the riverside bluffs.
Photo Date:  10/14/2010  Upload Date: 11/4/2010 11:59:56 AM
Location:  Lynxville, WI
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  BNSF 4945(C44-9W) BNSF 742(C44-9W) BNSF 5000(C44-9W) BNSF 4867(C44-9W)
Views:  512   Comments: 0
Mendota Searchlights
Title:  Mendota Searchlights
Description:  The Q ha its unique signal system, that is unfortunately falling prey to uniformity.
Photo Date:  10/14/2010  Upload Date: 11/4/2010 12:37:30 PM
Location:  Mendota, IL
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  128   Comments: 0
Deshler Morning
Title:  Deshler Morning
Description:  Early morning in Deshler, OH finds CSX 5284 with an eastbound manifest.
Photo Date:  10/15/2010  Upload Date: 11/4/2010 12:50:35 PM
Location:  Deshler, OH
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CSX 5284(ES44DC)
Views:  110   Comments: 1
Snack time
Title:  Snack time
Description:  I got some sweet lebanon bologna at a country store but the real treat was this kanifest swinging through the crossover heading down the old Big Four.
Photo Date:  10/15/2010  Upload Date: 11/4/2010 12:53:24 PM
Location:  Greenwich, OH
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CSX 676(AC60CW)
Views:  105   Comments: 0
Somewhat pure
Title:  Somewhat pure
Description:  But for the shamefully cemented-in windows of former MG Block Station, the missing old No.1 track and the rearing horse rather than keystone, this might still be a Pennsy scene at one of very few remaining locations retaining an original PRR appearance.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 11:29:38 AM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6312(SD40E) NS 6325(SD40E) NS 2724(SD70M-2)
Views:  406   Comments: 0
Autumn Serenade
Title:  Autumn Serenade
Description:  Ahhh, the exquisite pleasure of hearing locomotives smoothly assaulting the grade amidst the piquant air and eye-candy surroundings of autumn foliage. A helper set is coupled ahead of the lone road unit to snap a hopper train up the grade.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 11:35:19 AM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6312(SD40E) NS 6325(SD40E) NS 2724(SD70M-2)
Views:  563   Comments: 2
Aint that a kick in the head?
Title:  Aint that a kick in the head?
Description:  How many times have you said to yourself, "just a few minutes difference...damn!" ? At least it is better than nothing.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 1:13:52 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6313(SD40E)
Views:  125   Comments: 1
And awaaaay they go.
Title:  And awaaaay they go.
Description:  Helpers descending, helpers ascending. That is the way it is on The Mountain.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 1:15:34 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6317(SD40E)
Views:  116   Comments: 1
Mountain Railroading
Title:  Mountain Railroading
Description:  The essence. As late as 1951, there were some 54 first class schedules, twenty four of which passed MG between 11pm and 6am. Ten years later, the schedules were more than cut in half. That one time volume with all of the freight traffic and helper movements associated therewith accounts for the necessity of an interlocking mid-grade on the east slope of The Mountain, hence the presence of this architecturally superb block station deep in the Allegheny forest.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 12:16:50 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6327(SD40E)
Views:  666   Comments: 1
You can count on it
Title:  You can count on it
Description:  Usta be in pre-CR breakup days there was a virtually steady procession of westbound manifests through the morning and afternoon: OIPI, LMPI, MOPI, BEPI, CAPI, EDPI, ESPI, BAPI; and in PC/PRR days the fleet of PR or LCL trains, et al. Manifest business isnt the same with NS, but the one thing you can count upon is a trash train. 65J is not so odiferous in milder weather and has a helper set first out.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 12:20:09 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6327(SD40E)
Views:  419   Comments: 0
Timelines
Title:  Timelines
Description:  The lengthy shadows from a low mid-October sun are, in effect, timelines of distance from the age of steam when cinders kept the trackside foliage at bay. Here former CR 5571 leads empty hoppers from No.3 to No.2 track and past the eastward home signals for MG amidst autumn splendor.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 11:49:45 AM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6804(SD60M) NS 8763(C40-8)
Views:  447   Comments: 1
Midday action
Title:  Midday action
Description:  The intermodal trains begin to show come afternoon and, here, NS 9475 brings a westbound through MG on No.2 track. It hasnt taken the sun long to move to the opposite side of the tracks as the days become much shorter now.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 1:41:30 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9475(C40-9W)
Views:  127   Comments: 2
Following blocks
Title:  Following blocks
Description:  NS 9545 has another intermodal outfit and is catching approach signals with the 9598 running ahead of it as it moves through a brief tangent between Allegrippus and Cold curves.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 2:07:30 PM
Location:  Allegrippus, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9545(C40-9W) UP 4044(SD70M)
Views:  162   Comments: 0
Clinging to the mountain
Title:  Clinging to the mountain
Description:  NS 9598 comes out of Allegrippus Curve and underneath the signal bridge at MP245.5, high above the Sugar Run valley.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 2:00:32 PM
Location:  Allegrippus, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9598(C40-9W)
Views:  181   Comments: 0
Cold Curve
Title:  Cold Curve
Description:  The 9598 leans into the tight arc of Cold Curve on the final couple miles of the ascent toward Gallitzin.
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 2:04:08 PM
Location:  Allegrippus, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9598(C40-9W) NS 8314(C40-8W)
Views:  430   Comments: 1
Seriously trainfked
Title:  Seriously trainfked
Description:  There was a westbound manifest moving up the mountain. From here, you can hear it way down in the valley around MP240 working upgrade and, after awhile, whistling for the sightseers at Horseshoe Curve. Now, the eastward signal for No.1 track had been standing at clear for awhile but, wouldnt you know (why dont apostrophes work on this site?), just as the westbound and my presumed catch of the day is getting closer, the sun is right, the leaves are lovely and all is right with the world.....an eastbound manifest shows. There cannot be more than a bare handful a day! As the eastbound consist rumbles past, the westbound passes on an inside track and that is that! As Dean Martin sang, "Aint that a kick in the head?"
Photo Date:  10/16/2010  Upload Date: 11/5/2010 1:01:24 PM
Location:  MG Tower, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9751(C40-9W) NS 8919(C40-9W)
Views:  123   Comments: 0
11J
Title:  11J
Description:  If there is anything more exquisite than a mild autumn afternoon along the railroad, it must have something to do with women. I think they call this outfit 11J, anyhow it is a lot of empty auto racks behind NS 2764 at Horningford.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:41:22 PM
Location:  Horningford, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 2764(SD70M-2) NS 9609(C40-9W)
Views:  112   Comments: 0
Hustling down the valley
Title:  Hustling down the valley
Description:  NS 7522 has got em rockin and rollin down the Juniata Valley.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:29:56 PM
Location:  Huntingdon, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 7522(ES40DC)
Views:  114   Comments: 0
Westbound intermodal
Title:  Westbound intermodal
Description:  NS 9178 approaches the signal at Horningford, PA against the looming backdrop of Blue Mountain.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:34:27 PM
Location:  Horningford, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9178(C40-9W)
Views:  85   Comments: 0
Passing Hunt
Title:  Passing Hunt
Description:  NS 9278 passes the former block station that controlled the local plant as well as had a small CTC panel for remote interlockings at Deer and Pete - at the west end of the old icing facility and where the old Holidaysburg and PEtersburg Branch once diverged from the main, respectively.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:14:59 PM
Location:  Huntingdon, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9278(C40-9W)
Views:  95   Comments: 0
Sunday morning, coming down...
Title:  Sunday morning, coming down...
Description:  NS 9278 has horn blaring for the road crossing as it charges through Huntingdon.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:03:29 PM
Location:  Huntingdon, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9278(C40-9W)
Views:  104   Comments: 1
Ethanol loads
Title:  Ethanol loads
Description:  The 9833 has an ethanol train passing Horningford, PA.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:36:55 PM
Location:  Horningford, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9833(C40-9W) NS 7601(ES40DC) NS 7144(GP60)
Views:  304   Comments: 0
Dancing with shadows
Title:  Dancing with shadows
Description:  It is late afternoon now, as NS 9906 approaches Granville, PA. The eastward signal for No.2 track at CP Long is cleared for Amtrak, that usually operates on the north track owing to the location of station platforms at Huntingdon and Lewistown.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:47:15 PM
Location:  Granville, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9906(C40-9W)
Views:  82   Comments: 0
Another view
Title:  Another view
Description:  Rolling the lens back as the 9906 approaches the Granville road xing.
Photo Date:  10/17/2010  Upload Date: 11/6/2010 1:48:46 PM
Location:  Granville, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9906(C40-9W)
Views:  63   Comments: 0
Mexico meeting
Title:  Mexico meeting
Description:  At a spot colloquially known as Books Crossing, westbound Amtrak has a clear block as it passes the color lights at a spot where once the 1487/1488 signal bridge spanned the Broadway. Tuscarora Mountain in burgeoning autumn colors looms in the distance.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 10:24:28 AM
Location:  Mexico, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  AMTK 141(P42DC)
Views:  105   Comments: 1
Bringing up the rear
Title:  Bringing up the rear
Description:  There was a day on PRR when delaying a passenger train a minute resulted in a day off without pay, such was the attention to first class service. Here Amtrak as tucked in behind NS 6752 and NS 9886 for a ride through single track towards Duncannon. Actually, there is not much flexibility in the sparing allotment of universal crossovers along this segment of railroad.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 9:57:45 AM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  AMTK 154(P42DC)
Views:  122   Comments: 1
CRYX 3024
Title:  CRYX 3024
Description:  Arrowrock, riding in NS 9886 East
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 11:19:21 AM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  RollingStock,Action
Locomotives: 
Views:  74   Comments: 0
Down by the riverside
Title:  Down by the riverside
Description:  More dubiously useful ethanol is led across Shermans Creek at its confluence with the wide Susquehanna in Duncannon by NS 2560.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/7/2010 1:55:24 PM
Location:  Duncannon, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 2560(SD70)
Views:  150   Comments: 0
Four views of NS 6752 Part I
Title:  Four views of NS 6752 Part I
Description:  Maintenance of way is using No.2 track between View and Port - a lengthy single track. An intermodal has gone west and now it is turn for a few eastbounds to get going. NS 6752 erupts as it gets a coal train underway.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/7/2010 2:10:29 PM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6752(SD60I) NS 6719(SD60I)
Views:  131   Comments: 0
Four views of NS 6752 Part II
Title:  Four views of NS 6752 Part II
Description:  The classic and the new generic signals guard respective ends of Port.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/7/2010 2:06:26 PM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6752(SD60I) NS 6719(SD60I)
Views:  138   Comments: 0
Four views of the 6752 Part III
Title:  Four views of the 6752 Part III
Description:  The American crane is waiting for traffic to clear to get over on the old main line in the foreground to clear for the day as NS 6752 heads east.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/7/2010 2:04:42 PM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6752(SD60I) NS 6719(SD60I)
Views:  160   Comments: 0
Four views of the 6752 Part IV
Title:  Four views of the 6752 Part IV
Description:  Striking a lovely autumn pose in a pocket of sunshine.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/7/2010 2:02:41 PM
Location:  Newport, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 6752(SD60I) NS 6719(SD60I)
Views:  136   Comments: 0
Old habits
Title:  Old habits
Description:  You gotta be real careful along the right of way and I find my old Pennsy brakeman instincts servd me well over the years insofar as keeping alert. The old electric motors were silent and could creep up on you with little warning; and newer diesels are so well muffled that they may also sneak up upon one. Traffic moves briskly and relatively silently through the narrows between Mifflin and Lewistown. The slope of Shade*Mountain has allowed the setting sun to illuminate the depths of the gorge at Hawstone as NS 7500 races west with empty hoppers - scattering the leaves.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 10:43:38 AM
Location:  Hawstone, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 7500(ES40DC)
Views:  565   Comments: 3
All she wrote
Title:  All she wrote
Description:  NS 9446 is in charge of auto racks at Hawstone and showed at the literal last opportune momgnt at this point.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 10:46:03 AM
Location:  Hawstone, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9446(C40-9W)
Views:  110   Comments: 0
One lunger
Title:  One lunger
Description:  NS 9569 is the lone unit in charge of an eastbound double-stacker - the advantage of river grade.
Photo Date:  10/21/2010  Upload Date: 11/8/2010 10:26:32 AM
Location:  Mexico, PA
Author:  Rick Erben
Categories:  Scenic,Action
Locomotives:  NS 9569(C40-9W)
Views:  90   Comments: 0


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