Steam on the SEPTA Main Line - The North Wales 150th Celebration Train 5/18/19

Описание: This weekend marked the 150th anniversary of the borough of North Wales, PA. To celebrate the occasion, the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad would be running a few special trains to and from Gwynedd Valley throughout the day. To make things really interesting, 2-8-0 40 was brought over to power the train, marking the first time since 1985 that it has left the New Hope Branch and wandered onto the Main Line. Seeing a steam engine running under the wires alongside the usual SEPTA service to and from Lansdale and Doylestown was enough to bring me down to the area, and the event attracted a large number of railfans. I would get many shots of the train during its four runs at different spots in North Wales and at Gwynedd Valley, as well as seeing whatever SEPTA trains came through in the meantime.

Starting off at the North Wales station, I saw that one of SEPTA's work diesels, KLWSE15B 80, was on the east end of the train, while 2-8-0 40 was situated at the west end. Before the first run of the day would leave, SEPTA Train 506 would pull across Walnut Street and make its stop at the station, running 15 minutes late. Silverliner IV 427 leads the way, and Silverliner IV 290 is at the end. Soon after, the 150th Celebration Train would begin its 10:30 run. The train would make a rather lengthy stop before clearing the crossing, apparently to give people a chance to take pictures of #40.

Each run of the 150th Celebration Train would last about 40 minutes, so I walked over towards South Main Street and South 2nd Street to wait for it to return. While I was over there, I would see Train 517 passing by, led by Silverliner IV 180. Unit 276 is trailing. After this, I moved over to the 2nd Street crossing to see the 150th Celebration Train pulling back into town, now with 2-8-0 40 on the point. SEPTA Train 512 would race the train into town, running about 7 minutes behind schedule. Silverliner V 730 is in charge, and Unit 860 brings up the rear.

Following a lunch break, I decided to move over to the Gwynedd Valley station for my next shots. First to pulls in was Train 516 with Silverliner IV 435 leading, running 4 minutes behind schedule. Trailing is Unit 158. The 150th Celebration Train's 12PM run would slowly roll through just after Train 516 departed. I found out there that this train would come to a stop shortly after crossing Plymouth Road and stay there for a few minutes before beginning its return journey. From here, I returned to the North Wales station, this time setting up at Beaver Street to see Train 525 arriving with Silverliner V 860 leading the way, running 5 minutes late. Trailing is Unit 730. During this time, #40 had been uncoupled from its train and moved away from the station so it could be refilled with more water.

Once 40 was refueled, it would back across Beaver Street and couple back onto its train. Shortly after, SEPTA Train 520 would pull in and make its stop, running 9 minutes late. Silverliner V 849 is leading, and trailing is Unit 866. After this, I walked over to 3rd Street to see the Celebration Train departing with its 1:30 run, then waited around South Walnut Street to see it pull back in later. Once I got this shot, I would see SEPTA Train 534 crossing South Main Street before taking my leave of North Wales for the day. Silverliner V 722 is leading, and trailing is Silverliner V 820. This train was running 26 minutes late.

I wasn't particularly happy with some of my shots at Gwynedd Valley earlier in the day, so I wanted to make my time here count this go around. First up, I would see Train 533 arriving with Silverliner V 866 leading the way, running 11 minutes late. Unit 849 is at the end. Train 528 would come in next, running 5 minutes late. Leading this train is Silverliner IV 405, and trailing is Unit 338. The 3PM run of the Celebration Train pulls in while 528 begins to depart. After sitting beyond Plymouth Road for a little while, it begins its final run back to North Wales. This was a great day out for me, and it seemed to have been a big success with how many people came out for it. Hopefully, something like this can happen again in the future.