Illinois Terminal Heritage Unit Pulling Ballast Trains

Описание: The big, the bad, the bright Illinois Terminal Heritage Unit makes a visit to the limestone region of eastern Pennsylvania.


August 10, 2013

0:00 - 935 with NS SD70ACe's 1072 and 1024 heads east on the Harrisburg Line with empty cars bound for a reloading at Dyers Quarry along Norfolk Southern's "Turkey Path" just north of Birdsboro, PA. The first scene shows the train heading eastbound by the old Reading Station and Depot in Lebanon, PA in the evening backlight. Notice the two new Route 72 overpasses that were completed earlier this year, eliminating at least 3 crossings.

1:30 (to minute 9) - 935 has arrived at Dyers on the "Turkey Path" as the sun starts to set. The train backs the empties into the quarry, splitting them between two of the four tracks. Plenty of other railfans showed up to witness the event, including night photographers with flashbulb gear.


August 14, 2013

9:00 - A few days later, loads are ready to go west and this time the 1072 is facing west. That morning, the power runs east on the "Turkey Path" (after making a loop by running around the train on the Harrisburg Main Line from Birdsboro to Titus to Cumru) to pick up its train.

9:25 - Shortly thereafter, the loaded train heads west just before noon.

11:00 - Later that afternoon, 934 heads west on the Harrisburg Line framed by the iconic red-brick farm house and K&K Feed Mill in Richland.

12:25 - Traffic ahead, mostly locals blocking the mains, causes 934 to make a stop at Prescott, allowing for an outrageous photo-shoot as the unit basked in the sun.

14:05 - I planned on moving to catch the train at 15th Ave after catching the H6A heading east by the train, but 934 got the high-ball to move west much earlier than I anticipated, unfortunately just in time for the clouds to move in!

16:35 - Wanting to end on a good note, I set off to the Pittsburgh Line to catch the train by the 128 automatics in Leshville. I heard the train call the signal at CANNON just as a swarm of clouds moved in right above me. Looking west I determined the skies to be clear, so I quickly moved over to the iconic shot by the PRR position lights in Newport. Glad I did too, the super elevated curve and evening sun allowed not one shadow to be cast on the locomotive!

That's all for now, I hope you enjoyed these shots of the "Glow-worm"