2015 CRHS Board of Directors Meeting Weekend

February 21, 2015February 27, 2015 Ed KapuscinskiUncategorized Dash-9, Juniata Valley, Lewistown, Mt Union, Norfolk Southern, NS Pittsburgh Line, Roadrailer, SD80MAC, Tyrone

My participation in 2015’s annual CRHS Board of Directors trip was cut somewhat short with some family commitments, but I was still able to get a days worth of photography in.

First off, it was frigid. The day started at my friend Ben’s place at 6:20. The high for the day was supposed to be around 10°F and we were well on the low side of it as we loaded up the car and headed off.

Eventually, it warmed up to a balmy 7°, but it was still frigid.

This was generally what my car was saying, but I feel like it might've been being generous. — This was generally what my car was saying, but I feel like it might’ve been being generous.

Our plan was to head west and check out some locations we didn’t usually hit on this trip, but somehow that got scrapped with the day’s obligatory first stop in Lewistown.

This was the scene at Lewistown when we first arrived.

We could hear that the Juniata Valley switching the yard, but couldn’t see him. That resulted in a trip down to the other end of the yard to try and see him.

The best shot of the JVRR switcher I could get from the west end of the yard.

We tried again at the east end, but he was pretty thoroughly hidden from us. The crew found the caravan going back and forth rather amusing and commented on the radio “looks like we’ve got a good audience today” or something like that.

Because of the cold, we were all sitting in our respective cars and not necessarily communicating. The lead car in the convoy took off, and I followed. I wasn’t sure what for, but when everyone parked, and headed for the tracks, I followed. But not quick enough.

I didn't get out of the car quick enough, and got this weird shot of a westbound empty coal train. — I didn’t get out of the car quick enough, and got this weird shot of a westbound empty coal train.

From this stellar failure, we headed west to a location I hadn’t been to before: the signals at Horningford.

We were waiting for a westbound Road Railer, but most importantly, an eastbound oil train in good light.

Here’s the Road Railer that wasn’t well lit.

Westbound trailers approaching the signals at MP174 on the Pittsburgh Line.

Of course there was time to kill while waiting for the eastbound oil train.

However, railfanning is never boring when you’re doing it with the legendary Bruce Kerr.

It's never a dull moment when railfanning with the great Beehole himself. — It’s never a dull moment when railfanning with the great Beehole himself.

After a few minutes, our quary arrived. This photo wouldn’t have been possible just a week earlier before I got my hands on the lens that almost everyone else with a digital rebel has, the Canon 18-55mm lens.

A boring Dash 9 leads a recently acquired former UP SD9043MAC. Not quite an 80mac, but I'll take it. — A boring Dash 9 leads a recently acquired former UP SD9043MAC. Not quite an 80mac, but I’ll take it.

Our next stop was Mt Union. I find Mt Union to be a rather depressing town, with not a lot going on, and the rotting corpse of the EBT in the middle of town. Every time I see the dual gauge track, I’m reminded of the promise of what could be, but the failures of actually getting anywhere with it. Now, all that being said, there’s a really cool bridge there that just needs a little brush clearing to be done to be perfect.

First up, a westbound stack train. This wasn’t what we were really setting up for, but was a good trial for the eastbound I was really aiming for.

A westbound stack train heads over the stone arch bridge at Mount Union.

We then waited for what seemed to be forever (mostly because it was still only about 10°) for our eastbound to show up.

I took two shots at him, but the I think the winner was the one where I was taking advantage of my new hardware.

The daily eastbound Roadrailer train heads onto the bridge at Mount Union.

After freezing our extremities off, we headed for lunch at the traditional spot for this event: The Huntingdon PA Pizza Hut buffet. I feel bad for this place, because they are definitely never ready for a horde of railfans to show up and take over what, by all indications, is a rather family oriented joint.

Lunch lasted as long as the pizza held out, but when things dried up, we headed off to our next stop of Tyrone.

Railfanning Norfolk Southern isn’t generally as interesting as CSX since they seem to run a much tighter ship when it comes to motive power usage (and because the element of life-threatening danger isn’t as high), but the recent upswing in business has meant that things have become slightly more interesting. Case in point was our catch coming under the I99 bridge powered by an 80mac.

A westbound manifest freight comes under the I-99 bridge and around the curve at Tyrone.

From Tyrone it was a quick breeze through Altoona to see if anything was going on, then off to Cresson for the evening.

I often take Cresson for granted, because of how much time I’ve spent there, but I need to remember not to. There’s still quite a bit of railroading drama to be found and photographed.

Take this approaching eastbound freight working up grade that I could hear before I could see. The angle isn’t amazing, but I love the amount of heat you can see coming off of the lead engine. I got this photo because I had run out to my car to grab something, and it just happened to arrive when I did.