This Just In...

[wm3798]

I'm back from my adventure in the high country...  Here's a few sample of what my camera can do when I'm not pressing the buttons on the back with my nose...

(full size image link below the picture)

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_013.jpg

This arrived in Meyersdale shortly after I did.  An Eastbound mixed freight growling upgrade toward Sand Patch.


http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_015.jpg

Same train.  The "Going Away" shot is getting to be one of my specialties... :-[

Later on... I found myself at Glade City in the shadow of the WM's Keystone Viaduct. 

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_050.jpg

For the first time in my life, the train, the setting, the sunlight and me were all where we were supposed to be.  This may be the best photo I've ever shot.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been some black F units passing overhead.

This was a very long, very heavy train.  I was kind of surprised it only had two units on the point.  But alas, they were not alone...

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_058.jpg

I'll leave you with this one for tonight:

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_060.jpg

On the way home we stopped in Cumberland.  I love Cumberland.  It's like shooting ducks in a barrel...

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Meyersdale_PA_2-16-08_067.jpg

I gotta tell ya, I'm loyal to my WM, and still have special place in my heart for Conrail, but this CSX stuff is starting to grow on me...

More tomorrow.
Lee

[GonzoCRFan]

I gotta tell ya, I'm loyal to my WM, and still have special place in my heart for Conrail, but this CSX stuff is starting to grow on me...

It's because it's always nice to see a fair number of old 6-axle EMDs in mainline service. It's just a shame those new GEVOs are starting to become CSX's answer to the NS Douche-9.

[Ian MacMillan]

Like Ed said to me once...."at least Guilford has old interesting power"

[Norm P]

I gotta tell ya, I'm loyal to my WM, and still have special place in my heart for Conrail, but this CSX stuff is starting to grow on me...

It's because it's always nice to see a fair number of old 6-axle EMDs in mainline service. It's just a shame those new GEVOs are starting to become CSX's answer to the NS Douche-9.

Yeah that's a good point.  I like CSX because of their ties to L&N and the SDs running around, but they aren't in my neck of the woods that much.  I wish I had a dollar for every NS Dash 9 I see.  I actually got excited about a rent-a-wreck former BNSF SD40-2 on one of the NS trains through here last week.

[Matthew Roberts]

That Glade City viaduct shot is superb, Lee, got snow, I see?

Down here Dash 9s are a rare find for me, as the local shortline, the AWRR, has GP50s, GP40-2LWs, and SD50s, and most of what UP runs through is either old SD40-(T)2s or newer C40AC, C60AC, or SD60Ms and SD70M(AC)s, as well as SD70ACe and SD70M-2s and GEVOs.

[wm3798]

That particular location is on the west slope of the Allegheny front, elevation is above 2,000, I believe.  There's snow there most of the winter.  The day before was grey and miserable, and there were a few flurries.  When I woke up at my hotel in Morgantown and saw the sun out, I knew it would be worth the $20 in additional gas to go back.

Lee

[Norm P]

Good shots Lee.  This one is my favorite:



By the way I saw a video on youtube in which several coal trains with helpers were going under that glade city bridge.

[wm3798]

It's a great location.  The bridge's formal moniker is "Keystone Viaduct" for those of you taking notes...  It's the former WM main line on the Connellsville Sub.

Lee

[Sokramiketes]

You should straighten those shots out in photoshop.  It looks like you didn't drink your V8 that day, or one leg is 6" shorter than the other.

Either that, or CSX is confused about the direction of superelevation...   

[wm3798]

The shot is actually pretty close to level.  The trees all lean to the right which creates a bit of an optical illusion.  I reviewed all the shots before and after this one, and that's the lay of the land as best as I can tell.

Maybe another degree or two would fix it so it looks more right than it actually is...
Lee

[Robbman]

The trees all lean to the right which creates a bit of an optical illusion.

That should be your first clue that it isn't level...

[Chris333]

Heck even I can do it 

[wm3798]

The trees still lean to the right.  Those are called hills in the back ground...
Here's the second shot from the same spot.


I'm not sure what railroads out in Illinois look like, but here in the Alleghenies, things go up and down a bit.

Lee

[Robbman]

a$$hat... trees don't grow in relation to the angle of the ground.  Especially ALL of them...

[wm3798]

Great, now that we've heard from Mr. Know It All, we can all move on with our lives.  Get a life.
Look at the picture in my sig.  The bridge is level as it should be... which way do the trees lean there, Robbo?

And don't forget to delete your post, some botanist might use that precious information for financial gain...

Lee