Big Blue

[davefoxx]

I knew that would get your attention, Ed K.!  I went to Newark, DE this afternoon to run on the path that parallels the Northeast Corridor.  I spotted a NS GP38-2 still in Conrail paint (only patched) working the yard at the Chrysler plant that we were talking about at the Timonium show yesterday.  Unfortunately, although that plant is now shut down and I had thought they were using the yard for the storage of freight cars (considering the downturn in the economy), #5296 cleared out the end of the yard that I was able to see from the running path.  I didn't have my camera with me, of course, but this is what that GP38-2 still looks like.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1002227

By the way, before the plant shut down, I often saw a bay window caboose (cabin, hack, whatever you Conrail guys call 'em) in Conrail paint along this stretch of the Northeast Corridor.  I wouldn't be surprised to see that caboose again, as I think they use it on the Northeast Corridor for rear markers and/or reverse movements. Also, just north of the Newark train station is where the Delmarva tracks join the corridor, so freight should continue to come off that route, regardless of the shut down of the Chrysler plant.

Dave

[wm3798]

Yup.  Them chickens gots to be fed!  I wonder if Chrysler will flatten their plant as quickly as GM did in Baltimore...
Lee

[davefoxx]

From what I hear, this is not the first time that this plant has been shut down.  But, I have also heard clients (a/k/a former plant workers) state that they have been selling off everything down to shelving and light fixtures, so I guess it's possible that they could level the place.  I can say that the lights were still on inside this afternoon.  Why they're still coughing up tons of cash to light the deserted factory on a Sunday is beyond me.

Dave

[3rdrail]

From what I hear, this is not the first time that this plant has been shut down.  But, I have also heard clients (a/k/a former plant workers) state that they have been selling off everything down to shelving and light fixtures, so I guess it's possible that they could level the place.  I can say that the lights were still on inside this afternoon.  Why they're still coughing up tons of cash to light the deserted factory on a Sunday is beyond me.

Dave

They're probably keeping the lights on to keep thieves from stealing them and the wiring!  ;D ;D ;D

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Nice find!

Hopefully they'll find something good to put in that spot. It's a prime location.

[davefoxx]

Nice find!

Hopefully they'll find something good to put in that spot. It's a prime location.

Yeah, I hope so, and I have got to start remembering to take my camera with me.  I've seen all sorts of good things along there, like that auto parts box car in full Norfolk & Western paint (unpatched) that I saw about two weeks ago.

Dave

[RockGp40]

The local H94 has had a CQ GP40(-2?)  lately in addition to an SD40-2. So, CR is alive and well on Delmarva.

Brian

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Shoot pics of the blue stuff while you can!

It's not gonna be around for much longer.

[pfs]

Shoot pics of the blue stuff while you can!

It's not gonna be around for much longer.

Agreed.

From this weekend

[davefoxx]

All right, Ed!  I caught NS C40-8W #8412 (former CR #6218, I believe) at the Newark Chrysler plant today after I went for a run.  I apologize for the quality of this shot, though, because I used my cell phone to take these pictures through a chain link fence and the light was bad in the setting sun.  By the way, what the heck is "CC JALITY"?  ;D ;D ;D


It was lashed to NS C40-9W #9819:


This last shot cracks me up.  I could title it: Conrail Quality or "How'd that Acela Get in There?!"


Enjoy,
Dave

[GonzoCRFan]

NICE find! It amazes me that the only CR unit to make it onto NS or CSX with a one-off paint scheme has managed to elude the paint shop for nearly 10 years. Now that I've said that, the thing will be at Cumberland within a week... 

[davefoxx]

No camera in hand, as usual when there's something worth photographing, I spotted NS #5296 again (still in Conrail Blue) at the former Chrysler plant in Newark, Delaware this afternoon.  I last saw it shoving one covered hopper and heading north on the Northeast Corridor (not sure if it turned south to head down the Delmarva Peninsula), while it was dodging a lot of passenger trains.

Dave