Delmarva Central Railroad

[davefoxx]

I've been thinking about trying to railfan the relatively new Delmarva Central Railroad, which has been leasing the vast majority of the Norfolk Southern's lines on the Delmarva Peninsula since 2016.  Although I live here in Delaware and travel the state end-to-end to see family, I haven't even seen one of the DCR's trains yet!  (I'm still bummed by the Delaware Coast Line shutting down the line to Lewes, Delaware because I never got to see a train in Lewes, either. )

Anyhow, here's a cool map of the DCR's lines and its interchange partners:



What I like about the DCR is that, since it's owned by Carload Express, Inc., it's got a classy paint scheme like these matched Allegheny Valley Railroad SD40-3s that we caught two years ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  That's just some AVR filth right there.  Sexy, huh?



Since I'm generally in the office six days per week, it's tough to find the time on Sundays for free time such as this.  But, hopefully, maybe tomorrow, I intend to set out to see what I can find.  I'd probably start in Harrington, since that's the DCR's base, unless someone knows some secret railfanning spots on the DCR.  Here's what I would hope to see:



If I were ever to model the present (my era's always stuck in the 1980s), a short line such as the DCR would be something that I would seriously consider.

DFF

[Maletrain]

Dave, All I can tell you is that I see a pair of switchers with covered hopper cars at Delmar on most Wednesday afternoons about 3 pm.  You also get to see a Pennsy caboose on display and an old High Ball signal that has been preserved.  And, you could visit the Delmarva Model Railroad Club just down the street in the upper floor of Camelot Hall.

[Point353]

The June 2018 issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine has an article on railfanning the Delmarva Central:

https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/products/rfr-201806

[davefoxx]

The June 2018 issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine has an article on railfanning the Delmarva Central:

https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/products/rfr-201806

Thank you!  I ordered the digital version.  Just waiting for the link to get access to the issue.

DFF

[davefoxx]

Dave, All I can tell you is that I see a pair of switchers with covered hopper cars at Delmar on most Wednesday afternoons about 3 pm.  You also get to see a Pennsy caboose on display and an old High Ball signal that has been preserved.  And, you could visit the Delmarva Model Railroad Club just down the street in the upper floor of Camelot Hall.

Good to know!  Unfortunately, I'm at the other end of Delaware on most Wednesdays, but, since my in-laws live in Lewes, Delmar is not too far, if I'm in Lower Slower Delaware during the holidays.

Thanks,
DFF

[RockGp40]

Dover local goes on duty between 2-3. Seaford local is on duty in the morning. Delmar runs two locals but use the same power. The afternoon train goes south to Salisbury and beyond. The NS K64 and DCR-01/HA1 meet in Clayton usually around 12-1. The unit trains will get fit in at all hours. In Harrington, you have two other locals that run the yard and Indian River secondary down to Frankford. The train to Frankford is late afternoon, I think.

[davefoxx]

Dover local goes on duty between 2-3. Seaford local is on duty in the morning. Delmar runs two locals but use the same power. The afternoon train goes south to Salisbury and beyond. The NS K64 and DCR-01/HA1 meet in Clayton usually around 12-1. The unit trains will get fit in at all hours. In Harrington, you have two other locals that run the yard and Indian River secondary down to Frankford. The train to Frankford is late afternoon, I think.

@RockGp40,

Is this daily or weekdays only?

DFF

[RockGp40]

Most of this applies to weekdays. There are Saturday trains, but I don't know their weekend schedule by heart.

[davefoxx]

Thanks, Brian.  That answers my question.  If I go out on a Sunday (my only day off), nothing will be running. 

DFF

[RockGp40]

Thanks, Brian.  That answers my question.  If I go out on a Sunday (my only day off), nothing will be running. 

DFF

Not necessarily, but a good heads up would help. The stone trains seem to be slowing down (normal for the season). Grain trains and coal trains are a possibility, but, they'd have NS power on them.

[davefoxx]

Thanks for the information, Brian!  I went to Harrington, Del. this afternoon (about an hour and fifteen minutes from home), and, as expected, nothing was running.  But, it wasn't a complete loss!  I spotted DCR GP38-2 Nos. 2501 and 2502, SD40-3 Nos. 3506 and 3502, and MP15AC Nos. 1561 and 15??, which all seemed to be tied down for the day.



DFF