Given the choice, he prefers 1:1 scale...

[wm3798]

Our own RockGP40 rolled into town yesterday, bumping some cars down at Interstate Corrpak, a local paper box company.  My new job at Delmarva Steel is located right next to the tracks, so when I heard the blat horn on the Maryland and Delaware RS3m, I dashed out the door for an early lunch...


1203 in all her finery...

all that track almost makes Cambridge look like a big industrial district.  Unfortunately, there's only one shipper in town that still gets regular service, and that's Corrpak.

There's Brian, with his feet up, listening to some Zeppelin on his headphones.. that's supposed to be hearing protection, although I don't know why he'd need it.  They took the Alco prime mover out of that thing about 30 years ago...

More pictures in the MDDE Gallery ... http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=55

Have a happy Turkey Day!!

Lee

[RockGp40]

What? No close ups, Lee?      Autographs will be made available upon request.

My first buff and its Lee. Unbelievable.......   Guess it had something to do with a text message.

Yesterday was an easy day on the M&D. Interchange was closed due to some track and road work in Seaford, so we tied down our outbound in Federalsburg and called it quits for the day.


Oh, I almost forgot. One thing I really like about working this line is there is a piece of my beloved Rock Island. Just west of Federalsburg, there is an old Route Rock 48' trailer that butts right up on the tracks. I will try and shoot it with my digital camera next time I work Federalsburg.

[wm3798]

Not a Buff, Brian... I'm a Groupie!
Now hows about that Cab Ride...? ;D
I couldn't get a close up, I mean you were really rollin'!  What, about 8 mph?

Lee

[sparky]

Lee- New job?

[wm3798]

Yeah.  I'm still doing the residential design thing, but I closed my office and moved it home.  I'm working for a local steel fabricator doing inside sales and estimating, and doing all their shop drawings.  So instead of designing a big addition for a grand master bathroom, I'm drawing I-beams and showing the guys where to drill holes in it...  Not quite as glamourous, but hey, it's paying the bills.  Hopefully when the housing market gets off it's knees I'll be able to go back to the old drawing board... literally.

Thanks for inquiring.
Lee

[DKS]

Good to hear you have stable income again, Lee. That track looks a bit shaky in spots; I imagine it has a nice rock and roll, Brian?

[RockGp40]

...That track looks a bit shaky in spots; I imagine it has a nice rock and roll, Brian?

Yes, rock and rolling indeed. When we get south of Perdue Hurlock, the track gets really crummy. There are portions that are better then others, but the speed limit remains 10mph. The state of Maryland owns the track. With only one customer below Hurlock, I doubt it will get replaced anytime soon. I am speculating here, but there are two potential customers that may come online, but I don't think it will be anytime soon. I guess it all depends on how high fuel prices go. 

Yes Lee, 8mph sounds about right. But, it gives me plenty of time to eat my daily turkey sandwich!

[wm3798]

What's the deal with Pep Up?  Do they have a switch in there?  I can't see from the road...
Lee

[Bob Bufkin]

Look's like a bunch of us should do a charter and go for a ride on this line.  Haven't been in that neck of the woods in a long time.  Everytime I travel to Ocean City and cross abandoned tracks I wondered who owened them.  Anyone got a map showing all the old lines around there and who built them?
Bob

[wm3798]

Check Jerry Britton's site.  He has some 1941 maps that I scanned for him, and I know he has the Delmarva division.
After about 1933, when the BC&A got cut off from Ocean City, everything was run by the PRR.  The line into Cambridge was originally the Dorchester and Delaware, it starts at the main stem in Seaford, bends north to Federalsburg, south to Hurlock, crosses 50 at Linkwood, then down to Aireys, over to Bucktown (by the Cambridge Airport) and into town from the south.
In October they run excursions between Hurlock and Federalsburg during the fall festival, and during the summer, if there's a big event in Federalsburg (the line's HQ) they'll do likewise in the opposite direction.  The town of Hurlock owns two ex N&W passenger cars that are used for those trips.

Lee

[RockGp40]

What's the deal with Pep Up?  Do they have a switch in there?  I can't see from the road...
Lee

If there is a switch, I don't think they receive anything by rail. We pretty much stop at Woods Rd. You are talking about the Hayward street location, right?

[wm3798]

No, there's no switch there... I'm talking about their new propane and heating oil terminal out between the asphalt plant and the crossing at East New Market.

It's been sitting there for about 3 years now.  I saw a flurry of activity over the summer, during which I believe they were installing the switch, but I've yet to see any cars in there.

Lee

[Matthew Roberts]

Nice ALCo, even if it's had a transplant. Haven't seen track that light in awhile, only got UP and two rock-hauling shortlines in good repair around here.