Clearing out Clearing

     Last week as I tried to catch the last vestiges of the fall colors in western PA, I was treated to an interesting fleet of manifest freights out of Chicago's Clearing yard.  As most are well aware of the NS meltdown east of Chicago, it was exhibited first hand by this trio bypassing Elkhart yard.  First up was 16E-22  Chicago-Clearing to Conway 9165-6968-CN 2838 w/ 87x2 frt.  This is an existing schedule off the BRC.  Next up was the previous day's extra section, M6E-21  Chicago-Clearing to Conway 6929-BNSF 6557 w/ 70x7 frt.  The current replacement for 16N (Elkhart to Allentown) followed as 16G-21  Chicago-Clearing to Allentown 9969-9790 w/ 82x4 frt.  New Galilee, PA Oct23 2014.  Currently there is talk of routing some trains via the NKP east of Cleveland and down the Youngstown line to Conway.  Could get interesting.

A Banner...Day with John

     

Sometimes it doesn't take alot of trains to make for a successful day of railfanning. Sometimes it's just about reconnecting with old friends and take the trains as they come.  Sept26, 2014 was just such a day.  As it turned out, the first train of the day and the last were to me the most interesting.  While traffic was somewhat sparse in between (yes due to NS's continuing congestion further west), alot of good conversation filled the time.

     First up was NS 60X-23 with 2740 leading CSX 5272 and 970.  A most interesting train (and symbol) consisting of 100 loads of frac sand from US Silica in Sparta, WI via the CP at Bensenville, IL (Chicago) destined for interchange to the POHC at McKees Rocks, PA (for distribution to drillers in Southwest PA).  After waiting for a recrew (as a lot of trains on NS do these days), he continues his journey seen here just south of CP-Wood.

The last train would prove almost as interesting and I would learn what a "banner test" is on CSX.  Here, CSX K057-24 starts to pull at Edinburg, PA following coming to a complete stop to report "an obstruction" on the tracks.  It was the first time I witnessed such a safety test.  Of course it just so happens just as I need to get home.  K057 is one of a fleet of empty crude oil trains returning from the huge Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery (originally Gulf Oil and ARCO plants combined by Sunoco) heading west to reload in the Bakken shale oil fields of North Dakota.  A very practical routing decision by CSX as the loaded trains follow the ex-NYC "Water Level Route" via Erie, PA and the empties can avoid fighting the loads on the single track River Line south of Albany, NY by taking the less utilized ex B&O west via Pittsburgh.  Today two fairly clean CP units lead instead of the more common BNSF power.

All in all a good (or should I say banner) day!

White Cloud, Black Cloud and the lost Q

     Sundays during the winter months for me tend to be pretty routine.  It all revolves around the kid's tennis practice at an indoor facility in Boardman, OH.  The day started off with a report of the executive Fs on a 955 that was out of Cincinnati the night before.  Cloudy skies and some confusion over whether they would re-crew at E. Palestine caused me to miss it.  Passing by the yard at New Castle, I saw that a K059-07 with a BNSF-CSX-CP combo was still in the yard from yesterday.  Before long, it was off to Boardman for 3 hours of tennis.  A quick check of what's running on NS showed somewhat of a westbound parade out of Conway yard…66A, 576, 19A, and Q76…and as luck would have it, the sun decided to come out.  Luckily, the NS main at Leetonia is only 15 minutes from the Boardman Tennis Center.  I would also have to listen if that K059 decided to leave on CSX.

     As I head south I hear Ft. Wayne line dispatcher informing 66A to hold up at CP-Lum for a 24Z to cross over ahead of him that is "scooping a 34N Alliance to Lum".  It's interesting that I missed a good shot of 66A a few weeks before when he caused a fiasco on the FWL by stalling around E. Palestine, OH on the day the NKP unit was leading a 65R behind him.  I still remember the white gypsum cloud that day.  So here was my chance to get a good overhead shot since the gypsum is hard to see from track level.  Only one dilemna,  as I come into town, one of Leetonia's finest has someone pulled over getting a citation.  Do I chance the overhead Rt 344 shot?  I notice I have a clear view of the cop from the bridge half a mile away.  Before long, 66A is by the mp61 detector and within a minute I see his headlight.  NS 66A-05 is York Haven, PA to Gypsum (Sandusky), OH 8401-9596 w/77x0 gypsum.  True to form I am soon enveloped in a white cloud.

     After he passes, I hear CSX talking to a westbound ready to depart New Castle.  Do I rush over to Center St. in Youngstown to try and get the K059?  Why not!  As I head north, it turns out the the BNSF unit is on a Q640…false alarm.  As I decide to head back to Leetonia for the 576, I miss 19A at the at the crossing east of town.  NS 19A-09  is Conway to Chicago-Clearing, IL  9692-7636 w/0x119 freight (mix of Bensenville-CP and Chicago-Clearing yard BRC blocks). 

     Not long after the freight, 576 roars through town leaving a black cloud…obscuring the helpers in it!  NS 576-05 with the C7E-09 helper is  Cresson, PA to Lamberts Point, VA  9267-7569-BNSF 7384 w/105x0 coal  (loaded on RJCP at Clymer #1).  That was cool, hence why I am writing this blog post.  As I head back to Boardman, I notice a Q76 called out of Conway but not on the move yet.  Maybe I can get him later.  Anytime I can catch multiple sections of a train on the same day, it's a good day for a symbol nerd like me.

     Before I head north on Rt 11, 11V announces himself going through E. Palestine…hum, is it worth a shot…why not.  After a quick grab shot, I am surprised to see the new frac sand distribution facility just north of the main at the former Kaiser Refractories plant.  Looks like Utica Shale drilling is really taking off in Ohio.  NS 11V-09  is Enola to Bellevue  9553-9626 w/3x56 freight (59 Bellevue, Fairlane Multi-Levels).

     What could spoil such a great day?  After I get back to Boardman I see that Q76 is out of town, really?  Before long he is through Leetonia.  If I had stayed put, I would have been able to get him and still pick up Anjuli on time…oh well.  NS Q76-06 with the C7G-09 helper was Shire Oaks to Hyco, NC  9509-8113-7681 w/110x0 PGNX coal (loaded at Consol-Bailey).  Wait?…what was that?  In my haste, I failed to realize that Q76 was not a second section of 576 but one of 776.  A Y76 would have been the second section to Lambert's Point.  Ah yes, the things a symbol freak deals with.

     Oh and as for that Q640 with the BNSF unit, the next day I noticed that K059's train was missing it's power…I guess that was the BNSF-CSX-CP set that must have been swapped onto the Q640.  Still glad I didn't go after it…since there would not have been a "white cloud-black cloud" to remember.

Standard cabs in the snow…or 6 trains at New Galilee in half-n-hour

     I have to admit, I'm not one for shooting many trains in the snow.  I mean when it's snowing...I mean when the sun isn't out.  I mean everyone loves snow and sun, but how often is that.  Then again it's very rare to get snowflakes flying when the sun is out.  Ok, you know what I mean.  So in the spirit of the season (and with my new found friend…photoshop), I decided to make up for an aspect that is very lacking in my photos…snowing action shots.

     So on the way back from errands to Grove City Outlets, Cranberry and Ross Park Mall, I decide to pull over at good old New Galilee.  On the way back I see 11V-15 crawling by CP-Wood, yep, it will be easy beating him there.  A quick check with Eric, shows some east bounds in the picture.  So I set up for the first EB, oops 11V is already here.  No time to get the camera, iPhone video will have to do…a few seconds later  a late 26T-15 goes blasting by too.  Within 10 minutes, chatter around Enon, alerts me to another EB…but not before I61-16 approaches with a string of road railers.  Ok, time for the real video camera.  Within a minute 20R-15 rolls by the other way.

   

     Not long till I hear another EB by Enon.  So I get ready…only to be interrupted by another WB.  Soon 25Z-15 blasts by just as I'm ready to see the EB, but alas, he clears as I rush to the other side of the tracks to shoot 421-13 with a pair of SD40Es leading a wide cab.

        Not bad for 30 minutes…of course after I leave 64R-15 is pulling by Enon…oh well.

(Double) Icing on the (Cup) Cake

   

    

     Friday Sept20 is calling for overcast and some rain...definitely no trains today...or so I thought.  It's one week till I turn the big 5-0.  The main duty for the day was to go down to Vanilla Pastry Studio to order cupcakes and a cake for my party next week (and pick up some samples for home of course).  Since they recently moved from Shadyside to Edgewood, the plan was to take the Turnpike to Monreville and then down the Parkway East to Rt30 (I still hadn't Googled the actual address and was going on my sister's comment they were on Ardmore Blvd).  Before I get to Cranberry I notice that NS 261 with the N&W unit is reported by Latrobe.  Oh well, the weather is lousy, but It might be nice to see it.  I punch in the bakery address and notice it is just off the Edgewood/Swissvale exit, so it would actually be better to swing through town instead, not to mention skip the Turnpike toll.
   As I roll down the Parkway North, the Roadrailer is reported by Wing per Freddy, so I decide to maybe do a grab shot off the I-279 ramps at Federal Street.  A few minutes away, I hear him calling mp350...this will be close!  I pull over and within a minute 261 is crossing over the Ft. Wayne bridge...wow, that was some timing!  NS 261-19 has a nice shiny 8103 leading 6757 elephant style down the ramp.  Cool!

   Ok, off for some cupcakes.  I pull in at Vanilla Pastry and soon notice a text about the OCS that was called out of Conway with the NS Fs.  After a few seconds of clearing the cobb webs out of the brain, I realize I'm too close not to go take a look. A quick call to Freddy informs me they are by the Station.  After a quick drive over to the tracks I have a few minutes to find a spot with some elevation to clear the Bus-way.  It isn't long before I hear 951 call mp346 and his headlight appears.  And if that wasn't enough the clouds parted to boot!  NS 951-19 has all 4 F units and 7 cars...all gleaming.

     Time for some cupcakes...and a cappuccino

Godzilla and Cleveland Stack Trains

     

     Ok, so it's easy to get diverted from scanning slides. So is the case here just east of Cleveland at Eastlake, OH on Aug10 1990. First train of the day is Conrail TV-200 with 3 B36-7s and a solid train of APL stacks at 800am. 

     

     The weather deteriorated by the time TV-550 arrives at 923am with 2 BN GP50s and a cabless B30-7A with a solid set of Sealand stacks.  

     

     After scanning and playing around in Photoshop with the lighting and colors...what if we got rid of those nasty high tension lines as Godzilla loved to do. Yes that was fun, although just a quick and dirty attempt...definitely something to play around with more!

Dynamic Duo

     As they say, the early bird gets the worm.  Well, that wasn't me today.  Thank's to Freddy tipping everyone off about today's feature presentation, I woke to face a dilemma.  So by the time I open my eyes around 730am to see a text from Dave about the Reading unit called for a 64X, it's a little late since he sent it at 509am.  I heard the evening before 64R had the Interstate unit, so it was just a matter of how much time he would spend at Conway.  Seems like oil trains have a habit of leaving Conway early in the morning and this morning was no exception.  A check of the forecast meant it was worth heading out of the house.  Assessing the weather is a key reason I tend to dilly-dally in the morning, instead of being in position.  So to make a long story, short, had I decided to rise and shine, I could have drove down to Leetsdale and got both trains (as Harry did) and had plenty of time to get other things done.  
     By the time I leave the house, a report shows 64R is by Leetsdale at 805am.  A quick call to Freddy informs me he just saw him take the Conemaugh line courtesy of the PennDOT camera on the Northside.  Oh well, no chance for me to get him anywhere on the Conemaugh line before Kiski Jc.  Not being familiar with the territory east of there, I debated heading east to get him at a spot I shot last year, just east of Seward.  I was dreading the drive.  Freddy suggests E. Vandergrift, but I doubt I can make it.  I settle for CP-Salts.  Drat!  He is already by as I'm approaching.  Ok, off to Blairsville.  On the  way I stop at the overhead at CP-Blair only to see Roy Ward.  In typical railroad-ese, its "hurry up and wait".  Soon we hear what is taking so long as 64R informs the dispatcher they are in emergency.  Double Drat!  Doesn't sound like any wheels will be turning soon.  I decide to go to the next crossing west.  
     Upon arrival,  I can see 64R's creamsicle in the distance.  After what was probably a 90 minute delay, NS 64R-15 with the 8105-8140 rolls by with his 100 loads of North Dakota nectar (and 2 buffers) for the PBF Energy Delaware City refinery at Reybold, DE.  This train originated at Eland, ND as BNSF U-ELUNSD0-77T.  

     Due to the delay, the Reading is right behind.  Within 20 minutes, NS 64X-16 is moving right along with the 1067-1043 and 80 cars of heavy Canadian crude (and 2 buffers) also for Reybold that originated at Conway from trains like 12N (Chicago Calumet yard-Conway) and M6E (extra section of Chicago Clearing yard-Conway).  Origins are Big Gully Transfer, SK, Unity, SK, Kerrobert, SK, and Bruderheim, AB.

     While it was a long drive for only 2 trains, I would do it again in a minute.  And as they say, now we return you to your regularly scheduled programing, or for me, time to go to Costco.