Conrail 71's rail pics

Rio Grande Heritage Unit

2010-03-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

After a doctors appointment in Greely, Colorado I headed over to the tracks to see what was going on. Just as I arrived I heard a north bound freight approaching. I stopped by the Greely Freight Station Museum and was surprised to see one of UP's Heritage units. I chased the train north out of town and got ahead of as it was slugging up a grade. I managed to gain a couple minutes on it and crossed over to the right side of the tracks. As the end drew near I was even more surprised to see a caboose on the end of a 90+ car train.

Ft. Collins Diamond

2010-03-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

In the city of Fort Collins the BNSF runs through the center of town. Literally the tracks run up the middle of the street!

Just north of the street trackage is this diamond where the BNSF and the UP meet at grade.

While shooting the diamond a BNSF local snuck up on me! After they cleared the crossing I realised there was a UP light power move waiting to the east to cross.

Chasing UP 844 II !

2010-03-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

This series of photos were taken in Nunn,

Colorado. The 844 made several trips on

this weekend from Denver, Co. to the annual

Frontier Days celebration in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Chasing UP 844 !

2010-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

It has been almost a year since my last

update. Since my last post my family

and I relocated back to New York State.

I was finally able to get the print film I

shot out west developed! This is what I

got, some how I though the results would

have been more spectacular...

Union Pacific 844, day one.

2009-07-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

This morning at 7 am I found myself back in Nunn, Colorado. This time it was a planned event. I knew for a fact that UP would be running the 844 north from Denver, Co. to Chyenne, Wyo. I managed to get 10 or 12 shots with my 35mm print camera but no digital shots. This afternoon was the return trip south, so back to Nunn I went!

Now before my friends in the know get excited, I did get real pictures of the event. My digital camera is a bit of a first generation dinosaur. After shooting from the south side of Nunn we paced the train south for about 8 miles. These are the results, enjoy, if you can... Mike

GWR in Ft. Collins

2009-07-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

The GWR operates as a shortline customer in and around Ft. Collins, Colorado. They have a yard on the north side of Ft. Collins that is very easy to shoot as it is boardered on one side by a public road. I shot these 2 locomotives getting ready to switch the yard late Wednesday afternoon. The orange Geep is a chopnosed former Santa Fe GP-9.

Union Pacific stuff

2009-07-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

South of Nunn is the town of Eaton, Colorado. I got ahead of a northbund mixed freight as it left Greeley and picked a decent spot just north of Eaton. The last pic is of the yard tower at Cheyenne, Wyoming. The neat thing is that the tower sprouts up between the Route 85 overpass bridges!

Modern Railroad Action in Colorado

2009-07-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

West of Carr, Colorado, where we live, is the UP's line from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Denver. Rte. 85 parallels the single track line within 50 to 100 yards all the way south past Greeley. We caught a maintenance crew dropping ballast along the line just south of Eaton, Co. The next day we caught a south bound empty coal drag in the hole at Nunn, Co. The same day of the maint train we saw a southbound Amtrak with a pair of Genesis engines, a baggage car and 7 Super-Liner cars. The BNSF train is northbound on the former Colorado and Southern Railroad in the town of Wellington. The pic should have been better but it surprised me, I had to shoot thru my dirty windshield!

Fort Collins Trolley

2009-07-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

In the city park in Ft. Collins is a neat little operation. In the early 1900's the Colorado & Southern Railroad started a small electric street car system in the town of Fort Collins. Like most street car systems it was abandoned in the mid 1950's. A group of forward thinking individuals endevoured to rebuild the Ft. Collins street car system. Today for $1 for adults and $.50 for kids you can ride on car 21 on approximatley 2 miles of the system. Car 21 is an origional Ft. Collins car as is the newly re-acquired car 25. As we boarded the car the first thing I noticed was how the wood work and everything else in the car looked like it was brand new! The car leaves City Park and heads east for about a mile and a half on a median strip in the middle of the road. The car reverses at the end of track and heads back to the park. The car barn is west of the switch that leads to the park. An interesting feature on the line can be found about 50 yards from the car barn. The car line crosses a creek on an I beam bridge of a type I have never seen before. The rail rides across the creek on the top of a pair of I beams with no deck! NEAT!

Nebrasssssska.

2009-07-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Travelling route 80 through Nebraska is about the most tedious thing you could possibly imagine doing. EVER! Endless prarie is dotted with numerous huge grain elevators. We had to make a fuel stop so I jumped off at the town of Chappell, Nebraska. I picked Chappell because I wanted to get a close-up shot of the American flag on the elevator next to the UP line that runs east west across the state. After getting fuel in the Penske truck I decided to explore the railsiding in the area during a torential thunder storm. On the west side of the elevator complex was a Hi-rail truck with 3 powered drive axles coupled to about 10 or 12 ballast hoppers. Just on the other side of the tracks was a GP-9 (?) lettered for the FEC, Farmer's Elevator Co-operative. I know in the shot I got it looks like a model but it's the real Magilla!

Go westtyoung man!!!

2009-07-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

As some of you may already know, the Smith Family has relocated to the GREAT state of Colorado. I will re-cap our journey soon but here are a few pics to get started...

-I shot the first pic in Iowa, I saw this hot lookin' rig coming up behind us so I shot it in the mirror of our rental truck.

-The second shot was at our second fuel stop in Nebraska. Kayla caught me checking the oil...

-Kayla took the last picture about halfway across Nebraska, ugh Nebraska, I was whistling the tune, East Bound and Down from Smokey and the Bandit!

GMA train video

2008-09-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

Oh, here's a cellphone video of the train we shot too.

Good Morning America Whistlestop Tour

2008-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the good folks at Railroad.net I found out that the Good Morning America Train would be coming through Rochester this evening!
Power was provided by two specially decorated Amtrak Genesis engines.
The third "unit" in the consist was a strange beast indeed! An F-40 ph "Cabbage" had been given a set of balls! No, really, balls, over the baggage/ engine room area the roof line was lowered and a pair of domes, probably for live feed during broadcasts, had been added to the roof!
A matched set of 6 Superliner cars decorated in a real nice red, white and blue reflective scheme made up the majority of the consist.
On the tail-end a pair of BEAUTIFUL, restored Pennsylvania private cars were bringing up the markers. I ran across Main street to try and get a going away shot but after almost getting whacked by an RTS bus I found my batteries had died... what a PUTZ! I forgot to pick up new ones on my way out to shoot today. Oh well, I got some shots.

Steam on the Arcade and Attica, part II

2008-09-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

With #18 sounding for the grade, we departed Arcade station on time. After clearing the road #18 enters a "canyon" between two brick buildings with the exhaust barking nicely. The line curves through the parking lot and across the famous plate girder birdge. The trip to Curriers is about 45 minutes there are a few grade crossings along the way to give the crew a chance to perfect there skill on the 2-8-0's deep throated whistle. At Curriers, #18 makes a run around move to facilitate the return to Arcade. The crew makes a photo stop along side the freight station for a few minutes then we re-board for the return trip to Arcade. The 1920 Alco couples on to the last car of the train, a 1940's vintage composite gondola with benches, and were on our way. After working Diesel Days at the RGVRRM all those years you think I would have remembered the "hazzards" of riding in the open, but I didn't. We stood in the gondola about 20 feet from the smoke box door of #18 and we recieved our "Free Souveniers". As she accelerated with her train we were rewarded withh a shower of soot!!! Yay!!! We didn't mind, I'd take coal soot over diesel soot any day! Once we got back to Arcade we stopped at a few stores and I was able to shoot the second train of the day as it crossed the bridge behind the parking lot. This was a great trip behind one of the VERY few steam locomotives operating in New York state. You should try it!

Steam on the Arcade and Attica

2008-09-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Once a year on our anniversary my wife and I get to leave the kids with grandma and take a well earned overnight vacation by ourselves! Last
year we had a great time in Niagara Falls but this year money was a bit tighter so my wife tried to find something closer to home. We spent Saturday night in a cabin at the "Tumble Hill Campground" in Chohocton, N.Y.. The next morning after an awesome breakfast of sausage and blueberry pancakes made by her dad we stopped by the B&H's engine house in town to check on the Alcos. There were still 5 big 6 axle monsters there. Numbers 3670, 3664 & 3674 are all M 636's and 3660 & 77 are C-636's. B&H numbers 4&5 were there too. I would have stayed and shot some more pics but we were running late for the second half our getaway!

We headed west to Arcade to catch the first train of the day, we arrived just 10 minutes before depature time! We got our reserved tickets and boarded the second to last car in the train. In a couple of minutes, with two longs a short and a long from #18 we were on our way. More on the trip on my next post!

425 & 418 in Henrietta!

2008-09-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we were shopping in Henrietta

and I was amazed to catch the LA&L crossing West Henrietta road! I have know that they still used these tracks to serve the lumber yard for a while but have never caught the move in person. As we crossed the tracks, the wrong side as far as the lighting was concerned, I saw 425's nose creeping towards the road. 425 and 418 looked and sounded GREAT as the headed south (or east) across the road. I would have chased it but we were hungry, so we went to The Cracker Barrell instead.

Falls Road Re-activated!

2008-09-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, not even 3 months after my post about the eastern end of the Falls Road, CSX has started serving Klein Steel on Vanguard Parkway (off of Emerson). Last week I spotted 2 flat cars behind their plant and today I spotted 3 flats. I accidently deleted the pics but I hope to actually get some shots of a train moving on this line. Stay tuned railfans!!!

Diesel Days is coming!!!

2008-08-17T17:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! The Rochester Chapter of the NRHS is holding their annual Diesel Days event! August 24th & 25th the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum will join forces with the New York Museum of Transportation to pull off this mammoth event. Visitors will board a rail vehicle at the N.Y.M.T. on E.River Rd. to begin their journey. At the half way point of their ride they will switch to one of several locomotives that will be running that weekend.
These photos were taken last Thursday evening while preparations were being made for the event. The first shows our former US Army, Fairbanks Morse switcher number 1843 pulling a train North up the line. 1843 is the ONLY operating Fairbanks Morse switcher in New York State! She is pulling an ex-Lackawanna M.U. car, an ex- Pennsylvania Baggage/ Mail car, ex- NYC baggage/ R.P.O. the "Alonzo B. Cornell" and an ex- NYC coach built for the Empire State Express.
The second photo shows one of our MDT reefer cars that were built in East Rochester, New York at the NYC's Despatch Shops.
The last two photos show my personnal favorite at the museum. This Alco is ex-LV #211, she has had a busy career. She was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad then traded to the LV. After serving the LV she became Conrail #5487 until her rebuild where her origional Alco powerplant was removed and replaced by an EMD. After leaving Conrail she was leased to the Rochester and Southern for a while then she was donated to the R&GVRR museum.
For more information about Diesel Days or information on the museum collection you can go to their website at; http://www.rgvrrm.org/ .
Thanks for looking! Hope you can make it out!

New York Central returns to Rochester!

2008-08-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

Sort of anyway! On the night of August 12, 2008 Amtrak's train number 49, "The Lake Shore Limited" had the former New York Central observation car the "Hickory Creek" tacked on to it's rear end. The train was only about 18 minutes late, which ain't too bad, when it made it's station stop in Rochester on it's westward sprint to Chicago.

This car is truly a beauty! At 11:18 pm the locomotives lit up the night as they decellerated into the station. The train stopped with the "Creek" just 2 car lengths short of the platform. I had to walk down to get some pics as my last two attempts were stymied by both the weather and bad timing. What a sweet ride this would be to depart from New York's Penn station and glide along the Hudson. Viewing the scenery through the comparativly huge picture windows as you head west through the Mohawk Valley then across western New York's fertile farm country. That would be the way to travel!

Falls Road remnants in Rochester

2008-06-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I took a drive down Mt. Read Blvd. towards Lyell and decided to check out the New York Central's old "Falls Road" line. Just west of Mt Read next to the city operations center The B&O crossed over the N.Y.C on a plate girder bridge. I was surprised at how well maintained the line still looked after sitting dormant for near 20 years! The passing track is still there and the switch is complete, incuding the ground throw. I would had loved to get a shot of a B&O train on the bridge as a NYC train passed underneath!

I think summer is here!

2008-06-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we were heading home from taking my elderly aunt shopping and while passing the yard I spotted something interesting on the main at 369! I was kinda in a hurry to get home but the bathroom would have to wait! I headed to the back of the parking lot behind the Village Gate mall to the site of the old Trail Van terminal. I don't get to see CP Rail around here much so it was a neat contrast to the more common CSX paint. This week I hope to get some photos of the ex Family Lines Geep that's working Rochester Yard. It's in CSX paint but you can see the old markings fading through. Even the old numbers are visible beneath the numbers it's wearing now!

Day out with Thomas!

2008-05-12T11:08:00.001-07:00

This past weekend and next weekend the Medina Railroad Museum in western New York is hosting a"Day out with Thomas" event. Actually it almost qualifies as a carnival! My wife and I went out with our 2 daughters on Mother's day and even though the weather was cloudy and in the low 60's there were quite a few Thomas fans in attendance.
We arrived just as the train was returning to the station after one of many trips. Thomas was "leading" on the return trip followed by 5 stainless coaches from the Western N.Y. Railroad Historical Society. Power was provided by GVT's RS-32 #2035, she was built on June 15, 1962. She looks pretty darn good for being 46 years old! She sounded even better! It seemed like trains were running every half hour on a 15 minute trip.
Besides the train rides there was a large tent of Thomas related merchandise, jugglers, wandering musicians, face painting and a large Thomas shaped "bouncy house"! There were also a few vendors selling some great cheeseburgers and fries and a pizza shack. A two horse hitch was also giving visitors a ride around Medina in a large wagon.
All of this activity plus free admission to the museum itself makes for a delightful day out! If you've been waiting for a reason to go to the Medina museum then this is it! Even if you don't have kids, the novelty of seeing a steam locomotive with a face on it on an active railroad is too much to pass up.

CP at CP 369

2008-04-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today in Rochester I saw an eastbound train stopped west of the Main st. bridge. I could tell from the stripes on the nose that it wasn't CSX in the lead. I swung down Union st. and found a hole in the fence big enough to stick my camera through in order to snap these units waiting to con tinue east.

A couple weeks back I also shot a pair of L.A.&L. Alcos crossing the river on their way to Genesee Jct. All I had with me was my cell phone, sorry about the poor quality...

There's only 5 left.

2008-02-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update. Monday there were 12, today there are 5, 6 axle EMD's coupled together in the yard. Oh, and the Amtrak engine was still there also.

Lotsa power in the yard!

2008-02-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Today in the yard I shot 13 units that aren't normaly there! On the "old hole" was Amtrak Genesis #47. I don't know why but it may be a mechanical problem. Then on the class tracks in the yard I spotted 12 (!) EMD, SD units! They are all lease units so I think they are going to be going south on the R&S for work in Dansville but it's kinda cool seeing all that power lined up!

Today's action at 369!

2008-02-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

As we pulled up at the yard this morning two of the Geeps were on either end of a tank car. As the short train moved west towards the switch another Geep, this one toting that sweet C&O caboose, came right up behind it and backed down to pick up some cars. After about 5 minutes they had assembled between 20 and 25 cars, tacked on the caboose and completed their air test. This train also left the yard headed west, but not for long, I'll get to that next.

The MP 15t had started to creep past the tower but held just short of coming into view from our vantage point. I pulled the van to the east end of the crew shack and saw that the switcher was moving the two Modoc Northern units that had been sitting on the "old hole". I was also surprised to see a pair of GWI Inc. Geeps in the yard! As we were shooting the MN SD's and the GWI units we heard a train on the main. I got back to the west side of the tower in time to see the caboose of the second train to leave leading it's train east towards Fairport! I like it when the yard is busy!

SD-9's and CDOT coaches

2008-02-15T12:30:00.001-08:00

Back in May of 2007 I posted some pics of some SD

-9's in Goodman St. yard. Yesterday I saw two SD-9's in the yard that appeared to have been freshly painted for the Modoc Northern. I wonder if these units #'s 650 and 651 are the same 2 from last year? It's possible I guess, but I really don't know how long it takes to rebuild a locomotive from the ground up.

Also in the yard were a couple of Metro North cars just heading west. The CDOT coach the Governor Raymond E. Baldwin and the MN coach Mathew Vassar were being picked up off of 4 main when I pulled up. I grabbed a few shots even though the light was bad, eh, better than nothing I guess...

First Russell train of the year?

2008-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

January 3, 2008 was clear and cold. I had just finished shoveling the driveway when the sound of a horn said it was time to go. The baby and I jumped in the truck and headed towards the power plant. CSX 2809 and 6301 were shoving a cut of hoppers into the small yard at the plant as we pulled up. I was actually able to work the plant itself into one of my shots!

Monorail, monorail, MONORAIL!!!

2007-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

This would appear to be the last year for the monorail at the Midtown Plaza in downtown Rochester. An announcement was made this fall that the historic building with attached office tower will be razed to provide space to build a new corporate headquarters for Paytec.

My wife and I took the kids to ride the monorail one last time and to visit Santa. We also went across Clinton Ave. on the Skyway bridge to see the H.O. train display in the Chase Concourse. It's good to see that improvements are made from year to year on the 4 display layouts maintained by the Rochester Model Railroad Club.

While talking to the monorail operator we discovered that the fate of the attraction like the monorail itself is litteraly up in the air. The Rochester holiday institution ws offered to the Strong Museum of Play who expressed no interest in taking the 50+ year old train. I'm anxious to hear the fate of this unique holiday attraction, I hate the thought of it ending up as scrap metal or disappearing to a far off land... Time will tell.

The pile got a bit bigger today...

2007-12-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

The coal pile at Russell Station that is. We heard the train blow for Dewey Ave. early this afternoon while I was shoveling the driveway so once I was done we went to watch. The train was halfway across Greenleaf Rd. when we pulled up so I figured we'd grab some shots on Ling Rd.

The first shot is of the tailend inching across Ling Rd. About 24 cars later came the power, a GP-38-2 and GP-40-2. The snow piles at the edges of the road had already been knocked down so this must not have been the first train since all the snow we got. The last 2 shots are of the power heading back up to get the second half of this cut that were left just west of Greenleaf Rd.

Oh, and on a personal note, I would like to send out a heartfelt thanks to the "nice" "lady" in the silver Ford Focus with the duct tapped mirror for her concern. Luckily, she took time out of her "busy"(bodied) day to verbally scorn me for pointing a camera in the direction of a train and a powerplant. After a comment regarding my possible lack of my parent's marital status at the time of my birth she decided a call to the local P.D. was in order. I'm sure they had other more important work to be doing than to cater to a lonley old bitty's laments. The officer was very professional about it and asked me what I was doing. I simply responded that the baby and I were there to watch the train before going home. That was it, "Have a nice day!" and off he went. Thanks Lady! (I use the term lady loosley, she had the mouth of no lady I've ever met.)

CSX commuter service!?!?

2007-12-14T08:44:00.001-08:00

In a word, no, but it is starting to look more like North White Plains (or Northeast) than Rochester Yard around here. That MP15 looks like it's ready to head up to Wassaic with it's 2 car train! The James Fenimore Cooper #6184 and car #6148 were in Rochester today coming or going I'm not sure which. That isn't too rare in and of itself but the Rochester Chapter of the NRHS's Empire State Express cars were also in the yard. The coaches along with the R.P.O. Alonzo B. Cornell are being ferried to the museum's property in Rush, N.Y. "BING","Attention at Rochester, now arriving on track eleven, The Empire State Express, with nonstop coach service to Oatka Junction with connecting service to Industry, New York running forty years late, is now boarding."

50 for Russell

2007-11-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well, surprise surprise! We heard the horn this morning while we were getting the mail so we jumped in the Blazer and took off! The power was just coming up to Lake Ave. as we crossed the bridge so we swung down Boxart St. and snapped off a couple as the power was coming under the bridge.

After that we headed north to Petten St. The day was scuzzy but I shot the train anyhow. I counted 50 loads as the train continued north under the O'Rourke Bridge. I hope to catch as many trips on the runner as possible before the end...

More coal !!!

2007-11-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

For now the Charlotte Runner is still a relevant source to railfan! Last week we caught 2 big GE units at Greenleaf Rd. The train was so long that the tail end was just under the Lake Ave. over-pass in Charlotte. I'm gonna miss the trains in my neighborhood even if they are CSX!

Caboose Motel

2007-11-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

My wife surprised us with a trip to the Caboose Motel in Avoca, New York this Veteran's Day. They have 5 former Conrail N5 cabooses on a section of track that you can sleep in! The cabooses would have been originally built for the Pennsylvania Railroad but are now all painted red with black roofs. Each car has a different roadname on the side of each one, If I remember right they were Nickle Plate, Erie, New York Central, Great Western and Pennsylvania railroads. We, of course, stayed in the New York Central painted caboose! The outside of each caboose is pretty much all original but the interior transformation is quite nicely done. As you enter there is a small table on the right and a bathroom with a shower on the left. In the cupola there is a bed on each side of the car at the level of the cupola windows, neat!To the rear of the car is the "master" bedroom with a full size bed on the left and a single size bed on the right. The room had heat and A/C and a coffee maker with coffee on the sink counter under the left side cupola bed. There is also cable T.V. and a fridge. One more neat touch was a speaker mounted on the wall next to the phone that played train sounds. Don't worry there is a volume control in case the sounds are too much. This was a fun experience to sleep in this renovated caboose and if you're in the area I would highly recomend it!!! If you do stay at the Caboose Motel remember that Cohocton is just north up 390 a bit, home to the B&H's engine house and for the moment a lot of BIG Alcos!

MBTA at Rochester

2007-11-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

Today in Rochester Yard we spotted this MBTA GP-40M (i think). This is a neat looking locomotive! It's got a wide cab, rare for a 4 axle unit (around here anyways), flared SD-45 style radiators and a wide striker plate on the rear end to mate up with the car diaphragms. Oh, yeah and the purple paint! The problem is that while I was shooting the "T" engine the yard crew was switching a couple of MTA cars. They were both "named" cars but the cut was out of range to see what they were. The cars were shoved onto a track with DMM and GWI cars so I would imagine they are heading to Dansville.

Eastbound CSX on the "shore"

2007-10-23T06:06:00.000-07:00

October 22, 2007 was a very warm day! The baby and I were on Scottsville rd. to run an errand so I figured we'd take a ride by Genesee Jct. to see if anything was going on. As I looked west I could see the nose of a CSX unit just coming back up onto the main. We crossed the river and went up E. River Rd. and stopped in front of the I.B.E.W. building. I got the baby out of her carseat without waking her and we got to the front of the truck just as the train was sounding for Scottsville rd.
It's a good thing this baby LOVES trains! On the first blast she was wide awake looking for the train! She had both hands waving and was shouting "Hi wooo woo, hi wooo woo..." at the top of her lungs! As the train continued east I kept snapping off pics while the baby kept shouting and waving. On the last shot I was able to get the entire train into frame, that's as rare around here as warm days in October...

Another unit for Dansville.

2007-10-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in Rochester Yard the crew was switching cars with the MP 15 and a GP-38-2. On the end of their string of cars was this "old school" GP-(7 or 9 not sure) with a low nose and an ox collar intake! She looked pretty solid, to my untrained eye. She'll deffinately need a coat of paint!

The Last of the Many???

2007-10-03T11:05:00.001-07:00

With the fate of the Russell Station power generating plant all but sealed the end is most definitely near for trains on the north end of the Charlotte runner.
I paced the power along the driveway of the apartment complex on Lake ave. The 2 EMD's put on quite a show as they dragged the loads around the curve and up the grade under Lake ave.

Two crew members confer for a few moments before the train continues west across Greenleaf rd. and up onto the bridge over the Lake Ontario State Parkway.

The last of the many? part 2

2007-10-03T10:58:00.001-07:00

Todays power, a GP-38-2 and a GP-40-2, sound for the grade at Greenleaf Rd. The engines are working hard to drag the 29 loaded cars up the grade towards the plant switch.

Cars of various heritage make up this and most coal drags into Russell, I counted about 5 Conrail hoppers and one FRISCO hopper.

The last of the many? part 3

2007-10-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

The first shot in this section shows the tail end clearing the Greenleaf Rd crossing. The train will proceed west until the power is up on the bridge that crosses the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Once the last car clears the switch the train will back down into the plant.
Like magic the rear end appears out of the woods! Under the watchful eye of this grew member the train will back across Ling Rd. then through the gates of Russell Station.
The power sits idle for a moment as switches are lined.
In the last shot we see the power shoving hard against the weight of the loaded cars. In minutes the motorists will be underway, unaware of the future of the rails they are about to cross. I hope to catch at least one more train on the runner.

Train #48 has a few surprises!!!

2007-10-01T10:34:00.001-07:00

We caught Amtrak train #48 near CP 367 today. Pulling the train was a back-to-back pair of GE Genesis units. Tucked in behind today's power was a unit destined for the NJT. Then, at the rear of the train was a private car. This car makes frequent trips through the area and is easily recognized by the neon "Navy" tail sign.

More cool stuff at Goodman!

2007-10-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Today in the yard were two Metro North commuter cars! The Sojourner Truth and another unnamed coach were tied up on the end of a cut of cars on 4 main. I was unsure as to whether they were coming or going but it was still a nice surprise! I later found out they were returning to the N.Y. area.
The MP-15-T is still in Rochester also. It was busy switching cars with one of the other EMD GP's in the yard.
On the other end of 4 main we saw that there was a former NS GP-15-1 attached to the east end of the cut. Lotsa stuff happenin' in the yard today!

Two switchers in Rochester Yard!

2007-09-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

Today in the yard there are 2 switchers! One is CSX MP15T #1217 which has returned to Rochester after a short absence. The other is TANX #99 former Chaparral Steel, probably bound for Dansville.

211 on the Charlotte Runner!

2007-09-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

We were just about to go in the house when we heard the train cross Dewey Ave. so of course we had to chase it. We pulled into the parking lot on Boxart St. for the first shot. I was surprised to see 2 BIG GE6 axle units drift into view. An even bigger surprise was to see 211 again! I must've shot this unit on 3 or 4 different occasions, but never on the "Runner". Next we zipped up Lake Ave. to Stutson St. to the over-look at the location of the old bridge. The power looks right at home next to the old station. The last shot shows the engines turning west and entering the "North Yard" on the old Hojack Line. 10 or 15 years ago this shot would have been a little harder to get as the approach tracks to the swing bridge across the Genesee River used to occupy this spot.

Power in Greece

2007-09-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

I caught 2 CSX units in the "North Yard" on the old Hojack Line in Greece, New York. They had a box car on the end of their train so I suspect that they would have either switched the Weyerhauser factory on the way up or would be doing so on their way back south. There was a county crew repainting the R X R's on the road surface on this date so it made a neat bit of action in the foreground.

A visit to an ALCO powerhouse!

2007-09-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to be a railfan in Rochester. Just to the south of our fair city there is a shortline railroad that relies exclusively on ALCO products! The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville opperates on three seperate routes. The LA&L's home road connects with CSX on the old West Shore RR in Henrietta, N.Y. and runs southwards to Lakeville, N.Y. The Western New York and Pennsylvania which runs from Hornell, N.Y. to Meadville, Pa. and the Bath and Hammondsport which runs between Painted Post, N.Y. and Cohocton, N.Y.
It is on the B&H in Cohocton where I was able to get some shots of a few of the lines newest acquisitions. The 2 old B&H Alco S-1 switchers # 4 & #5 were there as were #422 + #423 C-424 m's. #73 an Alco M-630 was there along with #'s 3668, 3664 and 3666 all 6 axle monsters. Also on the property were 2 more Alcos, C-424's I think, #'s 4264 and 4223. That makes 10 Alco units in one location that isn't a museum!!!

CSX in Charlotte

2007-08-27T09:55:00.001-07:00

This morning we caught a pair of CSX Geeps sitting at the old New York Central station in Charlotte. Charlotte, pronouced Shar-lot, is an area of the city of Rochester at the point where the Genesee river empties into Lake Ontario. These units are likely going to be working at RG&E's Russell Station generating plant about another mile west of here.

The station has an interesting past as it was an early "intermodal" station. Passengers would detrain here and could board steam boats on the river for day cruises on the lake or a longer trip across the lake to Canada. The station looks great in her new roof and siding as opposed to years ago when her future didn't look all to secure.

Local to Russell

2007-08-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

This morning the baby and I went to Goodman st. to see what was up. Not much was happening, one unit was switching the yard and two units were tied to some hoppers on 4 main. The baby got cranky after about a half hour so it was time to take her home and put her down for a nap. As she was waking up this afternoon I heard a train horn not to far from our home in Greece, so we went out to investigate! We checked the "Runner" from Barnard Crossing north til we got to Ling Rd. just outside the gates of Russell Station. As we crossed the tracks we spotted the headlights of the same 2 uniits we had seen earrlier in the yard. It's hard to believe we are so close to the city yet this area looks so rural! Check out the track in the last photo, it reminds me a little of the condition of the Hojak Line thru Sea Breeze and Charlotte when PC ran the show! This is no surprise as this is the last section of the old Hojak in use west of the river until you hit Lockport. I'm glad I got my shots now, rumor has it that Russell will be switching to natural gas power in the future...

2007-08-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

The power has to shove the cars across Ling Rd. tail first , which has got to be a pain in the butt. After one of the crew members has traffic stopped the train can reverse into the plant. After making their last drop of the day the power runs light back up to the holding tracks at Greenleaf Rd. There are 2 Geeps and a Jeep in our last shot today as it's time to go home change the baby and make dinner!

2007-07-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

Today in Rochester a westbound "outlawed" at 369. The crew detrained and went west on Amtrak leaving the train at the signal on the main. Just a few minutes later an east bound Amtrak went thru, then it rained and I went home...

2007-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, today we have some neat car shots! First is a flat car built by MDT in the mid -60's, still in pretty good shape for a car her age! Next is a M.O.W. gondola still with Conrail reporting marks. Apparently the revenue equipment got immediate attention when it came time to be relettered but the M.O.W. stuff gets done when it comes in for other work. Good, that means CR stuff will be around for a while longer. The last shot is of a SWEET hack in Rochester! This former C&O caboose used to be based out of Lyons, N.Y. It sees regular service now on locals that originate from Rochester Yard.

G&W southbound from Greece

2007-06-21T08:07:00.001-07:00

Today we got LUCKY!!! The baby and I were coming home from dropping her older sister off at school and we just happened to catch the R&S coming south towards Dewey Ave. The first shot is of G&W #46 at Barnard Crossing on Dewey Ave. At this point they only had one center beam flatcar.

The second shot was taken at Ridgeway Ave.. The train took longer than I expected to show up here from the Ridge Rd. crossing. We figured out why when the train came into view, they must have picked up a tank car at the Eastman Kodak Co. after they crossed Ridge.

After Ridgeway we headed further south til we hit Lyell Ave. Our last shots were taken as the train headed down the grade after crossing the old "Falls Road Branch". Ahhh, the thrill of the chase!

More power to Dansville

2007-06-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Today in the yard we spotted three more units destined for Dansville. Two GP-15's one in black with a white sill stripe and one in Conrail Blue and a 30 or 40 series Geep lettered for the Shannendoah Valley Railroad. A little while later a piece of CSX Geometry equipment, GRMS1 the "Spirit of R.F. Selbaugh" was stopped on track one at the signal at C.P. 369. hmmmm, maintenance is a good thing...

2007-06-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

My wife and I took the baby to the yard last Saturday night to watch trains after I got out of work. We started out at Main and Goodman at the west end of the yard to see what power was on hand, At the time the 5400 was still in town so I was able to get some nice late afternoon shots with the last light. After shooting the "yard queens" we headed east to Unniversity ave. We caught an eastbound container train just moments before the sun dropped below the buildings. In this light you almost couldn't tell this was a csx train... Gee, I miss Conrail.

Coal to Russell

2007-05-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

The summer is in full swing for Rochester Gas and Electric again. Coal is delivered to Russell Station by a local out of CSX's Rochester Yard. Here the train has just arrived at the "North Yard" in Greece and is about to get to work. The days of the Russel run are numbered as the plant is up for sale.

RP 20 BD Road HyBrid to test in Rochester

2007-05-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

A HyBrid

locomotive from Railpower Inc. will be testing on the CSX based out of Rochester Yard. Once crews complete training the unit will be working the Rochester area. Right now it's sitting on the Road Railer lead in the yard. Look at all them exhaust stacks!!! It's an interesting unit to say the least. At least it's riding on EMD trucks. I can't wait to see it and hear it in service.

Are they SD-9's or 7's???

2007-05-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if they're 7's or 9's but these two units came in on a train last night. I would imagine they will be heading to Dansville for work soon enough. Hopefully later today I'll get some shots of the Ringling Bros. Circus train... one can only hope!

3 way at Rochester !!!

2007-04-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, today in the yard I was treated to a rare spectacle! Three westbounds were lined up and waiting for the signal at CP 369! At the moment I didn't know why but I would find out later. Oh yeah, by the way, what is up with the numbers on 7868? They're HUGE and goofy lookin' !

DOT/FRA detector at Rochester

2007-04-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today F.R.A. secretary Joseph Boardman passed through Rochester aboard a " Gage Restraint Measurement Vehicle ". After a breif press conferrence the car proceeded west out of the station. Several representatives of local news agencies appear to have gotten on board to go along for the ride. I got word from some guys of the "dog and pony show" at the Amtrak station so I had to check it out. Pretty neat stuff.

"History" around Rochester

2007-04-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

The old West Shore Railroad has been gone as a rail company for a long time but there are a few segments left that are still in use. One such section runs between CP 382 at Chili Jct. to CP 359 in Fairport in western New York. This piece of the West Shore helps trains avoid some of the congestion of the main line thru Rochester and enables CSX to interchange with the L.A.&L RR at Genesee Jct. This first picture shows an eastbound CSX intermodal train crossing Scottsville rd. and the Genesee river. The train is on the West Shore and the other set of tracks belong to the L.A.&L.

I shot the next photo about 6 or 7 years ago in the town of Bergen at mile post 389, I think. This train is being pulled by two of Amtrak's venerable EMD F 40 PH's

The last pic shows an RS-11 operated by the Falls Road Rail Road. This regional carrier operates on the NYC's former Falls Road branch. Here # 1804 switches Hollet Cold Storage on N.Y. Rte. 31 in the town of Holley, N.Y.

HLCX power in Rochester

2007-03-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that rebuilder opened up in Dansville, N.Y.! We get to see some cool stuff pass through Rochester yard. Right now there are two Metro North cars in the yard, albeit in a bad spot for photography, and a string of HLCX units on 4 main! In the mix are an SD-40, 2 SD-40-2's and 2 SD-45's. They were just sitting there quietly, basking in the sun this afternoon! Of course I am just speculating that they came from or are on their way to Dansville, but it's a good guess.

What do an ex-SOO and a Pumpkin have in common?

2007-03-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

Answer, they were both in Rochester this winter. This winter we have had some cool stuff come through here, besides the snow that is! One morning after a Dr's appointment we caught this "Pumpkin" on 3 main after they picked up some cars from the yard. It looks like they ran out of decals when doing the number boards on the CSX unit, they are in 2 different fonts! A few weeks before that I spotted a "black lined" former SOO line SD on the "old hole" tracks in the yard. Finally on Wednesday I shot this former Conrail GP-15 ! I love railfanning Rochester!

2-28-07 Switcher Returns to Rochester !!!

2007-02-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

After I dropped the baby off at daycare today I stopped at McDonald's and got my coffee and took a swing by the yard on my way home. I noticed a flag pole with Old Glory flying high in the Atlantic ave. end of the yard. Is that a new pole? Then I headed down Atlantic under the bridge and right onto Anderson. As I came across the Main st. bridge I got a great surprise, there was a switcher working the yard!!! Finally a break from the GP style carbodied units. CSX, MP 15 T, number 1217 was busy sorting cars. I watched them for about 20 minutes til they went on a coffee break then I came home to shovel the driveway. I have a special place in my heart for the lowly switcher as my first cab-ride was in the cab of PC SW 1500 number 9565, pictured here at Atlantic ave. Ain't she pretty!

February 14, 2007

2007-02-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

As the first stack train held at 369 on track 1 another WB stack train came by on 3 main. A few minutes after the train on 3 main cleared an EB mixed freight plowed it's way into the yard on 4 main to make some picks and drops. As the conducter on board conferred with the tower my daughter was impressed at hearing a female conductor on the radio! As the train crept into the yard we were treated to a former BN Cascade Green lease unit!

February 14,2007

2007-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, we got snow!!! I mean it ain't Oswego style snow, but it's snow. Just as I pulled up to the yard a WB stack train pulled up to the signal at 369 and stopped. The snow jet was also busy in the yard clearing switches this morning. The snow jet is a piece of machinery that uses a jet engine similar to one in the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook helicopters to melt and blast snow from switch points to get them moving again in snowy areas. Also as you can see the Amtrak Genesis is still marooned in the yard. Now her face is covered in snow and the red markers are still lit.

February 12, 2007

2007-02-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

"Hey, what the....." That was my reaction this morning when I spotted this Amtrak engine sitting in the yard this morning. I thought, hmmm the local crews aren't going to like switching with that thing. It must have died near Rochester and was set out to be picked up and delivered to a maintenance base at a later date.
After shooting the Amtrak engine I was getting ready to leave when this peddler freight came under the Main St. bridge. This was a fairly short train maybe 30 or 40 cars. The 2 SD-40-2's would handle it with little trouble I'm sure.

2007-02-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

A couple of posts ago I posted a photo of a Conrail engine from the early 80's, this is a model this is a model I'm attempting to build of that engine. It's about half finished.
On February 7, 2007 in Rochester, I saw a solid Union Pacific train heading west. The power was 3 UP flag engines and the train was a solid string of UP reefers! I can't say I've ever seen that before.

February 7, 2007

2007-02-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Today at the Goodman st. yard the traffic was hot and heavy for about an hour or so. The first train shown is Amtrak's #48 the Lake Shore Limited followed 45 minutes later by train #286.
While a local, B-790 I think, was getting together in the yard a string of empty autoracks went by on the main being led by an SD-45 lease unit

2007-02-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

This is an Alco RS-11 on Rochester, N.Y. in the late 1970's that I have decided to try to build a model of. Unfortunately photos are hard to come by of specific pieces of railroad equipment. I have this one photo of this particular engine and other photos of her sister units. Now, if someone out in the world would possibly have a pic they could scan and send to me I could finish my model and post the pics.

2007-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

On January 16th at about 19:00 hrs. a westbound CSX container train derailed in the town of East Rochester, N.Y.. I first heard about it at 9pm that night, but I was home with the kids so I couldn't get out to shoot that night. The next morning after dropping the baby off at daycare I headed to the scene to see what was going on.
The first thing I saw was the trailing unit still coupled to the first platform of the train. Next I noticed the shredded and twisted containers tossed about the scene. Some of the containers look to have been empty and a few were carrying large rolls of paper. After leaving the north side of the tracks on Despatch drive, named after the N.Y.C. R.R.'s car shops that were located here, I went to the south side of the tracks to get a better view.
On the south side I got a close up look of the trucks and wheels stacked here and there, most of them were packed with dirt, mud and evergreen tree branches that were torn from trees along the right of way. Also surprising to me was the sight of a double stack car actually torn into 2 or 3 pieces! I tried to count how many platforms were on the ground but they were so mangled and piled up that it was impossible.
I have been to a few wrecks in my few years but this one by far was the most impressive and terrible. I hope events like this remain few and far between.

2007-01-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

2007-01-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

2007-01-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

Today at Rochester there was a lot going on, track workers at the west end, 10 mile an hour speed restrictions at both the east and west ends, a large 4 axle wheeled doing something to a GE unit on the "old hole" and 2 yard jobs working simultaneously! So to add to the excitement was what #48 had behind it! A pair of Genesis engines were hauling 6 Superliner, 2 level cars! I have had people tell me they've seen them but I figured they were mistaken!

2007-01-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville, in my opinion, operates probably the most meticulously maintined fleet of Alcos in the world! With that being said, today I was lucky enough to catch two of their units operating a rail train between Avon and Rush, New York.

(top) This is #420, an Alco C-420, leading the train on this cold January morning!

(middle) The second unit is #425, an Alco C-425.

(bottom) This last shot shows the pair and the lead flat of the CWR train. The Continuous Welded Rail, or CWR, will be a great improvment over the lighter rail that is in use now on the LA&L.

2007-01-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday 1-09-07, I decided to head to the westside of the county to check out the action over there. To say the least I was not disappointed! I was only able to sit for 20 minutes but my daughter and I were treated to 3 trains in the first 15 minutes.

(top) The first train was a EB TV lead by a UP patched former SP GE unit that took the main line through the city.

(bottom left) The next train was about 5 minutes later, a nice pair of "standard cab" EMD's headed east down the shore. At CP 382 a segment of the old West Shore splits off from the Chicago Line to avoid some off the bottle-neck created by the yard in Rochester, N.Y.

(bottom right) The last train we saw was a WB mixed freight under the charge of a brace of UP units, with the leader displaying the striking American Flag logo.

2006-12-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

(top) Last summer I was at the east end of Goodman st. yard watching trains when I got lucky enough to catch a CSX office car special.

(middle) I wish I knew ahead of time it was coming, I would have found a better location to shoot (damn tree!).

(bottom) 9993 & 9992 continue east towards the signals at 367.

2006-12-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

(top) Today I caught CSX's B-791 at the Amtrak station in Rochester. They were heading west out of the yard towards the Charlotte runner to switch the box factory.

(middle) Here is B-791 approaching Lake Ave. The box factory is just beyond the underpass.

(bottom) This is the "going away" shot from the other side of Lake Ave. as B-791 reaches their destination.

2006-12-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

(top) So, today we stopped in Lyons, N.Y. and the Finger Lakes Railway dropping a cut of cars for interchange to the CSX. At first I thought it was just the former CR B-23, but thanks to the helpful engineer we discovered....

(middle) ...that they had brought along 2201 the Lehigh Valley inspired unit. We caught it sitting at the silos at the east end of the interchange track.

(bottom) After they finished their drop they coupled back onto the unit to head back south to Geneva, N.Y.. What a handsome lookin B Boat !

2006-12-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

(top) At the northern end of the R&S is the Mathew's and Field's lumber. I had just told my wife yesterday " I should call and find out when the R&S is coming to pick up that car, I've never been able to catch them in Greece.". So today, after I dropped her off at work I drove by and caught them just getting ready to leave.

(middle) As they headed out off the gate I backed across the street to get a better shot.

(bottom) Here #46 crosses Stonewood rd. heading south back towards the yard.

2006-12-05T07:37:00.000-08:00

(top) Here is 46 heading south across Dewey Ave at Barnard Crossing.

(middle) #46 is seen here approaching McCall rd.

(bottom) The last shot is of #46 clearing McCall rd.. Beyond this spot is Ridge rd. and the Eastman Kodak Co.

2006-11-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

(top) My daughter and I saw the train leaving Kodak one day so we decided to chase it down the Charlotte Industrial Track to the yard. Our first shot was as it was crossing Lexington Ave.

(middle) My daughter shot this picture of the train crossing Otis St. as I was trying to turn around in a driveway to continue following our train south on the Charlotte Runner.

(bottom) I'm pretty sure that this picture is at Jay St. Even though the train was running fairly slow it was still a confusing chase. Traffic and my limited knowledge of the streets in this area made it difficult but next time I'll be ready!

2006-11-29T11:59:00.000-08:00

(top) We are almost finished with our chase as CSX 2723 drags her train south across Hague St.

(bottom) Our train swings around the eastbound leg of the Buffalo Wye before re-entering the main to head back to Rochester Yard.

2006-11-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

(top) At 376 this snow-fan watches the passing of a westbound CSX ML train with a UP engine on the point. Remember that standing in the gauge is not a wise place to be while watching trains!

(middle) This train is coming into Rochester Yard to make picks and drops before continuing east to Selkirk.

(bottom) This BNSF led train has just left the yard and is passing the Amtrak station at MP 371. The lead unit is just 50 or so feet short of the bridge over the Genesee River falls in downtown Rochester.

2006-11-29T11:30:00.000-08:00

(top) Here, I caught an east bound mixed freight crossing the Barge Canal near C.P. 373 back in early 2005. The warbonnet units still wander through New York state on occasion.

(middle) The pair of units are about to pass under the R&S ex B&O RR overpass. Just past the bridge is the wye that branches off to the Charlotte Industrial track.

(bottom) Last year, speaking of the R&S, B&P 3001 had a fire onboard while pulling a train to Rochester. Here is the offending unit in CSX's Rochester Yard getting ready to be sent out for repair.

2006-11-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

(top) At the northern end of the Charlotte Industrial track in Rochester, N.Y. is where the Genesee River dumps into Lake Ontario. This series of photos shows a CSX freight coming to what is sometimes called the "north yard". This is a 4 track storage yard for coal waiting to enter the Russell Generating plant in the town of Greece. After the train passes the lighthouse it will be on the former R.W.&O. or HOJACK line of the NYC. The old Hojack only stretches another mile or so, stopping just east of Dewey ave. before it passes under the Lake Ontario State Pkwy. Trains use the remaining section as headroom to back into the power-plant. The boxcars at the head end of the train were probably picked up from the Weyerhauser box factory on Boxart st.

2006-11-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

(top) Today at Goodman St. I spotted a MBTA coach in a cut of cars near the old Road Railer terminal tracks. I'm not positive but I think it may be bound for Dansville, N.Y. via the R&S. A rail equipment rebuilder opened up in the former Foster Wheeler plant and has been rebuiling a wide assortment of equipment.
( middle) Last summer I was teaching my 8 year old daughter to shoot trains and she managed to get this shot of CSX # 211 coming into the Goodman St. yard. She's good with both the digital and my Minolta SRT 200 slr!
( bottom) When I was a kid my dad started taking my brothers and me to the yard to watch trains, a few years ago at a train show I bought acollection of photos that were taken at that time.
(1st) I doubt the date on the photo of 10/19/76, I didn't think that CR had painted any units yet. We are on the south side of the tracks at Goodman St. watching a west bound heading towards the Main St. bridge.
(2nd) In this photo CR GP-35 #3663 is heading east towards the Main st. bridge on 1/15/77.
(3rd) On 9/5/79 these SD-45's were westbound through Rochester. These 3 photos show the old Main St. bridge which was a through truss type of bridge with corugated steel panels on the sides which made it impossible to view trains from it.

2006-10-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

(top) On October 26, 2006, I spied this NYS&W SD 40-2T on a freight sitting in Rochester. The train appeared to have "outlawed" and was waiting for a re-crew.

(middle) A few hours later the sun had come out and she was still there so I shot from the "sunny side" of the tracks.

(bottom) About 6 or 7 cars into the train was this Penn Central survivor. This covered hopper is still in the PC Jade Green applied by the Penn Central so many years ago.

2006-10-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

(top) This is Amtrak's train number 48 The Lake Shore Limited heading east through Rochester, NY. The time was about 20 minutes to 10 am so I think it may have been a bit late.

(middle) The two Genesis locomotives are in the classic back-to-back mode on the head end today. Two engines are needed on the Lake Shore as the train is normaly 2 to 3 times the size of average Empire Corridor trains.

(bottom) On both the east and west bound Lake Shore, numbers 48 and 49 respectively, dinning car service is available in addition to Amcafe service. The dinning cars are mostly older cars of New York Central heritage. The experience of eating in a real dinning car is something every traveller should do at least once!

2006-10-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

(top) CSX 4408 switches out some cars in Rochester yard as 6111 idles away the evening on 4 Main on October 18, 2006.

(middle) Most if the time the jobs out of Rochester use a pair of locomotives. Sometimes they operate in pairs for the extra power or sometimes they'll run with a unit on each end to facilitate servicing industries with spurs facing the opposite direction of the train.

(bottom) All tucked in for the night, all the local power is in the "Old Hole" awaiting another job.

2006-10-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

(top) In the 1970's Penn Central ran passenger service in the New York Metropolitan area before the advent of Metro North. Here we see HO scale models of the former New Haven FL-9's pulling a commuter train north bound somewhere along the Harlem Line.

(bottom) The Penn Central was created out of a merger of two former rivals, the New York Central and the Pennsylvania railroads. In this shot we see a PC switcher and caboose returning light to the yard after running a local on the Rochester and Irondequoit Terminal Railroad.

2006-06-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

(top) Back in the good old days, the New York Central's Charlotte Branch and the Baltimore & Ohio paralleled each other for a short time as they both headed north out of Rochester for Lake Ontario. The tracks have changed a little as have the players. Now the owners are CSX and the Rochester & Southern. This shot was taken at McCall rd. in Greece NY. The R&S units are on the former B&O taking a break after delivering cars to the Eastman Kodak plant. The crew has just gone to a corner store for lunch on this cold February afternoon.
(center) This westbound Amtrak at 367 in Rochester showed up just in time for me to catch a shot of an eastbound light power movement. The timing was just about perfect.
(bottom) For a short time after the Conrail split we had an EMD GP-15 assigned to Rochester, it was a nice change from the larger Geeps usually assigned to Rochester.

2006-06-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

(top) We're back at the Howard rd. overpass again looking east at a westbound MF, mixed freight. It was early February 2004 and there was a nice mix of power on the point. CSX, HLCX and CP Rail.
(center) Frontier Yard in Buffalo,NY had the dubious distinction of being Conrail's snowiest terminal. Luckily in this shot it's late spring and the snow has melted. Here we see an ex-Conrail Ballast Express facing west at MP 432 along with another CSX freight awaiting clearence into Frontier Yard.
(bottom) Two ex-Conrail SD-40-2's have just gotten the signal at 369 and are continuing west towards Buffalo in June of 2004.

2006-06-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

(top) An eastbound approaches Pixley rd. in the town of Gates, N.Y. at mile post 376. This ML, or multi-level autorack train, is lead by a former UP and CSX EMD.
(center) The town of Lyons lies east of Rochester about 35 miles. This eastbound manifest freight is passing the Agway plant just east of the town center.
(bottom) One thing I have found myself missing are the once common switchers. One night on my way home from a "B" shift job I spied this little engine sitting in Rochester Yard. I got some decent night shots for being moonless and midnight!

Conrail 71's rail pics: June 2006

2006-06-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Conrail 71's rail pics: June 2006

2006-06-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

(top)This train outlawed, the crew worked to the legal time limit, and was shot while waiting for a new crew at CP 369. Quite a few trains through Rochester feature a diverse mix of power such as this train here with BNSF heritage, NS black and AT&SF blue and yellow on the point.
(center) On another day we see a BNSF GE unit waiting for the switch job to clear before making a drop at Rochester. In the foreground we see a westbound Amtrak just minutes from Rochester station.
(bottom) This is a local I caught on my way to work Friday morning at 5:45am. The locals that work this job carry a locomotive on each end of the train to facilitate switching the opposing spurr into the industry.

2006-06-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

West of Rochester is the town of Gates, New York. The first photo is of a short local switching an industry at Pixley rd. or MP 376. The second two photos are of an eastbound TOFC from the Howard rd. overpass. In the "going away shot" you can see the large quarry at the corners of Buffalo and Howard rd.

2006-06-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken at mile post 367 just east of the Goodman st. yard. The first photo shows one of the last remaining units painted in Chessie System colors in a consist headed east with a manifest freight. The second shot shows two freshly painted HLCX lease units on the tail end of a west bound light engine movement. The last shot has 2 CSX GE units speeding a UPS train towards Buffalo, Chicago and points west.

2006-06-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken at Rochester, N.Y.'s Goodman St. yard. Once part of New York Central, the yard was passed to Penn Central and then Conrail in 1976. The yard came under CSX's control in the CR split in 1999. (top) Taken from the Main st. bridge looking east we see a BNSF GE and a ex-Trona Railways SD waiting on 3 main to make a drop in the yard. (top, right) From the Main st. bridge looking west we see the 369 signal bridge and 3 west bound sets of power. On the left are 2 of CSX's 6 axle GE units, in the center are UP and ex-SP units on a hot TV/container train and on the right are the 2 CSX GP's that are assingned to yard duty. (bottom) The third photo shows 2 of the yard engines shacked up with a pair of visiting 6 axle GE's during a light flurry on a COLD January night.

2006-05-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

I've lived in Rochester, N.Y. all of my life and I've always thought that my home town was a great "railfan" city. I hope to share the greatness of this city through this site!