I received the following via email;

Greetings: With the testing winding down for the year, we are on the WNYP trying to finish 37 miles of railroad before the Christmas break is upon us. Finally saw some action on the mainline today in the form of a couple of NS run-through hopper trains. Most everything else has been running at night. The westbound hopper train at Olean was interesting by having 2 standard cab C-40-9's...altho the second really could have used a paint job...

I've included a shot of what a rail defect looks like. I have had a number of questions recently about what we look for out here. This is a Split Web-Open Rail (as opposed to a joint). it ran up to the head, then started into a Head-and-Web separation. a real nasty bugger that was just lying in wait to snap under one of the beloved M636's. Luckily, we found it first!!!

Eastbound coal train East of Carrollton, NY on WNYP



What we are looking for, before a train finds it. A split web & a head /web separation




Westbound empty hopper train at Olean, NY

Cl'ass'y paint on this NS unit

Norfolk Southern Offers $1 Million Challenge Grant to Assist Virginia Museum of Transportation

Received the following via email.

December 12, 2008

Norfolk Southern Offers $1 Million Challenge Grant to Assist Virginia Museum of Transportation

ROANOKE, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation has offered a challenge grant of $1 million to the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) for capital and operating expenses over a three-year period to help the museum implement certain recommendations from Museum Management Consultants. The challenge grant is contingent on equal commitments of support by both the governments of the Roanoke Region and by other private donors to meet the estimated $3 million required for the museum’s long-term needs.

Norfolk Southern also will assist museum staff in drawing up a three-year business plan and establishing measurable objectives to restore the museum’s vitality. In addition, other local rail-related organizations including the Norfolk and Western Historical Society (NWHS), the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), and the O. Winston Link Museum have offered their support for the effort.

The proposed three-year plan would implement many of the consultant’s recommendations: re-evaluating and redefining the museum’s mission, vision, and core values, and establishing priorities, accountabilities, financial milestones, and timelines. The plan would result in strategies addressing exhibits and the visitor’s experience; focusing the collection of rolling stock, documents, and artifacts; shaping the governing board to involve more leaders from the community at large; developing the professional staff; and funding for sustained operation.

In announcing the challenge grant, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman said, “We are proud of our heritage in Roanoke, and we want a museum that showcases what generations of railroad workers in Roanoke built that is still so vital to our lives today. It’s our responsibility to make sure that their contribution is never forgotten and that our history is preserved for future generations.”

VMT President Ken Lanford, president of Lanford Brothers Contractors, said, “One of the things that amazes us every day is the worldwide recognition Roanoke has with its rail heritage. Visitors from all over the world come to see Class J 611 and Class A 1218 all the time. With this wonderful investment by Norfolk Southern, coupled with funds from local government and our private sector, the museum will be a world-class destination for rail enthusiasts and historians. What an opportunity for us to showcase the rail heritage of one of the world’s best-known rail centers, where citizens of this Valley, the talented employees of Norfolk and Western Railway, made the world’s best steam locomotives. We are so very grateful to Mr. Moorman and Norfolk Southern for this incredible vote of support and encouragement.”

Bev Fitzpatrick, executive director of the museum, said, “One of the most significant developments in this effort is the wonderful partnering with the NWHS, the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS and the VMT. These groups are working together with the Link Museum to develop a destination focus for rail history in Roanoke that will bring tourists from all over the world. These partners have an incredible number of knowledgeable individuals who, working together, will really make a difference as the focus on the Roanoke rail experience grows.”

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is Virginia’s official transportation museum as designated by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is one of the largest rail museums in the United States with a varied collection of rail equipment, including the world-famous Class J 611 and Class A 1218 steam locomotives.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Robin Chapman 757-629-2713 robin.chapman@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Ohhhh, its a Holiday (with apologies to the Beatles)

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Note: Click on a picture to see it enlarged. Then use your Back button to return.

Tis the Holiday season...and the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the annual tradition known as the Christmas (for all us non-pc types) or Holiday Trains. We saw two in the Scranton PA area yesterday. Steamtown used the 3254 to Moscow (so Putin could tell Santa he wants Poland and Eastern Europe for Christmas...J/K)..While the CP Holiday Train was on display in Scranton, then headed west to Binghamton, NY.

Good friends, good trains, cold weather, cheaper gas ...what more can we ask for this season of remembrances???

so, let me be the first to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!!!!

1-CN 3254 gets Holiday honours on Steamtown's Christmas Train to Moscow, PA 11-28-2008

2-CP 9824 has the honour of pulling their 10th Annual Holiday Train at Scranton, PA 11-28-2008

3-CP 9824 with Holiday Train as Twilight falls in Scranton, PA 11-28-2008

4-As people scurry through the night to view the spectacular display. 11-28-2008

5-CP 9824 & train pauses for photographs on the Tunkhannock Viaduct, Nicholson, PA 11-28-2008

Train Time on the Delaware Lackawanna 11-28-2008

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, pictures, and captions are his.

Action on Black Friday on the Delaware Lackawanna included the movement of 3 locos from the grain mill to Scranton.

White Snow, ALCOS, Black smoke, Good Friends...can life get better???

D-L 4118 Train Time at Gouldsboro, PA 11-28-2008

D-L 405 awaits crew at Mount Pocono, PA 11-28-2008

Honda Recognizes Norfolk Southern for Performance Excellence

Received the following via email.

November 26, 2008

Honda Recognizes Norfolk Southern for Performance Excellence

NORFOLK, VA. – American Honda Motor Company, Inc. has awarded Norfolk Southern Corporation, in competition with all assembly plant and port locations shipping Honda vehicles, the 2008 Performance Excellence Award for Rail Origin Carrier of the Year for service provided at their Lincoln, Ala., automobile manufacturing plant.

The award recognizes transit performance, inventory control and empty rail car supply, and audit performance. Norfolk Southern began its service to the Lincoln plant in 2003 when the construction of the rail-served vehicle loading facility was completed.

“Norfolk Southern is honored to receive this award, which recognizes the hard work and dedicated efforts of the NS team during 2008 in delivering superior service to Honda, one of our major automotive customers, and we are committed to continuing to provide excellent service in the future,” said David Julian, NS president, automotive and supply chain services.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Celestial event and photo op

Following information was derived from an email we received.

There is a rare celestial event currently visible in the early evening. Very close to the crescent moon you can see both Venus and Jupiter. The moon will, of course, be brightest followed by Venus and then Jupiter. Look to the southwest, near the hoizion. This was first visible, I believe, on Monday evening; and this should be visible the rest of this week. Only problem is, it has been cloudy here in New Jersey this week. This particular alignment will not occur again until November, 2052.

Some technical information in the email. "One neat thing about this is to think VERY three-dimensionally, and understand that the plane of Jupiter and Venus is the same plane that the Earth is on. And you can sense that the earth must be tipped away from the sun on that plane, as it is, being near to the winter Solstice. And further (appropriate word) you can grasp that Venus is not so far away, given its relationship to Earth and the Sun, but for Jupiter to be visible in that alignment is impressive, as it is all the way over on the other side of the solar system."

Now consider this for a photo opportunity using a timed exposure to get the heavenly bodies. Again from the email. "Imagine recording a twilight silhouette photo the next couple of evenings of an idling SD or Dash-9 (or signal bridge) with these celestial bodies looming above them?! Won't get that shot again in our lifetimes."

Norfolk Southern Harnesses Sustainable Wind Energy

Recieved the following via email.

November 24, 2008

Norfolk Southern Harnesses Sustainable Wind Energy

NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO. – On November 13 Norfolk Southern completed the installation of a 50 kilowatt wind turbine at its rail yard in North Kansas City to power the yard’s wastewater treatment plant. The wind turbine consists of three 24-foot rotor blades mounted on a 100-foot tower and is estimated to generate more than 100,000 kilowatt hours annually.

“The North Kansas City wind turbine is the second of its kind on Norfolk Southern, and continues our efforts to promote and incorporate sustainable business practices,” said Chuck Wehrmeister, vice president safety and environmental. “We will continue to explore renewable energy applications for our facilities throughout our 22-state network.”

Norfolk Southern brought its first wind turbine on line in 2007 at Bellevue Yard in Ohio. Both wind turbines, supplied by Entegrity Wind Systems of Boulder, Colo., produce at least enough power to offset the electricity consumed by the pumps and controls of the yards’ wastewater treatment plants. These plants collect and treat the water used at maintenance facilities as well as rainwater runoff. For more information on Norfolk Southern’s sustainability efforts, visit http://www.nscorp.com/footprints/.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Rudy Husband 610-567-3377 rudy.husband@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Another proposed quiet zone grade crossing in Somerset County, NJ

Following article is from the Courier news dated 11-18-08.

Engineering firm to study Neshanic Station rail crossing for establishing quiet zone

By MARTIN C. BRICKETTO
Staff Writer

Officials have decided to hire an engineering firm to study the creation of a quiet zone for trains in the Neshanic Station section of the township. Residents near the crossing at Lehigh Road have pushed for a muffling of horns that commercial trains sound as they pass through. Deputy Mayor Jim Leonard said the committee on Nov. 10 approved a recommendation from a subcommittee studying the issue to hire a consultant that would investigate the project and its costs.

At a cost of $5,000, the township is bringing Maser Consulting on board, according to Leonard, who noted that the planning, design and construction engineering firm was involved in the establishment of four quiet zones in nearby Hillsborough. "They looked at a bunch of different groups, but in the end, they decided it would be best to have someone who has done it in the past and can help us with the maze of bureaucracy and the identification of the costs," Leonard said.

Towns can establish quiet zones near train crossings by setting up additional safety features such as corral-like devices or raised medians that would replace the need for the horns. Leonard said the firm hopes to have a draft of its study completed by the end of the year, adding that the firm plans on making a presentation to residents during a Jan. 26 township committee meeting.

Resident Karina LaMalfa is part of a neighborhood committee that has advocated for the quiet zone's creation. She said they have been looking into the issue for more than two years. During the last five years, the frequency of passing trains has increased to as many as 20 to 28 per day, LaMalfa said. "Although some of us have grown very accustomed to it, there are people in the neighborhood for whom it's a huge problem," said LaMalfa. "We have older people who aren't sleeping as well as they could be, we have people who have illnesses who are supposed to be home recuperating and resting during the day, and they're just unable to."

LaMalfa said the crossing is also below safety standards, with emergency vehicles often having to avoid the crossing to avoid being stuck. Residents are also willing to chip in for the improvements, according to LaMalfa. "There will always be types of noise that will irritate or bother some residents in some areas. What we realized as a committee that we needed to do is that we needed to step up for a majority of the equipment," said LaMalfa, mentioning the signal improvements and signage. She said residents hope the township can fund needed roadway improvements.

There was still some color along the Lehigh Line...

(Train sightings on 11-22-08.)

however I am not talking about autumn's foliage but some of the motive power I saw along Saturday's frigid trackside trip. First off was a rolling meet between NS 24V and NS 21M at Flemington Jct that I saw through the trees as I was driving. Decided that I would wait along River Road where I had the sheltered comfort of my truck to stay warm as the wind was brutal at times. My patience and perservance paid off as I managed to photograph a very colorful trio of motive power on NS ethanol train 68Q. PRR 5435 (EMD SD50, ex-CR 6765) was the leader, followed by UP 7056 and UP 7172.

After that passed, decided that I had enough of this cold windy morning and started for home. My drive took a detour at Three Bridges where BR&W's 1202 was switching some cars. Their switcher looked like an ex-Reading unit with its clean green and yellow paint scheme, very nice!

Despite the lack of trains, it was more quality than quantity on this Saturday morning. As a footnote regarding the Port Reading Junction track realignment project, the block signal west of the Raritan River bridge is no more! This was the signal that would indicate if a westbound train was heading west over the Lehigh Line or down the Trenton Line. Evidently it has been replaced by two dwarf signals near the west side of the bridge for westbound trains.

Harlansburg Station Transportation Museum, near I-80/I-79

Received the following via email.

Don Barnes is a retired commercial jet pilot and model railroader. He flew for USAir and was certified on everything from DC-3s to 767s...and he likes steel-related railroading! He has a terrific HO layout in one of the former PRR CONGRESSIONAL stainless steel passenger cars he has on display at the Harlansburg Station Transportation Museum that he maintains at the intersection of U.S. Rt. 19 and PA Rt. 108, south of Mercer and east of New Castle, PA. As information, PA Rt. 108/Harlansburg Road is Exit 105 on I-79, and U.S. Rt. 19/Perry Highway is Exit 15 on I-80.

Don's layout has a steel mill and lots of yard, industrial and urban scenes. Much of the rolling stock and steam and diesel motive power reflects the PRR and P&LE trains that Don saw so much of while growing up near Pittsburgh, but he also wisely has B&LE F7s and early SDs on the layout and in his 15-stall roundhouse. His fascinating and neatly-arranged museum displays also contain extensive aircraft and aviation history exhibits to also enjoy. Even beyond trains and planes, his exhibits also highlight cars, trucks and motor coaches, plus he has a maritime museum. He has an incredible amount of 'stuff' there that I had no idea even still existed!

Here are a couple of pics of the HO layout, plus links he has to the rest ofhis displayed collections:
http://www.harlansburgstation.com/miniaturerailroad.htm

Norfolk Southern Named One of Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers

Received the following via email.

November 14, 2008

Norfolk Southern Named One of Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) has been named one of the nation’s best employers for people with military experience.

G.I. Jobs magazine ranked Norfolk Southern among the top 50 military-friendly companies for 2008. The annual list recognizes companies that have made the greatest effort and had the greatest success in hiring military veterans, and that have the best policies for Reserve and Guard members called to active duty. This is the third time Norfolk Southern has earned a spot on the list.

Norfolk Southern actively recruits people with military backgrounds for careers in railroad operations and management. During 2008, NS has recruited more than 400 veterans as new hires, 20 percent of all new employees.

“Hiring America’s military veterans is one of the best business investments we make at Norfolk Southern,” said Cindy Earhart, NS vice president human resources. “Veterans bring technical skills and work experiences that are a good match for a career in the rail industry, as well as the personal qualities that we value – leadership, flexibility, dedication, and teamwork. We believe Norfolk Southern is an excellent place for military veterans to start their new careers.”

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts:
Media Susan Terpay 757-823-5204 susan.terpay@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Black Friday 2008 - Christmas Shopping at the Big Little Railroad Shop

Avoid the crowds at the malls by coming to the Big Little Railroad Shop in downtown Somerville on "Black Friday." We have all sorts of wonderful model railroad items from full sets to individual cars, locomotives, track, buildings, scenery supplies, etc. And if you don't know exactly what to get your modeler, we have gift certificates. We also carry books, videos, and calendars. We have items in all the popular scales: G, O, HO, and N. And, if we don't have what you want in stock, we probably can order it for you.

In addition to a full line of model railroading “stuff,” The Big Little Railroad Shop is now carrying plastic model kits for airplanes, ships, automobiles, and military vehicles.

We are located at 63 West Main Street in Somerville, NJ. Phone: 908-685-8892.

Visit our web site at: http://www.biglittle.com/

For your holiday shopping convenience we are open the following hours through Christmas:

Tuesday – Wednesday 11AM - 7PM

Thursday - Friday 11AM -8PM

Saturday 11AM - 5PM

Sunday 12noon - 4PM

Extreme Trains on the History Channel

Just in case you haven't caught up with it, there's a new show on the History Channel, Extreme Trains is on Tuesday nights at 10 pm. They have a series of episodes lined up that seem pretty interesting. Here's the link to the episodes...

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=60922&display_order=4&mini_id=60798

Here's the show's main website...

http://www.history.com/minisites/extreme-trains

For those of you intereseted in circus trains, Extreme Trains will feature the RB&BB train on Tuesday, December 23 at 10PM ET
All board the longest privately owned train in the world, the circus train from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey! PT Barnum's circus train started in the 1870s; and the US military used circus loading techniques in World War I. Matt and the circus race against the clock to dismantle tons of equipment and get it on the rails. As they travel from Baltimore to the Washington, DC corridor in the dead of night, Matt discovers the less glamorous side to the greatest show on earth.

There is still CR blue to be seen...

(Train sightings on 11-2-08.)

CR blue was alive and well along the Lehigh Line on this Sunday morning. Of the seven trains I saw, four of them would have ex-CR units as leaders. In addition, NS 67Q would provide even more color with BNSF 4947 and a red and silver BNSF 940 that still wore a faded “Santa Fe” on its flanks. In time sequence, the trains I observed were as follows:

Landsdown Station (NJ)
NS 18G @ 7:36- NS 9710, NS 9341, NS 3044 and NS 3013.
NS 214 @ 7:49- PRR 6798 (ex-CR 5560), NS 6605 and NS 9890.
NS 212 @ 8:05- NS 9661, NS 9374 and NS 9729.

NS 214

Stanton Station:
NS 21M @ 9:45- PRR 8399 (ex-CR 6196) was the leader followed by two unidentified NS diesels.
NS 67Q @ 10:30- finally headed west with 82 cars after holding at CP 53 for almost two hours. I can only speculate that it might have been some type of mechanical problem that caused 67Q’s delay. Motive power would be PRR 5411 (ex-CR 6717), BNSF 4947 and BNSF 940 wearing a well worn red and silver paint scheme.

Near MP52 (between Stanton Station and Flemington Jct):
NS 65J @ 10:45- would hold the passing siding east of Stanton Station for NS 24V to pass. 65J’s motive power would be NS 9438 and NS 3333.
NS 24V @ 11:42- would have PRR 8363 (ex-CR 6133) as its leader followed by NS 9842.

NS 24V

Conrail Historical Society Convention

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. The text, captions and first photo are his. The other 3 photos are by Nate Haydt.

Greetings: Spent the last weekend sloshing through the rain in the Altoona, PA area with the Conrail Historical Society in search of the SD80MAC's. Saw the last two in Dress Blue (albeit faded) along with many sisters who already got the 'dip' treatment from NS. Sundays tour of the Juniata Shops was interesting, but with a complete photo ban in effect, was unable to document any changes. The Saturday banquet was good with the NS regional General Manager, Bob Bartle, giving many insights to the whys and hows of major projects past and pending in the area.

Otherwise, spending the last week of freedom before heading back to work with Sperry Rail Service.....maybe we'll be testing through your home town!!!

"Giggles the Bus Boy" enlivens the CRHS banquet

"Spirit of Conrail" lives on for now...by Nate Haydt

NS 7205..one of two SD80MAC's still in dress blue. South Fork, PA by Nate Haydt

NS 7215 at South Fork, PA by Nate Haydt

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Citi Investment Research Transportation Conference

Received the following via email.

November 7, 2008

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Citi Investment Research Transportation Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – James A. Squires, executive vice president finance and chief financial officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), will address the Citi Investment Research 23rd Annual Transportation Conference at 11:45 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in New York City.

The presentation will provide highlights of Norfolk Southern’s recent financial results and current business initiatives.

Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/citigroup/transportation08/74108144.cfm. After the webcast, the presentation will be posted at www.nscorp.com.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Norfolk Southern contacts
Media Frank Brown 757-629-2710 fsbrown@nscorp.com
Investors Leanne Marilley 757-629-2861 leanne.marilley@nscorp.com

Norfolk Southern Corporation http://www.nscorp.com

Port Rdg Jct track reconfiguration project...

(Train sightings on 11-1-08.)

...was in the neighborhood of the Manville and decided to check out how work on the Port Reading Junction track reconfiguration was coming along. As you can see in the first photo, new signals have been installed east of the Raritan River bridge on the Lehigh Line but are not operational. Many of the trees that provided some nice shade during those hot summer days of train watching here have been cut down to provide better sight lines for the engineer and conductor. There are also new bungalows on both sides of the bridge. Most of the work this day was being done on the opposite side of the river. In the second scene, NS 212, with NS 6586, NS 8871 and PRR 8399, is coming down track two while NS 21M was holding on track one. Note in this photo the mound of ballast and heavy construction equipment to the left on the opposite side of the river.

SIX WHEELED TRUCK ALCO (MLW)

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Greetings: Heading back towards Sperryland this weekend...going to be on the 811 which is currently testing on the B&P (Allegheny & Eastern Div). Recently found out that the Saturday HNME train on WNYP routinely outlaws at Falconer, NY, making for a nice daylight run from Falconer to Meadville. So, hoping for that scenario, took the long way back hoping to catch the move. Here is the train leaving Olean, NY area with about 4 hours left before the hog-law catches them.

WNYP 637 leads HNME through Bradford Jct, NY at sunset on 11-1-2008

WNYP 637 leads HNME at Vandalia, NY

NS with Fall colors In PA

Received the following via email. Pictures were taken back in October near Johnstown, PA.

Here are a couple of links with some really nice fall colors.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=257313

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=257309

Conrail Jet Snow Blowers reborn: Olie M. Ericksen, Inc.

Received the following via email.

Saw the attached photo and couldn't help noticing the blue Conrail logo atright. On Conrail's Dearborn Division, these jet snow blowers wereindispensable to keep turnouts clear and operations going during the winter. (Note the former Conrail JSB unit at right.)



I drive by this company here in Greenville several times per week. Theyoffer rebuilt CR, CSXT and other former Class I-owned JSBs. They rebuildjet models J-34, J-35, J-47, J-52, J-57 and J-79. (Of course, if youinstead need to re-engine your private corporate jet, Olie likely has thoseparts, too!)

http://ericksenjetengines.com/about1.htm

http://ericksenjetengines.com/products1.htm

ALCo RS Trio on Monday's PT-98 by Nate Haydt

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text and captions are his, and photos are by Nate Haydt.

Today (10-14-08) I am featuring some photos of a very close friend of mine andCo-worker on the Stourbridge RR, Nate Haydt. Nate is one of these rarebreed of photographers that actually will take the time to compose a shotrather than using a machine-gun approach to hopefully attain a photo.More-so surprising is the fact he doesn't yet own a camera of his own!! Ilet him use my Nikon D-80 when we are out railfanning...I concentrate on theKodachrome slides.

Power was 4118-4103-4068.

Enjoy!

Arriving Slateford Jct, PA

Moscow, PA

Cross lake at Gouldsboro, PA

East Stroudsburg, PA

Alex Kummant resigns from Amtrak

Received the following article via email with no references as to original source or date so I cannot vouch for its authenticity.

Alex Kummant resigns from Amtrak November 14, 2008

Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Kummant resigned Nov. 14 after serving two years heading the National Railroad Passenger Corp., as Amtrak is formally known. Amtrak Chief Operating Officer William Crosbie will succeed Kummant on an interim basis, likely to last until President-elect Barack Obama assumes office on Jan. 20, 2009. Amtrak's board will select a new CEO.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said that "differences in strategies, direction, and management philosophy" with the Amtrak board led to Kummant's departure.

A source close to the Amtrak board, who asked not to be identified, speculated that Kummant "was not hands-on. He didn't have a handle on finances or operations. His personality was often confrontational."

Kummant was named Amtrak president in September 2006, filling the top slot left vacant by the departure of David Gunn 10 months earlier.

"On behalf of the entire Board, I'd like to thank Alex for his leadership over the past two years," said board Chairwoman Donna McLean. "During the past two years, the company experienced exciting economic times, strong ridership and revenue growth, solid profit and loss performance, and the advancement of the Amtrak brand overall. He also successfully oversaw the completion of labor agreements with all of the unions representing Amtrak's employees. We are grateful to Alex for his contributions to the company."

Pictures of NJ Railroads

Here are a few pictures, sent to me by Joe Monaco from the Black River and Western Railroad the last week of October. The other pictures are from Bound Brook NJ and show NJ Transit with a special visitor on the NS Lehigh Line, from November.

2008 Santa Trains on New Jersey Transit

We know of 2 different Santa Trains being run on New Jersey Transit. Both on Saturday, 12/13/08; one on the Raritan Valley line and one on the Hackettstown-Netcong-Dover line.

Raritan Valley Santa Train

Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves for a train ride through the country. This trip features Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus along with a few of Santa's helpers. There are sing-a-longs, candy canes and coloring books for the kids. In addition, each car on the train features a drawing for a trainset; that's ten train sets per trip! Santa pays a visit to each car and is more than happy to pose for pictures with the kids.

The Raritain Valley train departs Raritan at 8:30 AM and goes to Westfield where it will depart at 9:00 AM for the trip to High Bridge. This train will then return to Westfield, stopping at Raritan along the way. A second trip will depart Westfield at 1:00 PM, travel to High Bridge and return to Westfield. The second trip does not stop at Raritan.

The price for the trip is $10.00 for children under 12 yrs. and $12.00 per adult.

We have tickets for these trips. Stop in the Big Little Railroad Shop now before these trips sell-out. Cash or personal check made out to the Jersey Central Railroad Historical Society. Sorry, no credit cards for train tickets.

For more information visit the following web site:

http://www.jcrhs.org/santa.html


Hackettstown-Netcong-Dover Santa Train

For information on this train, please visit the following web site:

http://tristaterail.org/santa.html

Schedule and pricing are slightly different than the Raritan Valley train.

We do not have tickets for this train.

The trains were as sparse as autumn's colors...

(Train sightings on 10-19-08.)

along the Lehigh Line on the sunny Sunday morning. The day started out with NS 18G passing through Three Bridges around 8:14. I happened to spot it going east as I drove over the Route 202 bridge. Driving over to Lansdown Junction , my scanner picked up still another east bounder. This train's symbol proved to be undecipherable when the engineer acknowledged the milepost. Omigosh, I am really doing good this morning I thought as I was now zero for two in photographing any trains. Finally arriving at Lansdown Junction, I waited for the next east bounder until finally growing a little weary of that spot. Shadows were starting to creep in and the fall colors were blah at best. Figured that River Road, just east of Stanton Station (MP 53) would be a possibility. The sun was starting to swing around and there was a little more color in the foliage there. My patience and perseverance was finally rewarded when I heard NS 212 call MP 53 at Stanton Station and blow his horn for the grade crossing there around 11:05. As it came around the curve, I saw that the first two units were Union Pacific. Seeing this through the viewfinder, I thought their armour yellow was certainly a nice color complement to autumn's colors at this location. After seeing my photograph, I hope that you will agree with that observation...

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference

Received the following via email.

October 29, 2008

Norfolk Southern Chief Financial Officer Squires to Address Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference

NORFOLK, VA. – James A. Squires, executive vice president finance and chief financial officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), will address the Goldman Sachs Global Industrials Conference 2008 on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in New York City during a panel discussion from 1:30-2:40 p.m. Interested investors can listen via a simultaneous webcast at http://cc.talkpoint.com/GOLD006/110508a_mg/?entity=nscorp.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Three Way Interlocking Crossing

Received the following via email.

Note: click on the second picture to see it enlarged so you can read about this special piece of trackwork.

Pre World War II color photos

Received the following via email. Just over half way down is a picture taken inside a roundhouse with steam locomotives.

Check out this website, full of Kodachromes from the pre-war era.

http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/ALookBackInHistory.htm

Norfolk Southern Moves Record Coal Tonnage in Third Quarter 2008

Received the following via email.

October 23, 2008

Norfolk Southern Moves Record Coal Tonnage in Third Quarter 2008

NORFOLK, VA. – Norfolk Southern hauled 49.67 million tons of coal in the third quarter of 2008, an all-time quarterly high driven by strong export demand and more shipments of domestic metallurgical coal.

Third-quarter 2008 coal tonnage increased 6 percent, up from 46.84 million tons during the same period last year. The previous record for any quarter was 49.27 million tons in second quarter 2008.

Even as it handles record coal amounts, Norfolk Southern has reduced the transit time of shipments over major coal lanes, with an 8.8 percent improvement for the first nine months of 2008.

“Faster transit times when tonnage is at record levels indicate a fluid rail network with capacity for growth,” said Donald W. Seale, Norfolk Southern executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “These results reflect Norfolk Southern’s continued commitment to satisfy customer demand with efficient, timely service.”

Norfolk Southern’s export coal tonnage in the third quarter of 2008 was up 55 percent over the same period last year, to 6.26 million tons from 4.05 million tons, the majority of it used to make coke for steel production. Tonnage of coal shipped through the Baltimore transloading operation increased 128 percent, to 1.45 million tons from 636,000 tons, while tonnage through the Pier 6 transloading facility at Norfolk, Va., rose 42 percent, to 4.81 million tons from 3.38 million tons.

“By September 6 of this year, tonnage moving over Pier 6 had exceeded the total handled there for all of 2007,” Seale said. “Even at this level, we have the capacity to double current volume, should coal supply and demand support that degree of increased activity.”

In the domestic steel-related market, including coke, iron ore, and metallurgical coal used to make coke, tonnage hauled by Norfolk Southern in third quarter 2008 increased 8 percent over the same period last year, to 5.24 million tons from 4.85 million tons.

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America's largest rail carrier of metals and automotive products.

Stourbridge RR Photo Charter Trip

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr.

The Photo Charter trip on the Stourbridge RR is a "GO". Fare is $50.00 and is payable by check or money order to Steve Barry. There is a link to a Paypal account if you wish to use plastic.

Trip runs on Saturday, November 29, 2008 (Saturday after Thanksgiving).

The trip will leave Honesdale, PA at 1000hrs, EST. and return by 2000hrs, EST. There will be night photo opportunities on-line. Lighting will be by Lumydine flash. There will also be a layover in Hawley for dinner. (There is a good pizza/Italian restaurant with in walking distance...Joe & Lorenzo's).

Please send payment as soon as possible to:

Steve Barry
117 High St
Newton, NJ 07860

Paypal link thru www.daylightimages.com/bl2

Thank you for your interest and support. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Update on the Stourbridge Railroad

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary Jr. The text, photos, and captions are his, except as noted.

WE DID IT!!!

Greetings: After a summer of delays and frustrations on the Stourbridge Railroad, we finally got the bridge at Hawley finished to the point that we are once again connected to the out-side world!!! On Saturday, OCT 4, 2008...we ran the very first train over the newly rebuilt spans to the town of Lackawaxen, PA. This capped off a week of 20 hour days, laying track, ballasting, & tamping the approaches to the bridge. WHEW!!!!!!

Despite all the hard work and dedication that we at Central Penn Rail Corp have done to connect the line, the new owner, Paul Broncatta of Ideal Steel on Long Island, NY, has decided to throw us off and contract with the Morristown & Erie RR. They are expected to take over total control on 1-1-2009. Until that time, we will continue to operate the line to the best of our abilities. Soooooo.....get your photos this year, there may not be another chance to do so......

The final frame of tonight's offering is of our newest employee, Nate Haydt, who upon reaching his 18th Birthday, has joined the operating department as a brakeman. Nate has been active with us over the past year, volunteering as a car host and helping out where ever he was needed. If anyone out there would like to volunteer as a car host, PLEASE contact the Chamber of Commerce in Honesdale, PA.

54..first train over the new bridge at Hawley, PA...Photo by Nate Haydt

Scenes along the Lackawaxen River East of Hawley, PA

Our newest Brakeman...Nate Haydt...turned 18 on 10-2-2008

Weekly Rail Carloading Report - Week 44, 2008

There is an interesting report available on the web that is "A Weekly Report of North American Rail Freight Traffic by Major Railroad and Commodity." It is currently showing data for week 39 of 2008. Take a look.

http://railfax.transmatch.com/

Here is an example of the information available on this web site. This graph shows Total Traffic for 2007-2008 vs. 2006-2007. There are more graphs and tables on the web site showing data by railroad and by commodity.



Note: This web site has new tables and graphs every Thursday. So, if I am late or miss a week with this blog posting, you can check for new data on Thursdays.

Hillsborough Railroad Quite Zones - status update

Following article is from the Courier News dated Sunday, 11-2-08.

Horn blasts to be eliminated at 2 Hillsborough rail crossings

By PAMELA SROKA-HOLZMANN
November 2, 2008

HILLSBOROUGH —Horn blasts at two township railroad intersections are expected to be eliminated effective Nov. 18, after the Norfolk Southern Rail Line finishes making required electronic safety improvements.

Municipal officials have implemented quiet zones — alternatives to horn blasts — at the Beekman Lane and Auten Road rail crossings.

The township committee approved contracts in March to build safety medians at four rail crossings and install an electronic backup safety improvement at three of them.

The contracts provided for the construction of 100-foot medians on either side of three rail crossings at Beekman Lane, Auten and Roycefield roads — including road stripping and warning signage — for $191,188. The railroad safety improvements were installed at each of the crossings by Norfolk Southern, for $141,000, said Clerk and Business Administrator Kevin Davis.

Township officials have said the majority of the funding for the quiet zone project comes from a $250,000 developer's contribution from Beazer Homes, the developer of the Pleasantview Estates project, and $100,000 in budgeted funds. The state Department of Transportation has approved the plans.

Previously, train operators approaching a crossing sounded a horn four times. In Hillsborough, the horn blasts resulted in 16 horn blasts for the four rail crossings that traverse the township: Beekman Lane, Auten, Valley and Roycefield roads. The new quiet zones will cut those horn blasts by half, with eight horn blasts in total (four blasts each) at the Valley and Roycefield roads crossings, Davis said.

Construction began at Auten Road, Beekman Lane and the Roycefield Road railroad grade crossings in July and ended in September. The construction was done after township officials got complaints from homeowners who were hearing horn blasts during the very early morning, and all along the nine-mile length of the Norfolk Southern line.

"The township has complied with the federal quiet zone regulations and locomotive engineers will begin honoring the quiet zones in Hillsborough on or about Nov. 18," said William Barringer, director of grade crossing safety for the Norfolk Southern Corporation. "Norfolk Southern appreciates the hard work of everyone involved in the process required by the federal regulations."

The next step is for the township to seek an agreement with Norfolk Southern for a wayside horn — where a horn is placed at the intersection of a crossing and would be directed at cars — at the Valley Road railroad crossing. Quiet zone safety improvements also have been completed at the Roycefield Road rail crossing. Improvements there must be done at the Valley Road crossing before the horn blasts can be eliminated at the Roycefield Road crossing, Davis said.

Maurice Rached of Maser Consulting, a township traffic and quiet zone engineer, called the rail crossings "safer" with these improvements.

Status update of Hillsborough quiet zone grade crossings

Following article is from the Courier news dated Tuesday, 10-7-08.

Railroad work completed

Construction of the railroad quiet zone safety medians-at Auten Road, Beekman Lane and Roycefield Road railroad crossings- and road work on Valley Road have been completed.

In an effort to establish the railroad quiet zones, township officials currently are working with the Norfolk Southern Rail Line to secure all the “required electrical safety improvements,” which the rail line must install prior to the establishment of the quiet zones, said Hillsborough Clerk and Business Administrator Kevin Davis.

“These safety improvements must be completed by the rail line and are required by the Federal Railroad Administration in order to protect the safety at the crossings,” said Committeeman Carl Suraci in a statement. “The next step in the process is for Norfolk Southern to make the electrical safety improvements to the crossing mechanisms, which, we have been advised, should occur over the next month.

Once the improvements are in place and have been verified, township officials anticipate final authorization by the Federal Railroad Administration to stop the train horns at crossings, Suraci said.

Suraci said township officials and Norfolk Southern representatives also are discussing the placement of a wayside horn-where a horn is placed at the intersection of a crossing and would be directed at cars- at the Valley Road crossing.

Premier Northeastern Shortline

Received the following via email from Kermit Geary, Jr. The text, photos, and captions are his.

The Classiest Regional Railroad in Northeastern PA is the Delaware Lackawanna, based out of Scranton, PA. Operating many types of Alcos has always been their claim to fame. Today they added another feather to their hat....The ONLY place in the WORLD that you can find THREE Alco RS-3's operating!!!! And all three are from one owner, the D&H!

D-L 4118 & sisters at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA

D-L 4118-4103-4068 at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA

D-L 4118, Scranton, PA

pushing just west of MP 115, Lehigh Summit, PA

smoking it up at Bridge 60, Scranton, PA

pushing out of town at Scranton, PA

The regular scheduled train to Portland, PA is seen in the following two images.

PT-98 at MP 115, Lehigh Summit, PA

PT-98 leaving Scranton, PA

People of the Delaware Lackawanna RR

Received the following from Kermit Geary, Jr. Text, photos, and captions are his.

Here are a couple shots of two real good people in the employ of the D-L....Without Donny, none of these wonderful sights would be possible. And without Mikey, it just wouldn't be fun!!!!!

Mike Vassallo, D-L's premier engineer, on cloud 9 with his newest pet.

Don Collangelo trouble shoots a minor teething problem with 4068