Early Spring Railfanning, April 10-12, 2009

Early Spring Railfanning
April 10-12, 2009
(click on each image to see a larger version -- approx 1024X768)

	This is my first ever photo attempt at the new signals & crossover at "Success." This CP is part of the new double-track section just opened on the NS' Hagerstown District. 5:05pm April 10, 2009 North of Front Royal, VA

	Another place I've never taken a photo: the new CTC signals at "Allison", the location of the old West Allison spring switch. A dreary day, not great for photography; one that reminds us that Spring is still in its earliest stage. 2:36pm April 11, 2009 The Plains, VA

The day did get better, so we decided to re-align one of the ATCS antennae on the station at Boyce. That put us "conveniently" in position for a high angle shot of a pair of Southbounds!

4:25pm
Boyce, VA

	Swinging the antenna took just a few minutes and before we could get down, here was the second train! 4:37pm Boyce, VA

Yea, that's right, look at the time.
I skipped church on EASTER SUNDAY to go train-watching!

I arrived just in time to (safely) cross to the platform for this Eastbound crossing onto track 4 to take the Old Main Line to Baltimore.

11:41am
April 12, 2009
Point of Rocks, MD

Eastbound Q415 was held at the Point of Rocks signal for Amtrak 30 to run around him.

12:32pm

Amtrak out of the way, Q415 could proceed. I'd noticed before crossing to the platform that ATCS showed something lined Westbound on track 1. I went to the far East end of the platform hoping I would be in position to catch whatever was coming the other way.

12:41pm

He was moving slow under an approach signal so I felt safe with a close low-angle shot and tried a couple of those. The East Rocks signal changed to clear and he began to accelerate so I gave up hope for the Westbound. I stood and turned away then heard another locomotive noise. I spun around, threw the lens cap off, and "snapped" a shot. Yep, I caught the meet but with no planning, I and the camera were unprepared -- the focal point was the new shoots on the tree to the right! Arrrrrrrrgggh!!!!!!

12:41pm

I headed West to Shenandoah Junction hoping for both NS & CSX action. I barely missed a Northbound at Luther Jones Road but did catch Westbound CSX coal train #1612 in a well-lit afternoon shot typical of this place.

3:35pm
Shenandoah Junction, WV


4:40pm - Shepherdstown, WV 37Q heads South across the Potomac River bridge. I decided to try for a bridge shot but Spring has not sprung enough to make the shot from the highway bridge attractive so I came here to the Fulton monument. Not as much color as I'd like, but still not bad.

I had a lamp to repair, a task I could do at home BUT I could also do it track-side so which option do you think I took?

The sun totally wrong for a Northbound, I thought I'd try a low silhouette. Not great, the speed at such close distance blurred the lead unit, but it's not bad so I'll include it as a "end of weekend" shot.

6:32pm
Boyce, VA

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Mack Muir