Posts Tagged ‘CSX’
Train, three
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Wow, what a scuttle I was experiencing.
A third CSX train entered the frame while I was walking along, heading westwards, CSX #7504. As mentioned a couple of days ago, I’ve spent as long as two hours waiting for something – anything – to appear on these tracks in Pittsburgh in the past and ‘nada.’
In the interval of about thirty minutes, one observed a Towboat maneuvering fifteen mineral barges, two CSX trains, and then a second Towboat at work. Sometimes you get lucky. Most of the time, I don’t.
There’s a reason I don’t buy lotto tickets.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
# 7504 screamed past me, and in the distance, I saw a plume of exhaust shoot up out of the CSX # 7289 unit, which had been sitting inert while these other two westerly trains passed through.
A shooting position was taken up, and another lens change iniated.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the Fort Pitt bridge framing the shot above, and which I was standing in the shadow of. It was a bright and sunny day, and a bit of cover was required at this point, as I was beginning to feel the effect of having been exposed to the radiates of the Burning Thermonuclear Eye of God itself for several hours at this point.
My day wasn’t actually finished yet, I’ll point out. I was already an hour late in terms of a social engagement later in the evening, but when the universe is sending this much in the way of cool stuff your way – you keep shooting until the show is over.
Back tomorrow with even more.
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Train, too
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While walking a waterfront trail, found along the south bank of the Monongahela River here in Pittsburgh, one had spotted a train sitting entirely still while pointed eastwards (described yesterday). The signal boards which govern the movement of such transportation units indicated that ‘something’ was likely going to be heading westwards shortly.
CSX #1899 ending being one of the somethings, but it ended up not being the only something. Such occurrences bring joy to one such as myself.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On the actual river bank found on the other side of the tracks, a towboat was tying up to a series of mineral barges. Most of the time, nothing happens when passing through here. When something is happening, a lot of other things seem to also be happening. This is sort of ‘the way of things’ when you’re in the habit of following a camera around.
This spot is right about the point where the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh commingle, and form the headwaters of the Ohio River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
CSX #1899 is what’s known as a heritage unit, painted up all ‘old timey’ special and it’s christened as the ‘Pere Marquette.’ Read all about it here.
Were I a railfan rather than just some ‘icehole who likes taking pictures of trains,’ I’d likely be jumping up and down with joy at this capture, but that would puncture the numbed down and dire outlook on life which I pride myself on. Nothing matters, and nobody cares, after all.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Train, one
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After witnessing a Towboat maneuvering an amazing fifteen mineral barges, while walking over the West End Bridge (discussed yesterday), my scuttling path saw a humble narrator encountering a series of CSX trains along the Monongahela River, here in the heart of Pittsburgh.
I’ve experienced multiple hour long intervals where there isn’t a hint of activity along these tracks, but this time around I got lucky.
CSX #7289 was just idling there, held up by signals, on my left.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On my right, as the Monongahela Incline was rising up towards the summit of Mount Washington, and a Norfolk Southern train was transiting under its cantilevered trackway.
On did a humble narrator scuttle.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
CSX #7289 is a bit of mystery to me, although a bit of googling suggests that it had recently been renumbered from an earlier classification. It was sitting there at a dead standstill, and a glance down the tracks revealed that the signal boards for this track were red in coloration, whereas the second track’s signals revealed a yellow light.
Another lens change ensued, as I guessed that the yellow light meant something was coming my way and heading west.
More on that tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Dumberer, and Dumbtastic
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The long walk upon which I ran out of gas, described this week, ended with a cab ride over to a brewery nearby the light rail station which would carry me home. Said brewery is found alongside a fairly busy rail corridor operated by the CSX outfit. While relaxing my sore back and rehydrating with a pint of Pilsner, the signal arms at the grade crossing of the tracks activated, and I painfully stumbled over to get a shot of the passing train.
That’s when I saw one of the most dumbass things I’ve witnessed in the last couple of years occurred. Guys on dirt bikes ignoring the warning bells, the stop lights, and racing across the tracks in front of a moving train.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The trains don’t move terribly fast in this section for obvious reasons, but… Y’know, there’s a lot of ‘physics’ at work when you’re talking about locomotives. Getting hit by a slow moving train (15-20 mph) is somewhat related to getting shot by a fast moving bullet.
Had this kid miscalculated his crossing, hundreds of thousands of tons of mass would have been imparted to his bike and body. Parts of him would have become a red mist as he dismembered, and components of his bike would have gone airborne and landed dozens of feet from the point of impact. If the train operator had to hit the brakes to initiate a full stop, it would have taken the locomotive a good half mile to do so.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
You don’t screw around with trains, I always say. I used to say that about boats and ships in New York Harbor. It’s hard to conceive some of the titanic forces and physics surrounding such enormous machines, but as a reminder just keep saying to yourself ‘speed times mass.’ The reason a tiny bullet can pop a basketball size hole in you is ‘speed times mass,’ and the reason why a slow moving train can dismember you despite its relatively low traveling velocity is ‘speed times mass.’
Dumb, dumber, dumbest. This was some ‘Darwin Award’ shit right here.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The CSX unit was still blowing its horns as it passed through the grade crossing. One of the factors that the motorcyclist’s dumb move accomplished was introducing pure nightmare fuel for the operator of this locomotive. I’ve talked to NYC Subway personnel who experienced the hell of somebody jumping in front of a train they were operating, and have been told that it’s a life changing experience which never – ever – leaves you.
‘Eff you, motorcycle guy.’
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After getting the shot above, and finishing my pint of beer, a painful but short walk found me waiting for a T Light Rail car to shuttle me back to HQ. I was absolutely ‘out of gas,’ when I got home and prepared an evening meal. I wish I could say it was good, but I soon found myself in urgent physical distress, and didn’t finish it.
All I could think about was sleep, and found myself in bed by 9:30 p.m., a situation which Moe the Dog was highly in favor of. I was quite sore when I woke up the next morning, but had recovered from what was likely a heat and dehydration related physical crisis. Wow.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Lesson is: don’t ‘break the chain’ on regular exercise as it’s an absolute trial to get things started again. Also, I have to start carrying a water bottle with me during the summer. Also – yes, I was wearing a hat.
Back next week with something different at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
CSX Cumberland apertif
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, I found a point of view location for the CSX Terminal in Maryland’s city of Cumberland. Take that, jabronies.
One realizes that this quest of mine sounds fairly obsessive, and I haven’t been able to get close at all to what I really want shots of (the roundhouse), but… darn it… this is the closest I’ve managed to get to the facility and I was glad of it.
This whole ‘train thing’ has been a real learning experience, I tell you, but I’m not done yet. Learning, learning, learning.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is my second or third day trip to this area, which is about a two hour drive, and what I’d consider to be the southeastern corner of the Pittsburgh metroplex. A significant section of the journey takes place on the modern incarnation of the ‘National Road’ – Route 40, which dates back to 1812, and travels through the Laurel Highlands. If you’re interested in seeing an absolutely gorgeous section of the eastern United States – put the Laurel Highland on your list.
Cumberland is high on my ‘to explore’ list, and I’ll definitely be trying to pay the place a good amount of attention while waving the camera around.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
An oddly painted track maintenance unit was spotted at the Cumberland Terminal, all decked out in the sort of urban camouflage pattern which the military favors. Can’t imagine why you’d paint equipment like this in such a manner, but there you go. Normally these sorts of things are brightly painted so you can’t ‘not notice’ them.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
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