Posts Tagged ‘Freight Train’
Little trees and Two Hey Now’s
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
‘Everytime you leave the house it doesn’t have to be the Odyssey,’ that’s what I keep telling myself.
Now that the busted ankle has transitioned to ‘more or less reliable’ again – I’m additionally trying to make my ‘old’ exercise schedule of ‘two short walks, and one long one, 20-30 miles every week’ habitual, again.
…so… do what you say and say what you do?… These aphorisms of mine really do bind me into jams…
This time around, it was the South Side Slopes section of Pittsburgh, for a short walk of around five to six miles, and the first thing that caught my attention was this tiny tree growing out of a concretized sidewalk seam.
Neat.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After negotiating an interesting downwards course involving a couple of sets of Pittsburgh’s ‘City Steps,’ my target for the next section of my day involved the ‘PJ McArdle Roadway’ – a busy vehicular pathway, cantilevered out from the face of Mount Washington and providing diagonal egress between the ‘flats’ below and the prominences above.
The section of the roadway I was visiting additionally provides, for those of us who are wandering mendicants wielding cameras, an overlook opportunity for the trackage of the Norfolk Southern railroading outfit.
Hey Now!
Norfolk Southern #1099 was coming through.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is a relatively safe spot to hang out and wait for trains to come and go, I’d mention, with stout concrete and steel separation between the pedestrian path and the vehicle lanes. It’s also a kind of photogenic spot, since you can see the tower buildings of Downtown Pittsburgh from it.
My old pal Bernie always said ‘make sure you get something in the background to give it a sense of place.’ He was referring to Newtown Creek, of course, and how compositions with the Empire State Building in frame instantly ‘placed’ the waterway and told an implicit story.
Norfolk Southern #1099 was hauling a long train of cars that were carrying a black mineral. Probably coal, but unless I know what something is, I stay general.
Take a look (Flickr link). What do you think it is?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
In between trains, I was entertained by the antics of the local fauna, but I’m a man/boy simpleton. Ask anyone.
One was traveling light again on this walk. The camera was wearing the 24-240mm zoom lens, and the only spare lens I had with me was an 85mm one, which I can use to shoot through chain link fences.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One of the advantages of this spot is that you can see the RR signal lights from up here, and thereby I knew to hang around as ‘something else was coming.’ You can look that one up, the codes for the lights, btw.
About twenty minutes behind #1099, along came Norfolk Southern #6955.
Hey Now!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Norfolk Southern #6955 was pulling a line of train cars similar to those that were behind #1099, but these particular contrivances were loaded with large quantities of – what seemed to be – metallic slabs.
Most likely these were slabs of steel, as this is – indeed – Pittsburgh.
That’s a guess, though, and as in the case of the black minerals being hauled by #1099 above – if you don’t know what something is – for sure – speak about it in ‘general terms.’
What do you think it was? Take a look (Flickr link).
Back tomorrow 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.
Hey Now! and then, back to my long walk
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Lucky. To start, that locomotive engine pictured prominently in today’s post is older than I am – and that’s saying something at this point in time.
Built in December of 1966, the ‘GP40’ engine originally showed up for work as engine number 183 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1970, it changed jobs after a merger and went to work for the Burlington Northern RR as engine number 3013.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
In 1987, BN retired the engine, and it found a new job and identity at the National Railroad Equipment Company, where it became known as NREX 3013. In 1994, this old trooper received a rebuild which brought its emissions into line with modern regulation, whereupon the ‘Carload Express’ outfit bought the unit and branded it as ‘Allegheny Valley/AVR 4001.’
This particular set of tracks, as I understand it, is a part of what AVR calls its ‘Valley Line.’
I asked Google’s AI about this, and here’s its result:
AVR-2 (Valley Line Freight): Primarily a third-shift night job working Sunday–Thursday up the Allegheny River valley to New Kensington and Arnold. However, heavy fracking sand demands mean regular Saturday morning “Sand Extras” run in daylight along this corridor.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Before you ponder, I was on the ‘correct side’ of the signal arms with my back planted firmly on some factory’s chain link fence.
Y’know, was kind of glad that I decided to divert from the Butler Street corridor right around here. Yeah! I’d been ‘out of sync’ with RR shots for the last few walks.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
All that I can tell you about their cargo is that these are the the kind of train cars which get filled up from chutes found above, and which then deposit their cargo into chutes found below. Maybe this is that ‘fracking sand’ train Gemini mentioned above? Could be, but as is often stated – I don’t ‘guess.’ All I can offer is the most general form of visual observation, which boils down to what sort of rail car this is.
Covered Hopper Car, I’d wager.
What do you think, railfans?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As I backed away, the secondary locomotive engine appeared. It’s what they call a ‘DPU’ in railroad world.
Also via Google’s AI:
A Distributed Power Unit (DPU) is a locomotive or group of locomotives positioned in the middle or at the rear of a long freight train, rather than just at the front. These units are uncrewed and are operated remotely by the engineer inside the lead locomotive cab using a radio-based control link.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Sated, your humble narrator returned to his miserable course.
If defeat, humiliation, and personal dissolution could be given human form, it wouldn’t appear as pathetic or horrific as that which greets me in the reflections of store windows while scuttling past. I used to be pretty.
I look like the personification of six of the seven deadly sins these days, manifested within a badly functioning human body that’s armored in scars and drowning in sorrow.
Children cry, dogs howl, birds fly away in a panic.
Well… most birds… the Canada Gooses are always a different story.
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.
2 ‘Hey Now’s,’ price of 1
Thursday October 8
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After arriving on the south shore of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, via the T light rail from the Downtown area, your humble narrator scuttled towards a familiar destination – a brewery that sits alongside the CSX Pittsburgh Subdivision tracks.
The plan was to grab a beer, but just one on this day, as it was still kind of early (around 2 pm). I was on my way to the brewery when the signal arms descended and the chimes began ringing.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now!
CSX #3028 hurled past. Heading away from Pittsburgh, in a southeasterly direction.
Historically, the space I was walking through used to be a part of an enormous train yard operated by the PLERR – ‘P&LE” or the ‘Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad.’
That trivia would matter, when the next one appeared.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One was heading towards the usual spot at the brewery, and that cold beer I had been dreaming about for a few miles now. So was #3028 and the line of mixed rail cars that it was hauling behind it.
Managed to get to the brewery, inspect the porcelain, and order a drink.
Just as I was securing my gear around the outdoor table which I’d be occupying, the signal chimes lit up again and the RR’s wooden barrier arms descended at the street intersections.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Next up was CSX #1875.
Hey Now! – This is the 15th train which the CSX people have painted up with ‘heritage’ color ways and branding for this year’s July 4th dealie.
Here’s their press release.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I wish there was some way I could convey how loud the experience is, having a fright train shoot past you about ten to twenty feet away – at speed – while it’s passing through a space wherein it’s entirely surrounded by brick walls. Sound bounces, and reflects, and… scalar effects, that’s what they’re called.
Suffice to say that I could be listening to Black Sabbath – at maximum volume – through headphones jammed tightly in my ears, and I would not be able to hear a single note of it. Lord of this world, indeed.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Similarly to #3028, #1875 was heading in a southeasterly direction and towards the ‘Mon Valley,’ a highly industrialized series of communities which hug the shorelines of the Monongahela River all the way through PA, and then into West Virginia.
To sum this area up simply – it’s the rust belt.
Back tomorrow with something that’s WAY different.
“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.
All you kids, say ‘Hey Now’
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
These locomotive shots were gathered during various summer outings in Pittsburgh, and likely captured sometime around the end of July or early August. Mostly during short walks that I was taking here and there, or while waiting for something else to happen and killing some time.
On CSX’s tracks, along the southern shore of the Monongahela River, I spotted a BNSF train set – which is extraordinary to my experience in Pittsburgh.
Normally, you just see CSX blue and gold rolling through here.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A Norfolk Southern unit, seen from the same South Side Flats area as the BNSF train above, but transiting on an elevated trestle along the face of Mount Washington. The ramps surrounding it are vehicular roadways, specifically the PJ McArdle Roadway at the top and Sycamore Street directly above the train.
The business of life finds me visiting many sections of the city, not just the areas where which I particularly like waving the camera about, such as here on the South Side.
When I’m out for walk, however, I like scenery.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Over on the north side, during one of those walks in the Manchester/Chateau neighborhood, this Norfolk Southern unit seemed to just be aching for something to do.
You’ll often see a double engine like this just sitting there idling at rail yards, with this one dubbed as being the Island Avenue Yard.
It was difficult angle to shoot from, over fences and through surveyor holes, so a move was busted and I found a better POV.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There we are.
I wasn’t satisfied yet, and so began scuttling South. Towards Allegheny Commons Park, and that cool rail trench it hosts.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey Now!
These shots were captured during that brutally hot interval at the end of July. and the beginning of August. Was not fun being out, and especially not so with the burning thermonuclear eye of god itself staring at my back. Always keep the light source behind you, or just to the side…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Not going to lie, this T light rail shot was captured in the same session as the BNSF one at the top, but it does illustrate my mass transit journey back to HQ.
Back tomorrow 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.
A Hey Now! Triad
Thursday sep 24
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After a medium length walk, one ended up at a familiar spot in the South Side Flats section of Pittsburgh.
What’s now called ‘Burgher’s Brewery,’ formerly the ‘Sly Fox Brewery,’ sits alongside a set of CSX railroad tracks that are fairly busy. Upon my arrival at the brewery, and after a visit to the lavatory, I purchased a pint of ale and got busy.
First up was CSX #1897, which was painted up in ‘heritage’ colors.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
American Railroads offered a quite confusing business map when they were the dominant form of investable industry in this country, and it gets more so when you enter and exit the post Conrail era. The current nationwide companies consolidated, with other survivors of the industry’s early 1970’s apocalypse and nationalization, out of Conrail.
Outfits like Norfolk Southern and CSX were formed from the smoking rubble of the bankrupted freight rail system, dominated by Pennsylvania Railroad and their arch rivals New York Central in the northeast.
This is too long a tale to tell, so I’ll direct you towards Wikipedia for what Conrail was and how all of the modern freight rail companies ‘fell’ out of it.
To understand the ‘world which was,’ let’s just analogize that in the late 19th and early 20th – you didn’t gamble on bitcoin or tech stocks which were promising breakthrough AI services – you bought into railroad stock, and then got out as soon as it paid a return. Rail was pretty much the ‘high tech sector’ back then, but was far more volatile. Let that sink in.
All of the modern freight carriers run ‘heritage units,’ with specialized paint jobs, which signify railroad routes and companies which they have consolidated into the modern operation. Rail fans love this stuff.
‘Monon Railroad’ was one of the many smaller outfits that were combined into CSX. Hear about 1897 direct from the horse’s mouth.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I usually don’t keep shooting after the ‘head of the snake’ has passed out of frame, but there were several ‘DPU’ locomotives in line behind 1897 and a couple of them were interesting to me.
Y’know, even if I was shooting video here, there’s no way I’d be able to convey the absolute landslide of reflected noise which a group of locomotives makes when passing through a narrow brick lined slot like this. Were I able to record it, I wouldn’t be able to play it back at the same volume without the benefit of some movie theater’s sound system – and even then… LOUD.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another interesting locomotive was in line, this one painted up with the branding and color way of the ‘Maryland Midland’ outfit.
Hmm. That’s a new one.
I headed inside the brewery and ordered a ‘reload’ for my ale, and also paid my tab. As mentioned often, two drinks is plenty for me these days.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I started walking towards the Station Square Light Rail station shortly after CSX #5236 up there passed me by. I followed one of the trails, after returning my glass to the bartender. Yep, inspected the porcelain again, then set off. I managed to meet up with the group of people I wanted to see, and got a free hot dog out of it too.
At the end of the game, after arriving back at HQ, I had walked something like nine miles all told. ‘Not every walk has to be the Bataan Death March’ is – as you might recall – a new motto of mine.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While plying the trail towards the T light rail station, yet another CSX train rolled past me. All told, I felt pretty satisfied with the outing’s effort.
My day didn’t suck.
Back tomorrow 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.
