News For Joey

Fitchburg/South Acton Alerts
Fitchburg/South Acton - Train #418 (10:27am inbound) is experiencing a 15-20 min delay 2/28/2008 11:33 AM.

A Past Trip To Montreal In Photos

The Wheelman and I took off for Montreal one dark and stormy night December 27, 2006. It was Christmas break and we had to go railfanning somewhere for the solstice. Time was too short for many distant places but Montreal is only a little farther than a trip to Worcester, from Hebron. It was short notice but what the heck. We'd find a cheap place near the airport in Dorval and start the morning at the depots. A quick run out to Coteau Jct. for the Ottawa Central and see what we can see on the CP and CN mainlines. On return we'd drop down into New York, Vermont and New Hampster seeking NECR, the old D&H and anything else moving. A long day but only one night away from home.

We started at the Dorval suburban station, located conveniently next to the CP and CN mains. VIA even has a depot on the CN side. This was the base for a previous HAPT video mission a year earlier and since produced for “Train Time”. Then we stayed at the hotel next door and seen in the cab car photo. This time we were down the road a bit. Here are two samples, fore and aft, of the AMT service inbound for the morning commute.


Here we have a sampling of Coteau Jct. sights. The CN line branches off here for New York and CSX. The Ottawa Central also connects here, but the “Luck of the Apollo” didn't work on them this time. We did see the local out of Montreal with flatcars for the OC and it also featured many Maine cars. Behind the depot the switcher was crashing together some cars in the small yard along the wye. While we drove around the neighborhood in our quest for the OC we were ambushed by the Operation Lifesaver unit leading LRC cars west.

In the afternoon we waited around another suburban station in sight of both lines and caught the “Red Barn” on a westbound. We saw plenty but nothing showed on the CN for us when the cameras came out. I think we saw one or two other CP's and the same commuter set making it's mid-day turns.


Though we caught a lot of radio traffic going home and the NECR was moving in the dark, this NB Amtrak at Rouses Point was the last train we photographed on our long day.

A few tolerable tidbits from the file of another great adventure.


BC

Two HAPTers in NY - April 2007

Hello All,
Heres another from the HAPT archives :-)
http://www.rrnne.net/bigtrips/nyapril2007/index.html
Thats a link to the April 2007 trip Brad and I made to upstate New York.
Enjoy!
-Joey

H.A.P.T. Hooters Summit In WARWICK,R.I. ?

Just for Joey Kelley; I propose a "HOOTERS SUMMIT" Warwick,R.I. this summer,followed by HOT Amtrak, MBTA Commuter Rail(Purple Trains For Joey) then up to the P&W maybe even at "THE SLATE"
Comments Gents?

HAPT Adventure in Altoona PA

Hello All,
Just wanted to provide a link to the 2006 trip some of us HAPTers made to Altoona, PA.
http://www.rrnne.net/bigtrips/altoonafeb2006/index.html
-Joey

The W.F.P.T. Mobile News Room

This is my business railfanning Vehicle.I was
just outside CSX Selkirk Yard on a school geology field trip.
Baxter State Park,N.Y.Last fall.the CSX main
line is below the cliffs.
Skull

When Did We Get This Name Anyway?

The "why" is easy enough to figure out. But, who can remember ancient history? How about an Ancient History teacher...

As I recall, "The Wheelman" began posting on NERail with "HAPT" or some variation after his name, like the W.F.P.T. guys. (Of course, I'm too lazy to put all those periods in our name.) Anyone with digital records and time could find the exact day, but how about a picture worth a thousand words. Click here: Acela 2150

As I recall, right after this photo was taken we chatted with Gary Young about the name being a take-off on the W.F.P.T. and how it was at the end of a post made only the night before. If it wasn't the first use, it was real close to it. That was a cold but eventful day by the way.

Speaking of wandering, how about this grab shot of an eastbound SAPPI local in Fairfield with Skull last July 7th:


A little reminiscing for the digital record.

BC

COUNT THE WFPT P.R. Guy IN!

Last Sunday 2-17-08 The Boys of The Worcester Foreign Power Team on a royal decree by "THE BOSS"Gary Young,we went in search of "FOREIGN POWER" and it was leading the empty Bow,N.H. Coal train southbound on PanAm's "Northern Main Line" At Bow Jct.,N.H.

W.F.P.T. members Billy Leazer(dual Mode,I'm

H.A.P.T. As Well)Dave Jodoin,Josh Moldover and Nick Palazini found our prey.After a few shots of the rare EMD SD60M 8113, BN had 100of these 3 window units and they rarely if ever head east to New England.We went to the Bow Junction Truckstop for breakfast (Great Buffet)and coffee.

We then followed it south thru Hookset,N.H.

Manchester,and Merrimack,N.H. before turning it over to fellow W.F. P.T. Rhode Island Members Matt Howard,Jilly R. and Steve(WEEZ) Delange at North Chelmsford,Ma.At CPN-1

At the Y as it entered District 3 from District 2 on "The Stoney Brook Branch"aka freight main Line.They chased it to Ayer,Ma. Other members chased it west to Gardner,Ma. And East Deerfield Yard.It was a fun day.I'm looking forward to summer and my annual trip up to L.A.

(Lewiston / Auburn,Maine) to hook up with my fellow H.A.P.T. Brothers.

Till Next Time Railfans.

Billy Leazer W.F.P.T. / H.A.P.T.

Mutual of Emmaus Mild Kingdom!

Ask Paul A. to explain this one! This blog is a great idea. Haven't really had the urge to blog before but this will be fantastic!

C

Second Post "Test"

This is a test of the Emergency Broadcasting System...

If you are looking for the "Welcome" post, keep scrolling down.

Here is a photo from a trip last summer, which is already on NERail. I'll post the photo then the link to it to try out the buttons on the posting screen...


Here is the link as a test of that button: That same photo.

This was from a little Kansas expedition with a buddy on the way back from "Nationals" in Wichita. If you see the photo and a working hyperlink, all tested well. You can even click on the photo to get it full size. I had a choice of sizes and placement. Do what you want.

ttfn

Welcome HAPT Members

Greetings HAPT Members;

HAPT members now have a place to "blog" their adventures! If you are a member of the team you will probably receive an email from Blogger which you should respond to in order to join and post. I wouldn't be here if there were any fancy requirements to join. I have iGoogle as my home page which automatically logs me in here.

The idea here is to share your "adventures" and photos with each other and the world. Keep it clean and appropriate. Rail is the primary focus but we all know that you guys are fun loving characters with a sense of humor. Share it all. I would just keep photos down to 800 x 700 or less. A couple of us still have 56k modems. You're on your own as far as posting anything fancy, but it's not too bad to figure out.

This stuff is something I have to do for school anyway (another reason to keep it clean) so adding another site for railfans is no big deal. My only thought is why I never thought to do it years ago.

Each member will have posting rights once I hear back from you. I'd be glad to add "friends of HAPT" as well. Some of you are better qualified to run this than I am so I'll take practical suggestions. The plain format can change as well but it will do for now. Let's call this an evolving concept. Be patient while we try this out. Meanwhile, feel free to share the location.

Post something when you get a chance to try it out.


BC aka "Debate Coach" (my Blogger handle on school blogs)