SD90MAC Follow-Up

I refer to an article from 2008 where I posted some photos of original SD90's I'd taken over the years. Considering that they were generally used 1500-2000+ miles from Maine didn't seem to make the encounters as rare as one would expect. They had some eastern history which I happened to stumble into over the years. Here is the old article on this blog.

Now enter Facebook. Love it or hate it, it does provide some interesting sources of railfan info. Here we find the SD90's again, thanks to the "Altoonaworks" website and their postings on Facebook. If you look at the news feed, you'll see something called "Juniata Insourcing", though I'm not sure what you'll see if you don't have a Facebook account. Apparently some have already been re-engined with EMD 16-710 motors and sent to Australia. Going by the cab numbers these do appear to be at least some of the same batch as seen in Butler, PA working for GWI in 2008.

Another piece of evidence in support of "shoot 'em when you can".

BC

Spring Has Sprung. 4/17/11

DT&I Fan and I got out and about on Pan Am District 1 for a few hours. Not much was seen, but that's normal. Just RUPO at Leeds Jct. and something in the yard at Waterville. It wasn't a bad day for sun, though it was hidden when I needed it for photos.

I also took the opportunity to get some snowless shots of the new track arrangements at Danville Jct. You'll note where the operator's shack used to be between the crossings and where the diamond has been removed. The old MEC mainline is now the siding and the siding is now the main. I also tried to show some detail on the SLR side. The crossing and much of the track to the old diamond hasn't been removed yet. Pam Am already stores cars on the old main where the diamond crossed. Anyone who reads this is likely to know the old track arrangement and recognize the changes.

I had to shoot the pile of old rails next to the crossing. They looked like old CN heavy mainline rails. The fact that they were next to the old GT main didn't hurt my guess. They were under a lot of dirty snow, judging by their appearance.

The final shots to the right and top are later in the excursion. The RUPO is by the distinctive signals at Leeds Jct. That signal of course places the shot. The other pics are just a pair of beasts lurking in Waterville Yard. The place was pretty quiet otherwise. Lots of cars and trains as well as one hidden #315 switching somewhere. I just liked the clear shot of the train stretched out over the yard .

The radio was pretty quiet so we quit while there was still some sunshine. It there had been any prospects of action somewhere near, we would have tried to find it. But, that's Maine these days.

BC

Federal Judge Ruled against the Canadian National Railway about access to thr MM&A's line to the papermill in Northern Maine.Maybe a summer trip up north to explore the lines? Skull.