A Tale of Two Worcesters

I had to go to  a site visit in New York for a gas pipeline project, and decided to make the most of it by bringing my camera along. I would be in the region between Schenectady and Oneonta for a few days.  Naturally thoughts about the D&H began dancing in my head.

 Originally scheduled for the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the trip got cancelled after I departed due to the heavy rains that swamped Maine over the holiday weekend.. I didn't get flagged down to turn back until I was handy to Yarmouth. As luck would have it, it was close to noon time,and I knew that a Brunswick-bound Downeaster would be nearby.  I headed to Yarmouth Junction with only minutes to spare.  Yarmouth Junction is not an especially photogenic locale (I haven't had a reason to go there in over 15 years) but it has the noteriety of being the last active railroad diamond in Maine. I was amazed how grown up the foliage is to the poiut that the classic view from the SW quandrant is not feasible anymore.  It was nice to see a revenue passenger train clipping along Maine Central property at a respectable speed!

so the trip was rescheduled to the following Tuesday, which meant that I had to sacrifice the only good weather day of the holiday for travel.  I was therefore determined to make lemonade from that particular lemon!  My first stop was Worcester, Mass, where I explored some photo angles.  Arriving in early afternoon, I took up a position on the 5th floor of the Union Station parking garage which is located SW across the tracks from the station.  I think the sun would be good there all day.  Being a holiday there were no cars in the facility.  The westbound Lake Shore Limited oblingingly came by and posed before heading west. This is the view

The Lake Shore arrives then departs

 The P&W was dead and I sensed that nothing would run soon on CSX so I pushed on to the west, being interested in revisiting some old D&H (now CP) locations west of Albany.  But not before admiring the old Osgood Bradley beaux arts building next to the the parking garage.  You may recall that O-G built numeous passenger cars for New England roads including the well known "American Flyer" coaches for NH, B&M and BAR.

Two hours later, as I exited the NY Thruway onto I-88 at Duanesburg, a southbound CP freight thundered by, going about 40 MPH.  What luck!  With no time to scout, I cruised down I-88 to Central Bridge to look for a decent setting with afternoon light.  I found one on a residential neighborhood hill, looking back to a grain dealer no longer served by the railroad. Aftr 15 minutes or so the train arrived with its 2 C44W's leading a GP-38  and probably 70 cars of mixed merchandise

The chase was on!  At this point the train was climbing Howes Cave hill so I knew I had a bit more time to check out access points. I was amazed how muich the foliage has encrouched here since the 1990's as well!  Heres a shot taken about 1 mile east of  Howes Caverns. Despite the grade the train was making a healthy 30 MPH. The sound of the non turbo EMD meshed well with the GE's

For the next hour I escorted this train south hopping on I-88 for a few exits to get well ahead, then backtracking toward the train on NY-7 which was mostly on the westward (sunny) side of the railroad.  The intervening grade at Richmondville also slowed the train and bought me some time as well.

Coming and going at East Worcester (the other Worcester!). The siding here is usually a good place for meets as it is the only one until Oneonta, 25 miles further south.  No meet today though; at this point the train is descening from Richmondville hill.

that innocuous pond reflecting the train is actually the very headwaters of the Susquehanna River.  Note how sunfaded the GP38 is.

a parting shot at Schenevus, from the I-88 exit service road.  If you compare this to the same 1980's shot in Delaware & Hudson In Color, you can appreciate the tree encroachment

I was fortunate to score some trains in the sun, as the next two rain soaked days there wasn't time or suitable lighting for any train pictures.  But on the way home the skies lightened up enough.  Delanson, a small community near Schenectady is where the old Albany Main splits away from the line to Mechanicville.  It's no more than a branch now despite the name.  I waited around and almost departed too soon, when the rain resumed, but then a NS intermodal (probably 23K off Pan Am) came through the heavily signalled interlocking at the last minute.

 

A downpour began again so I took the hint and left. As I approached Albany the skies eased off a bit so I diverted to the Port of Albany, an area I have always wanted to explore.  It is well worth the time if you are in the area! Very "modelgenic".  Kenwood yard is not accesssible other than at a public grade crossing at the north end, but the "good stuff" is along the waterfont and can be navigated without trespassing for the most part.  The south end was rich in grain elevators, bulk terminal, ship-to-shore transloading.  I watched a Cargill switcher jocky BNSF grain cars through the unloader

a 1000 ft away this Albany Port SW was shuttling to and fro

my next stop was a crossing in the midst of a reverse curve along CSX on the former Boston & Albany near Chatham.  I camped there for about 20 minutes until this eastbound came by.  This location offers interesting angles and would provide good sun almost all day

I chased this job east past State Line Tunnel (no picture) before regaining the Mass. Turnpike.  Back at Worcester 90 minutes later, I made another stab at the P&W.  Their engine facility and yard is very cramped and kind of wedgy for photos, other than 3/4 mug shots but I did locate a place to park near their operations center where one has a veiw of the north end of the yard and the junction of the Gardiner, Providence and New London routes, with CSX passing overhead. Next trip, I will have to zero in on that location.  I did take a farewell picture though of this spiffy SD-60 leaser before highballing back to Maine.