Last Sunday Before Snow

"Look both ways before you cross the busy thoroughfare."

With all the Wheelman's travels and DT&I Fan's work schedule, getting out as a group on a Sunday afternoon to see anything on District 1 is a rare event these days. This was Sunday November 29th, right after Thanksgiving. Given the time of year, the sun was making an uncommon appearance too.

As has happened many times in the past, the scratches on the scanner seemed to point east. So, off to Lewiston and beyond we go. Somewhere in Lewiston we hear an EDNM closing on Green, so we continue to Leeds Jct. We caught up with the train where it meets the highway. They stop at the solitary signal and we proceed to the junction. There we find RUED waiting to leave the branch (above).

While we are sorting out what might happen next Charles Hastings showed up on his way back to UMO. He stayed around a little while before light and timing for his trek got limited. Some other fans from Berwick showed up right after he left. They watched some of the proceedings and left just before we did. Unfortunately it was just cold and windy enough to force us into our vehicles rather than hang out and be social - much.

Eventually, with EDNM still stopped at Green, RUED pulled out of the branch with a few cars for Bucksport to set out on the siding, apparently for EDNM. Set-out made, the power returned to the branch and EDNM pulled ahead to Cressey. You can see the last car with the marker just cleared the branch.

We then watched RUED pull by on the main, headed west. Apparently both trains were due for crew changes. We left EDNM behind and followed RUED since they would re-crew at Strawberry Ave. in Lewiston. The train wasn't exactly screaming along. As you can see with the parting shot at Leeds Jct, the sun was getting lower.

It would be dark before it got to town. We tried out Stetson Rd. crossing on the edge of Lewiston (and met the Berwick guys again) where I got the last blurry shot in the faded light. I think it was on max ISO and still only had about 1/10 sec. Where was that monopod?

All things considered, it wasn't a bad way to kill an afternoon. Leeds Jct. always provides for unusual meets and the convergence with friends, spare time and nice sunny weather was rare.

Now we have a crust of snow and colder temperatures.



BC