Local Gems of the Past

Going through some slides and negatives recently I came across a cluster of photos that I had to put somewhere.  They are from a time when my railfan abilities were somewhat hindered by the distraction of becoming a teacher.  I didn't have time or money for trains.  But, I didn't quit either.  I believe all of these are from 1989-1990 or thereabouts.  Blame Carl for their existing at all because I didn't railfan much on my own back then. 

The first few are from good ole Danville Junction.  The old operator's shack is still up and the train order semaphore is even around.  I think it was relative good luck though that got the North Stratford 959 sitting around for interchange and the CDOT former MEC 257 on a passing WAPO or some such train in that time.  I think I was returning for a second shot of the Alco when the WAPO stopped to make a pickup, exposing the CDOT unit for photos.  While the lighting wasn't ideal, it was better than nothing.

I don't know what happened to 257 but apparently 959 is on the Hobo RR, which I believe is where it was heading in the photo.  The Hobo painted the unit in 1990 so this must be shortly before that sometime.  


In about the same era, the St. Lawrence and Atlantic was using about anything they could get their hands on.  They even swapped units with the fairly new New Hampshire Northcoast.   On the left we see an actual NHN gravel train in downtown Dover headed to Boston.  Below is an NHN unit on the SLR at Danville Jct.  1757 is in the company of one of the CV geeps that apparently came with the railroad.  I think these NHN units were former PRR, hence the CR blue on the left.  I think these units were configured to run long-hood forward, so the stripes, bell and ditch lights were on that end.

Danville had other surprises too.  MA&PA RR as well as Yorkrail dropped in.  MPA 84 is a switcher that I only photographed once but it was around for a while.  I don't know if some of the forlorn looking units parked in Danville ever amounted to anything, but I didn't mind seeing such oddball units around.








Some time later we finally got to see the SLR show off its own colors.  While some geeps and leased power may have gotten the first paint jobs, the M420's probably gave it the most character.


 I don't remember if any more than two of the MLW's received the "yellowjacket" paint job and this was about the only time I saw 3517 in the lead.  3569 was the other unit.  The only time the worn out CN stripe paint looked good was when it was on a matching set of units, and I saw a few of those.  This train below was a pure luck catch in Mechanic Falls.  I followed it to Oxford before heading to where I needed to be.  This shot is much later in or around 1998.

 Enough old stuff for now.  Most of us with old photos can ramble on for hours.  I'll spread them out a bit if I get around to it.  I mostly wanted to try out the scanner on some old negs.  I guess the color balance skills need work. 

BC