Midweek Photos 7/6/16

Getting closer to run with 9331 

Thank you, men!  I have never thought of this Midweek business as "my" thread, but a thread we all take part in.  I only took it on in 2009 or so because I liked opening my computer on Wednesdays in years before to see what Ed Mullan and others were posting.  He either took ill for a few weeks or something way back then, so I jumped in.  It has encouraged me to use my camera nearly every day.

So, here are some photos I can contribute.  From the NRHS RailCamp 2016, based out of the University of Delaware in Newark, DE.

We began our adventure of 24 teen age boys at Amtrak's training center in Wilmington, DE, where the boys learned about the various trades in the business, and how they all depend on one another to keep trains running safely.

I counted at least six Amtrak Vice Presidents gave up their time on Monday to discuss how their department integrates with the others.  Several others who were not quite VPs also talked about what they liked about their jobs.

Amtrak VP of Operations, Chris Jagodzinski goes over the finer points of locomotive operations with the guys.

One of the GP38 units was used to explain about all of the equipment up front.  Coupling, the draft gear, the communications cords and all.  

I got in some rail fanning along the way, too.  More photos to come

The man in orange, Tony White, is the coordinator of RailCamp.  He is a good friend of mine.  The man in white, I forget his name, showed the boys the ins and outs of the locomotive.

Chris walked the kids around the engine and the passenger car, pointing out all of the utilities that require inspection so the trains operate safely, smoothly and in good order.

They each had some time in the coach to learn about the on-board operations as well.

After about a half hour, the teams switched.  Getting off the locomotive to free up space for the next crew.

Attention of teenagers is not always easy to figure out.  This crew was wrapt with attention to the car descriptions. Some of the other photos make the kids look inattentive, but they probably got as much out of the experience.

I got Joe from Long Island, NY to pose in the cab of the Geep.  He passed down his camera so I could take more of him.

A CSX local came in from a branch line to switch in the yard.

Every once in a while, the City Sprinter Amtrak regional trains ran past.

An in-cab photo.  Still more coming.

After the full day at Amtrak, and dinner at the University, the kids needed some more Amtrak trains, so we went rail fanning at the Newark train station.

It is quite a racetrack of trains.  I only caught about half of what we saw.

SEPTA serves this station run by DART. This is as far South as SEPTA goes.

ACELA!!!

Norfolk Southern worked a yard crew on the track where we saw the SEPTA train before heading out of town.

That is a wrap for Monday.

Tuesday, June 28, we were off to the Wilmington Locomotive Shops of Amtrak, previously the Pennsylvania Railroad's facilities.

Look how nicely they posed for me.  Actually, this was the third shot of them.  LOL  First up was a safety briefing before they went on a walk of the shops.

Everything is big in the railroad world.

Diesel and electric locomotives get work done here. We see a GP38 and a P42 side by side in these bays.

We witnessed the crane operator showing off a bit.

Another group photo in one of the inspection pits.  Acela power car behind the group.

Wheel work and brakes take up a lot of the work on the Acela units.  This car body is without wheels.

Fresh wheel sets.

an older set of wheels being cut in the lathe.  Look at all those shards of metal by the doorway of the lathe.

Part of the fun was watching the crane lift the carbody of one of the ACS64 units to fit on its wheel sets.

After lunch, the crew went to CNOC and CTAC, near the Wilmington passenger station.  CNOC is where they track where trains are on the various carrier railroads.

CTAC is the lower floor, where they dispatch trains over portions of the railroad lines Amtrak actually owns.

The CNOC building as seen from the Wilmington boarding platform.

Tim O'Malley posted:

Tuesday, June 28, we were off to the Wilmington Locomotive Shops of Amtrak, previously the Pennsylvania Railroad's facilities.

Look how nicely they posed for me.  Actually, this was the third shot of them.  LOL  First up was a safety briefing before they went on a walk of the shops.

Everything is big in the railroad world.

Diesel and electric locomotives get work done here. We see a GP38 and a P42 side by side in these bays.

We witnessed the crane operator showing off a bit.

Another group photo in one of the inspection pits.  Acela power car behind the group.

Wheel work and brakes take up a lot of the work on the Acela units.  This car body is without wheels.

Fresh wheel sets.

an older set of wheels being cut in the lathe.  Look at all those shards of metal by the doorway of the lathe.

Part of the fun was watching the crane lift the carbody of one of the ACS64 units to fit on its wheel sets.

After lunch, the crew went to CNOC and CTAC, near the Wilmington passenger station.  CNOC is where they track where trains are on the various carrier railroads.

CTAC is the lower floor, where they dispatch trains over portions of the railroad lines Amtrak actually owns.

The CNOC building as seen from the Wilmington boarding platform.

Nice. I went to Railcamp last year. It was a lot of fun. I should post some pics from last year on here. My friend Zack was in a few of these photos. He had a great time as well.

As if all of the above wasn't enough, Amtrak provided a train trip to Washington DC for the RailCamp.

and plenty of rail fanning opportunities at Wilmington's station.  This work train rolled up to the platform to wait before a track was cleared for it.

Acelas always have the right of way.  Tracks are cleared for them.

The boys were really excited for the arrival of 642, the Veteran's Unit of the electric locomotives.  There is a similarly painted diesel numbered 42.

I did not get a photo of our train from the outside, but here are some from in the Theater car.

All I can say is WOW!  More in the next thread.

And here we are in Washington, DC.  The Amtrak folks are going to lead us on four tours of the facility.

But there are so many trains to see here.  

Amtrak's new and old power are at work at the station, getting ready for the next run, or putting cars together for the next run.

Amtrak Security showed off some of their ability to stay ahead of the criminals that might make their way through the station, with mobile units, and K9 units.

A tour of the station's architecture also took place.  Even since last year, you can see how much cleaner the building is.  The 1988 restoration is nearly 30 years old, and was due for a cleaning.  The restoration from the 2011 earthquake is what really cleaned things up.

This lady took the team through some of the other parts of the building.  She is often the VIP escort, taking care of special train movements for sports teams and famous folk.

Walking to K Tower, we passed this line-up of MARC Maryland commuter trains.

So much activity in the yard at the station, that you didn't know where to look next from the tower.

The tower operator team working through each movement so the trains get in and out of the station on time.

And our return to Wilmington... The Acela train ready to go.

Built by Vulcan in Wilkes-Barre in 1931 for the Hazleton Shaft Colliery of Lehigh Valley Coal Co., 0-6-0T No. 126 ran last weekend and will run this weekend on the Allentown & Auburn Railroad between Kutztown and the NS (formerly Reading) East Penn Branch at Topton, PA. No. 126 may be the largest Vulcan locomotive in operation. Two smaller narrow gauge (42") Vulcan saddletank 0-4-0T's take turns at Pioneer Tunnel in Ashland, PA.

Years ago the late Ed Blossom stored and restored trolleys here, including the Electroliner now at Rockhill Trolley Museum (formerly Shade Gap Electric Railway) near the East Broad Top station in Orbisonia / Rockhill Furnace. Mr. Blossom wanted to electrify this line, but failing health and lack of funds precluded that. Many memories were shared when the faithful gathered last weekend.

Local volunteers saved the Philadelphia & Reading "umbrella" station. A curved roof shelters adjacent track(s). The hose is filling the saddletank with water.

The Allentown & Auburn has an immaculate SW-1 painted in a Reading scheme.

Reporter Jill Whalen wrote a fine article published on the front page of Section B in the Hazleton Standard-Speaker on Saturday, July 2. Here is a link

ReadingFan - I'm glad you enjoyed your visit! It looks like you were there Saturday. I wish I would have known, as I was car host in the B&O car, and would have liked to have met you.

Oh, and 206 is an SW, not an SW-1