Amtraks 40th Anniversary

Amtraks 40th Anniversary exhibit train visited Vermont over the three day weekend. Coming and going over the New England Central. Arriving a day earlier than scheduled on Thursday night behind a Genesis engine, I was, of course........gone. Up camping along the SLR, confident on returning Friday night to shoot the train! Railroads, by their nature, make liars out of all of us railfans from time to time, in a helpless sort of way! Ha,ha,ha! SO when I read of the trains scheduled departure on Sunday night, involved backing up the eight or more miles from Burlington to the NECR main in Essex Jct. I monitored the NECR channel from the compound to see if they would actually do that! A quick check on the weather further south showed serious storm warnings, hail, high winds, etc. What a surprise? I was happy sitting this move with a Genesis engine out. Lo and behold, the crew calls the dispatcher for clearance to Essex Jct. with the F40 406 leading! They ran the power around the train somewhere. So I'm thinking, Holy Cow!, surely the crew will take the time to use the wye in Essex Jct. to turn the train and lead with the Genesis engine? Apparently, the dispatcher thought the same thing, as he had the signal on the north leg of the wye lined for them to use. Arriving in Essex Jct., the crew explained to the dispatcher they would like to go right out the south leg of the wye and onto the main, heading south with the 406 leading! Now it's confirmed! They are leading with the 406, oh my gawd! I'm on my way out to the Civic with the backpacks full of flashes. To me, this is the way they should operate this train, with the locomotive that saved Amtrak, EMDs F40 leading. But, no matter, at least they are doing it tonight. So I drive down to Randolph and no sooner position the lights before a heavy rain shower comes along, thankfully ending a few minutes later. My position to shoot from is up in the tree branches atop the stepladder, a place where the slightest movement generates a shower of water! LOL! My golf-size umbrella from La Grange proves to be a problem on its own here as I can't quite get it over the camera without snaring branches thus defeating itself, ha,ha,ha! The rain stops and I try a test exposure, the lcd monitor stays black! I try three more black exposures before I conceed although its not the lens or camera, maybe I have a problem with the lights. After a few minutes of replacing connecting cables and pocket wizards I'm getting an image of the coal shed on the lcd monitor, and with a few more adjustments the lighting falls into place. It must have been the humid air, because I never heard Amtrak blowing for any crossings north of town, suddenly, they are at the crossing maybe half a mile above me. I had been standing atop the stepladder for several minutes and was ready. Once the lighting was working, I was not going to touch a thing! Especially after all that rain. As the headlight glow got stonger, I was thinking this may be the last F40 I cross paths with. And........it's freshly painted, spotless! Rolling slowly past caught in a flash of light, the 406 completes this favorite Vermont scene. The trains you see at night! SHot on August 21, 2011 at 22:26 with a wet 5D and Nikkor 14-24/2.8 lens set at f2.8. A lens that has developed a "cult" following among Canon full frame camera users for its high quality! Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

 

All The Best In 2011;

Gary Knapp

 

Lee's D&H Update

A few pics as to progress or lack of on my pike. Things got delayed due to building a new workbench and putting down some laminate floor under the new work area. Removal of the old Hadley section ( where the bench is now) and re doing the end of the line took a longer amount of time than anticipated. So for what it's worth here are the pictures.

Enjoy, Lee Schamberger

"The Gulliver Effect"

This chapter just has to be titled "The Gulliver Effect". Up to this point my "Chapters" have been based on detailing the R.O.W. and other scenic elements. This one may seem a little different but, it's really not. On our layouts the people are actually just scenery. They're inanimate unlike our trains and mute unlike the sound systems most have. Gotta have people though and to make them look like they actually represent someone and are doing something, well why not? Making them unique to our layouts, even better. You guys are all top shelf modelers it should be easy. Get out the Optivisor, #11 XActo and filler. Oh yea, tweezers and imagination.

I admit to developing some imagination for this and skill in the use of the tools and materials as long ago as the 70's. I had quite a long lasting adventure building up Historex kits in 54mm to represent all the regiments of French cavalry during the Napoleonic era. This amounted to over 100 figures that came at "Present Arms" and needed animation into more interesting and realistic poses. You do know the advantages of checking out other modeling areas like the automobile, aircraft, ship and military venues?
The workers I'm sending as examples are ones many of you have seen in previous emailed layout photos or saw when visiting but, maybe there are a few new "guys":
These figures represent Me with railfan companions of the 80's Doug Lezette and Bob Dennis. I had to make the cameras and camera bags, change the position of the arms bit. Rob on his bike is straight Preiser.

 Me in my typical Levi's, CPO jacket, O&W cap, Al wearing his gray jacket and brown pants and my Dad with his driver's cap and Mal Houck bow tie. See 1834 re. cameras etc.

My Father-in-law who worked as a dispatcher for Lehigh Cement in Cementon. Remove the original brim hat and in it's place add a hard hat made from epoxy resin cast in a clay press mold and reposition a reaching arm.

 "Hobo catching out" This pose was inspired by a photo Jeff Brouws shared in a NRHS Bulletin article. The original was taken in the 60's by Michael Mathers. There was a lot of arm and leg repositioning in addition to bending the upper body forward by slicing a chunk out of the abdomen. I gave him a blanket roll and wicker valise too.

Adjusting a side view mirror accomplished by extending the reaching arm.

"Break time at the cement plant" No Mods, just grouping figures appropriately.

I worked with only Preiser styrene figures. They have the best proportions of all model figures (in my estimation.)

In the future I intend to talk vehicles but, don't hold your breath. Hope you enjoy and can use some of this,

Wayne Sittner

 

 

 

One Evening Project

This installment might have made a great "One Evening Project" for MR years ago. In all honesty, it didn't take much longer. I've been gradually filling in my engine house area with typical piles of (correct) random stuff (re: Chap 4 "Racks"). I've taken many slides at engine houses over the years of this type but, the pictures I got in Milford on the CACV last week were perfect for my prototype inspiration.

Everything you see modeled was made from materials I had on on hand: The bin, pallet and brake shoes were built up, of course. The coupler knuckles are old Varney; still oversize but, they look like they belong given the size of Kadee's.

Hope you all enjoy.

Wayne Sittner

Colors

The night of May 21 found me back in West Brownsville on Main St., lighting all set up, and doin' my thing, waitin' for a train. After spending four hours at a photogenic location and listening to Coast To Coast AM on the radio, I thought a move was in order, and relocated to the top of the street around the church again to catch the jobs I had witnessed the past two nights. Unfortunately for me, I failed to consult with the dispatcher on this move, and instead of shooting trains passing the church, or my original spot, got to watch, as inbound loads came past me. Ha,ha,ha! With CSX power. A later opportunity with CSX at the church became so fogged in the headlight glare was overwhelming. As dawn arrived my intuition proclaimed that "maybe" it was time to move on, at least for now. And I agreed, knowing the dangers of becoming attached to a location and getting "the shot", at the expense of time spent elsewhere. After all, this street running trackage, for all its attractions, was not the only game in town! The PA. State Park I had been cornered into camping at, Ohiopyle, was nicely located halfway between West Brownsville and Mance Curve on Sand Patch! What could be better, than a Saturday evening on Sand Patch at the Mance Post Office? Driving in from the Subway at Meyersdale that evening I was listening via the car scanner as the dispatcher inquired of the Connellsville helper crew how much longer they were available. It seemed there were several eastbounds coming up the west side that had power problems, or were over tonnage or late running. The helper conductor replied they were good until........(I forget the time given) hours, and obviously pleased with this news, remarked how there always seemed to be work for them to do. The dispatcher was pleased with this news of their availability, humorously agreeing with their appraisal of the situation, and started lining up a couple trains down the west side of Sand Patch to stop for the helper. Also pleased with this news was Gary! As I had planned on setting up to shoot eastbounds going past the Mance P. O.! Two years ago when I visited this spot ahead of Memorial Day weekend, I saw very little traffic at night. Tonight, two eastbounds come by in the gathering dusk as I'm enjoying my Veggie-Delite on the picnic table. Owner Dave Snyder told me whenever I'm visiting to make myself at home, and I will, thank you Dave! Having shot from the porch before here, the lighting goes up quickly in the dark. And when I say dark, I mean DARK! Not a light to be seen anywhere. The double track main line off to the right is a ghostly image at best. Three eastbounds come by one hour apart, from 22:30 on, then a lull for two and a half hours with only a couple westbounds coming by on track one. The space of time with no eastbound trains leaves me wondering.......was that it? LOL! The longer the time goes on, the better my chances for another eastbound. Then it happens! The scanner erupts as a westbound is calling out the next signal below me, quickly followed by an eastbound identifying his train symbol then......... "green at Manila with 4082" then silence! "Manila" is just outside the east portal of Sand Patch Tunnel, maybe a mile away upgrade. Quickly in position behind the 5D, the w.b. train climbing toward me can be heard clearly, I do a test flash to make sure all is well with the lights. It is now I stop and ask myself.............4082?......4082? What the heck is that? I don't believe the rebuilt SD 40-2s CSX is doing in the 4000 series run up this far in the numbering system yet. We will find out shortly I conclude! From my camera position I can step back and look 90 degrees to the left as the westbounds headlights appear in the dark rounding Mance Curve, making short work of Sand Patch with a lighter than normal train of containers! They pass by at track speed, leaving me waiting, watching.........outside the porch its pitch black, the shadowy containers keep going by on the far track. Finally headlights glint off the passing containers, I fire off an awareness flash for the crew and settle into a crouch behind the camera. Headlights appear and I don't hear a thing until the cab is nearly in position, then with a flash watching through the lens, the image is captured, reflecting for a split second back through the lens...........red/yellow, KCS colors! Instictively I jerk my head up to look, at headlights passing by in the darkness! LOL! Then returning to the image, Kansas City Southern SD 70-2s! At Mance! A first for me shooting this paint scheme! Remember my past remark about departing Lawrenceburg, Indiana after two days and not staying a third, and how it would prove to be a beneficial decision? Here at the Mance P. O. several nights later, I reap the rewards of that decision! The traveling flag even frames the Kansas City Southern spelled out on the hood. Not bad timing with the 5D shutter in pitch darkness! After capturing this image, it was time to sit and have some tea in gratitude at Mance for Gary! What a location to catch this power in! Shot on May 22, 2011 at Mance, Pennsylvania with the 5D and Nikkor 14-24/2.8 lens set at 14mm and f2.8. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary

The Corner Store

We are on the corner of East Main St. and South Walnut Ave. in La Grange........its early Saturday morning. This view has been a favorite of mine since my first visit four or five years back when I set up here after arriving and what do you suppose came by that night? An SD 40-2 leading! Holy Cow! Tonights power is more modern looking, another C40-8W, the 7781 with its wide cab and dark paint scheme add to the mysterious setting. The brick house with columns up the street is ex-Mayor Elsie Carters home. I wait and wait here tonight after moving the lighting, step ladder and traveling flag down the street from the far corner where I shot the 7817 passing the 1887 Corner Store. My patience is rewarded when 7781 comes up the street with a northbound after six a.m.! This is cutting it close, as you can notice the sky getting bluer! To capture these two views little more than three hours apart leaves me ecstatic. For me, it dose'nt get much better than this, and I conclude, thinking to myself...........yeah, I guess I can head back to the campsite now. Only eight miles away, it compliments the aura surrounding La Grange to me, by being the best campsite I enjoyed during the trip. SHot on May 14, 2011 at 06:06 in La Grange, Kentucky with the 5D and Zeiss ZF 35/2 lens set at f2. Please enjoy! Comments are welcomed.

All The Best In 2011;

Gary

July Train Day

Me and Timothy Towle working on grading the roadbed at Meghans crossing.

The short bridge all decked and ready to be installed. We just need to sink some pilings and retaining walls.

Rick Towle, his son Timothy and Bill Bibby visiting at the end of track. We got a few more feet of track built a little later when Bill asked how I go about getting the rail to curve, how I get the right gauge, how I figure tie spacing and how to line up the ties crosswise.

Leased GE 70 ton switcher (temp SAR #1) in the Mechanicville engine terminal before heading to the Round Lake Paper Mill to work as a plant switcher.

B&M 309 working the north end of Mechanicville yard with 37 coming up the main to DB cabin.

MBTA 1012 pullung #37 the Adirondack through XO.

Enjoy, Brad Peterson

FE tower

I don't have a FA Tower but I have a FE.

Jim LaFayette

Still Some Pride Left.....

The Saratoga Car Dept used to have a full time staff 24 hours a day, but that was before CP Rail cuts. Now just a few men left for running repairs. D&H 35799 is SC-1's caboose in Kenwood, it was sent to Saratoga for inspection and to fix the stove for the coming winter. Looks like the boys got the paint out and did what they could for an old friend. The script is a vinyl decal.

Rob D

Old Railroad Men

Larry LaFarr engineer (deceased), Roland Gebo, clerk (deceased), Jimmy Martucci, Yard Cond (ret), Me (ret), Dave Gosselin trainman (quit), Mark Terry trainman (quit now prison guard, Ron Guard Trainman (now engineer)

Going by the ex Long Island Alco and long sleve shirts, I'd say it was fall of 1977 in Fort Edward.

Jim Lafayette

Nielsen Ready Mix

The prototype for my next addition to the layout: The ruins of the Nielsen Ready Mix Concrete plant. (Kingston/Town of Ulster, NY) I remember when this was a going concern but, that had to be over 30 years ago. It was neat then but, still picturesque. I real challenge to model in this state. I've done the drawings and have started to cast plaster sections for the walls. (ten pieces per pour in three sizes) It seemed a logical modeling technique since the original buildings followed that construction approach using form cast concrete. Getting the colors, the staining, overburden and overgrowth is intimidating.

It actually took a couple days to assenble the 45 to 50 castings I made. I couldn't help thinking it was like building with one of the block sets I had in my childhood. All came out OK and today I got an initial coating of acrylic stain mixed and worked in. Next come the styrene details I want to add and the work on the setting. I'm feeling pretty confident now that it will turn out.

The old trailer started as a CMW. I altered it to look like one that was used for storage at a quarry I frequent when visiting in CO. Figured it'd be a nice scenic accessory at the concrete plant.

I got the area of the bins finished for scenery. I made it removable from the layour but, it blends in well. There are still a lot of details in sah-reen mthat need to be added to the other section. No question anymore about whether I'm modeling it as a ruin. For those who were corious about the plastaar castings I made, here are a few leftovers. The sizes I made were: 6X20X2', 7X20X2' and 7X25X2' (HO).

Thanks for bearing with me and sharing your comments throughout this project. Living in "Waterworld" for the past few days gave me the time and inclination to paint and install the background. Because the area around the plant was so overgrown when I was researching, I couldn't get any overall shots of the setting. The background is done from memory but, I assure you, it's pretty close.

Have a great weekend,

Wayne Sittner

 

ALCO Plant Going Going....

The former ALCO Locomotive Works in Schenectady in the process of being taken down.

Bill Kozel

A Day Amsterdam

Long ago we used to railfan out in Amsterdam and eat at Russo's, Armand found an oldy, but a goody!

Phoebe Heise, Richard Heise, Richard Heise II, Richard's Friend, Armand Choiniere, Justin Couture, Rob Dennis and Bill Ensinger

 

 

 

 

Sunny Monday

Last Monday I Spent most of the day working on the yard. Nice day to do it as it wasn't to hot. Around 11:00 I ran down to the post office to pick up some packages and shoot the breeze with co-workers from the park. Before exiting #4211's cab I could hear the North End Dispatcher giving #252 with a SOO leader permission onto the siding at 35. Ah ha! So I went home and finished up the lawn and went down to Delanson around 4:00 to check the signals at CPF 499. If there lit then there is a southbound coming from Mohawk Yard in Glenville. They were..So I decided to relocate to Gage Road and by 6:30 I could hear the distinctive horn of a SOO unit blowing for Cole Road north of me. Around that same time Northbound counterpart #253 could be heard also blowing for Youngs Road south of me. For a second I thought I was going to get skunked but with a 10 MPH speed restriction for the Controlled Siding I figured I would be okay otherwise I might be blocked by the NB passing the SB. Luckily #252 showed first and was on the Main. The Dispatcher held them short of Gage Road so the #253 could pass. With a long train you can block Youngs Road if you hold a Southbound at CPF 503. ("Correct me if I am wrong Rob"). After I grabbed #252 I decided to relocate to Central Bridge. After about a 20 min wait #252 came through on a 10 MPH speed restriction for work being done by the Schoharie Creek bridge. After #252 passed I called it quits and headed home.

Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY

Old D&H Photos

D&H slides I'm sending to Mike Confalone for a book he may publish. These were samples I sent to see if he liked what I was thinking of including on a CD. Coverage in Pennsylvania is apparently sparse and I've got a bit. These are all from the Hudson Yards by Wilkes-Barre. (1980-83) Maybe you'll enjoy them.

Wayne Sittner

Pan Am OCS

Pan Am ran an OCS from Ayer over to Mechanicville today for a tour of the West End and work progress at the new yard being built in Mechanicville. This was the first time for me to see the F's in operation. Last time I went looking for them I got skunked at Pownal, VT by being twenty minutes late, I showed up this time with only minuets to spare. These things were flying when they passed. I haven't shot here in years and I am going to make it a point to do it more often. It was nice to sneak out from our business for a break today.


Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY

Trains & BBQ

Had to make a run down to Oneonta Saturday afternoon for the Annual LRHS Banquet (Cooperstown Railway Folks). Before I left the shop the phone rang with a hot tip from a friend about a northbound heading out of Binghamton that had Standard Cab leading instead of the normal beat to hell GE's that were accustomed to seeing around here. You guys at CSX think your power is filthy CP has CSX beat any day in that department. There power is just Gross. After gratefully thanking the person that tipped me off. I headed out the door and down I-88. I arrived at a location just outside of Oneonta that was also conveniently close to Brooks where the Banquet was being held. After a three and half our wait train #253 came north a 10 MPH clip (See Attachment) Its been one of those shots that I have been trying to do for awhile. I have always been fascinated with the D&H between Binghamton and Schenectady. Neat towns. Cool Scenery all within a close vicinity of my home. This shot has always been a favorite since I first discovered this area riding on the back of my fathers motorcycle. Back in the early 90's during the fall my father would lead about fifty fellow motorcyclists from our business in Colonie down to Fly Creek and then around Cooperstown with eventual arrival at Brooks and then the ride home. We always would ride along Route 7. Some of the scenes have changed. The trains are different. Newer signals have been installed leaving the old masts to just rot, Just think these old masts have been in the place probably since 1900's. Some have moved, some are in there same place. They have had everything from Semaphore Blades that were controlled by towers only to be replaced with Searchlight style lights controlled by CTC control in Albany and I think Oneonta but I might be wrong to now be removed or upstaged by new signals and new masts completely. But the area still has its charm and classic rural ness and that is what matters to me.

Dean J. Splittgerber
Duanesburg, NY

Where Do Old Railroaders Go?

I was very happy to have a couple of my old railroad crew join us for train night. It is hard to compare model railroading with real railroading but I thought JJ and Al fit right in last night.

Rick ran the afternoon yard while Kip was engineer on the Podunk Mine Job. Kip sure gets serious don't he?

Poor Don, he always gets stuck with the tough jobs. He smiles anyway.

All in all I had a ball except I wanted to eat more of Ann Key's cookies. Dieting ain't no fun at all.

Thanks Guys,

Jim LaFayette