Sometimes finding the train is more than half the challenge. On Saturday October 17, 2015, Pat Yough and I had been following the old Delaware, Lackawanna & Western mainline with an awareness that Genesee Valley Transportation’s Delaware-Lackawanna was operating its ‘Portland turn’ to interchange with Norfolk Southern.
Finally, we found the train as it was arriving at Slateford Junction.
The attraction of D-L’s freights is that they operate with antique Alco diesels. Alco exited the American locomotive business more than 46 years ago, so finding these old machines hard at work remains a real treat.
While D-L’s portion of the freight movement tends to be well documented in recent years as a function of the Alcos, the Norfolk Southern connection is often ignored. As an historian this bothers me.
I have to admit that I too have been guilty of this photographic censorship. While I’ve photographed the Portland turn on several occasions, I haven’t made much of an effort to seek out the NS portion of this run. That is, until last Saturday.
Pat and I agreed, that if the D-L’s connection with NS were to be moved, photos of the NS at Portland would be a rare commodity indeed. So, while we made a point of catching the Alcos at work, we also went after NS H-76, which featured a nice collection of vintage EMD diesels.
All around it was a successful afternoon. It was also the first time that I’ve photographed the D-L using digital cameras. A fair few years had passed since my last visit!
Like Arnold said, ‘I’ll be back.’
Next time, c u then!
Jeez, if we had known that was you, we would have introduced ourselves, haha!
All your shots referencing shorelines/mainline RR’s is very cool and
brings one back to know that small time RRing in a big way still
exists. Also, the use of old ALCO’s in today’s RRing scene is very
cool.
Thanks for taking pictures of the obscure.
Dan
Nice set of pics, Brian. It’s very possible that someday passenger trains will pass over the old DL&W Delaware Water Gap bridge, running between Scranton and Hoboken, NJ. If PA and NJ can get their act together!
Ok – think I found it – once I looked up Portland, PA
Brian,
Could you give a Google map reference or more context for us Irish that aren’t familiar with the fine details of the old railroads. Love to look a location like this on maps.
(so far Slateford Junction on maps points me to a station in Edinburgh!!!!).
Tx – John