Tag Archives: GP40-2L

photography

New England Central’s safety cab GP40-2Ls; four photos from May 1, 2015

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The names and the paint have changed, but the machinery?

Back in Central Vermont days in the 1980s and early 1990s, it was common enough to see in Palmer, Massachusetts run-through Canadian National GP40-2L locomotives (some people prefer the alternate designations ‘GP40-2W,’ ‘GP40-2LW’ take your pick, I don’t mind).

Fast forward a few decades: Canadian National is no longer ‘national.’ New England Central has replaced Central Vermont, and New England Central has passed through a series of corporate ownerships. Today, the railroad is part of the Genesee & Wyoming family, making it one of more than 110 lines world wide under this orange and yellow flag.

New England Central 3039 catches the morning light in Palmer, Massachusetts. This old engine has been working for more than four decades. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.
New England Central 3039 catches the morning light in Palmer, Massachusetts. This old engine has been working for more than four decades. Exposed digitally with a Fujifilm X-T1.

 

Tight view of the Canadian-style safety cab on 3039. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.
Tight view of the Canadian-style safety cab on 3039. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.

Yet, despite all this, after more than 40 years on the move, some old former CN safety cabs GP40-2s (NECR 3015 is now listed on the cab as a GP40-2CU) still routinely work former CV rails in Palmer.

I wonder if I have photographs of these very same locomotives in Canadian National paint?

On evening of May 1, 2015, a northward New England Central freight crosses the Palmer diamond with locomotive 3015 in the lead. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.
On evening of May 1, 2015, a northward New England Central freight crosses the Palmer diamond with locomotive 3015 in the lead. Exposed digitally with a Fujifilm X-T1.
1/60th of a second makes for a subtle panned view of NECR 3015 in Palmer. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.
1/60th of a second makes for a subtle panned view of NECR 3015 in Palmer. Exposed with a Fujifilm X-T1.

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photography

Pan Am with Statue at North Bennington, Vermont, July 27, 2010.

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A Bit of Art by the Tracks.

I was at North Bennington, Vermont to photograph Pan Am Railways’ (formerly Guilford Rail System) RJ-1 local freight that was performing freight interchange with Vermont Railway System.

This route had been dormant for many years but reopened in recent times. While I’d been to North Bennington on several occasions, this was the first time I photographed trains there.

The North Bennington Station has been beautifully restored. Out on the platform is a statue of a man gazing impatiently at his watch, as if he were a passenger waiting for a train.

Art with train
Statue with RJ-1 at North Bennington, Vermont on July 27, 2010. Exposed using a Canon EOS 7D with 100-400mm image stabilization zoom set at 190mm; f11 at 1/250 sec, ISO 200.

I made a variety of images of Pan Am’s former Canadian National GP40-2L working around the station. I like this one because it’s different. I used a smaller aperture to allow for greater depth of field, while focusing on the statue instead of the locomotive.

I believe that’s the old freight house beyond the locomotive and cars.

 

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