Tag Archives: #Pennsylvania Railroad

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A System Map Approach?

In my earlier days, I sometimes adopted a systematic approach to photographing a railroad.

Let me rephrase that: sometimes I’d take a station-by-station look at a line, visiting every major point on a route and trying to make interesting images. I suppose you could describe that as a “system map approach.”

I’ve been photographing the Philadelphia-area SEPTA rail network since the early 1980s. I’ve traveled on most of its routes and visited most of its stations. Yet, until September this year, I’d never photographed a SEPTA train at Downingtown on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line. This is a significant place, and yes, I’ve made photos there before, but not of SEPTA trains.

The September 28, 2026 Tracking the Light featured some night photos of an Amtrak Keystone making its station stop at Downingtown. [See: Downingtown on Saturday Evening.] A few minutes after that train continued west, an inbound SEPTA local paused at the platforms, and I made these photos.

Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor f1.4 50mm; 1/250 second, f1.4, ISO 12800. Downingtown, PA.

It was only this morning that I realized that I’d ticked the box for Downingtown! Now I’ll need to figure out how to make Thorndale station look interesting. I’ve been there. It’s no Horseshoe Curve.

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It was a beautiful late-summer evening. We paused at the old Leola Station along Horseshoe Road in Lancaster County, Pa., where I’ve made a variety of images over the last few years.

I snapped a few photos with three cameras. This image was made with my Nikon Z7-II with a 24–70mm lens. I have yet to view the results from my Lumix LX-7 digital camera and Leica M4 (loaded with Kodak Ektachrome).

24-70mm set to 32.5mm, f/4.0, 1/60 sec., ISO 1600. Image adjusted from NEF RAW using DxO PureRAW 5 with DeepPRIME 3 corrections and post-processing with DxO PhotoLab 9.

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Amtrak Keystone 651 at Gap, Pa.

After Keystone 656 rolled east through Gap, I had but a short wait for its westward counterpart, train 651, destined for Harrisburg and led by ACS-64 620.

In the short interval between trains, I thought about all the Pennsylvania Railroad electrics that worked through this same curve more than a half-century ago.

In 1963, my father made photos of GG1s and E44s working trains near the Irishtown Road crossing in Bird-in-Hand. Someday, I’ll recreate those angles with modern trains.

What is common today will someday seem novel.

What was once working the Main Line may someday serve as a display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. I wonder, did I catch old Amtrak 915 at Gap? I may have.

A few minutes after Amtrak 656 went east, Keystone train 651 navigated the famous curve at Gap. It would have been cool to catch a GG1 here—or even one of the old Metroliner sets when they were assigned to Keystone services. These days, I’m happy to catch a modern ACS-64 leading westbound.

Today, Tracking the Light ponders the numbers and the passage of time.

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Through the Girders

After photographing the head end of Norfolk Southern 36A at Washington Boro, Pa., we drove to Safe Harbor, where I made a speedy walk into the darkness. The massive girders of the trestle, built for Pennsylvania Railroad’s Atglen & Susquehanna Branch, loomed above me.

Although night had fallen, a hint of sunset remained in the western sky. I had an angle in mind that I hoped would capture the scale of the enormous viaduct.

Using my iPhone as a flashlight, I set up my 3Pod tripod just as the headlights of the eastward freight began to illuminate the tracks below.

I made several photos of the passing train, of which these two are my favorites.

Although these were exposed using a 50mm lens, next time I’d like to try a telephoto view.

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Evening Angle on Cola

Columbia, Pa., has a fascinating railroad history, but is difficult to portray.

I’ve been seeking an angle that makes the most of Cola Tower.

The other evening, Norfolk Southern’s 38V (Enola to Baltimore) was held at the west home signal for Cola interlocking. The old Cola Tower stands as a relic of an earlier era. As we waited for the train to get a clear signal through the interlocking, I examined a few locations.

This view looking railroad west seems cluttered and distracting during daylight. However, in the glow of evening, it conveys the spirit of the place.

Photos exposed using my Nikon Z6-III with an f/1.4 50mm lens mounted on a 3Pod tripod. NEF RAW files processed using DxO PureRaw 5 with DeepPRIME 3 corrections. 

Top photo; ISO 32000, f1.4, 1/80th second, auto white balance.

Bottom photo: ; ISO 32000, f1.4, 1/160thth second, auto white balance. The shorter shutter speed was necessary to better freeze the action and minimize overexposure of the headlights.

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Pennsylvania Railroad 44-Ton Diesel

In November 2008, I made this photo of Pennsylvania Railroad 44-Ton diesel 9331 in midday light at Strasburg. This locomotive had worked Strasburg Rail Road since before I was born. I’ve read that it left the property in 2013 for a new home in Maryland.

More than fifty years earlier, my father photographed a similar locomotive (9347) working Philadelphia waterfront street trackage.

I exposed this image on Fujichrome using a Canon EOS-3 with 24mm lens.

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Listening at Duncannon

As we drove east, I thought I heard a train calling signals on the radio.

We pulled in at Duncannon at the old Pennsylvania Railroad station. This location is on a sweeping curve and offers a good view of the Susquehanna River.

I waited for a minute, listening for a train. Sure enough, there was the telltale ‘chug’ of GE diesels and the dull roar of freight cars on the roll.

Looking to the west, I headlight illuminated the rails shortly before this eastward freight rolled into view.

I made these images of the passing train using my Z6 with 24-70mm lens.

In the old days, I described this type of railroad image as a “three-quarter” view—a straightforward, formulaic action photograph that has long been prized by railroad photographers. Blue skies, puffy clouds, and over-the-shoulder lighting: sometimes the simplest approach is the best one.

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Crude Oil at Blue Rock

This was a heavy train ambling east on Norfolk Southern’s Port Road Secondary. Catching a road freight in daylight on this route is always a prize.

We arrived at Blue Rock Road near Washington Boro several minutes ahead of the train.

I made these digital images near the boat launch along the Susquehanna River. I like this location because it is on a long tangent and shows the old Pennsylvania Railroad electrification polls.

Some 45 years have passed since the last electric freight traversed this route.

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Lucky Break at Cola.

In early April, I had about 30 minutes to wait trackside along the Port Road Branch near the old Cola Tower in Columbia, Pa.

As the clock ticked down, my scanner had crackled a few times, which was probably an approaching train calling signals. About 28 minutes into my wait, I started the car to head away on my next errand . . . then I heard the radio, “clear signal Cola.” There was a train very close.

Moments later the crossing lights for Walnut Street began to flash. With little time to squander, I grabbed my Nikons and made my way to the tower’s shadow, where a couple of years earlier I exposed some nice photos in the glint light.

Just after 7pm, this Norfolk Southern loaded coal train passed me on its way from the coal fields to Baltimore.

The time was right and I was ready.

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My Photo Class: From PRR to PC to Conrail

At 9am, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, my third railroad photography class of the Spring season convened at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pa.

I had enthusiastic participants. Following a brief introduction, by Museum Director Pat Morrison, I gave a concise 15 minute slide presentation, and we adjourned to the Museum to make photographs.

To make use of the fine Spring weather, initially we all went outside into the yard to photograph the locomotives and rolling stock on exhibit there, and to observe construction of the new roundhouse that is being built toward the west end of the Museum’s grounds.

Afterward, we returned inside, where Pat and I spoke with participants. I answered questions and made a variety of photos.

Among the benefits of the class is that we can take down some of the steel barriers to allow for unobstructed photography of key exhibits. In addition, Pat opened up several locomotives for exploration, photography and for use as viewing platforms.

I discussed photography, cameras and technique with many of the participants, while exposing dozens of photos using my Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras.

Among the lenses I worked with was my old Nikkor f2.0 135mm ‘defocus’ prime telephoto.

Although I’ve made dozens of visits to the Museum, everytime I go, I make different photos, and that is one of the points of the classes: ‘learning to see.’

Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.
Roundhouse construction.
Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.
Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.
E44 detail.
Museum Director Pat Morrison with GG1 4935. Exposed with Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens.
Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.
Nikon Z6 with Nikkor f2.0 135mm prime telephoto-focused manually.
Exposed with Nikon Z6-III with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens.

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Raspberry Sunset at Safe Harbor.

The cold evening air was thick with particulates which made for a rosy red sunset.

Kris, Seamus & I drove west toward Safe Harbor, since I thought there might be some opporunties to silhouette the former Pennsylvania Railroad trestles against the raspberry sky. On the way we passed some deer by the side of the road.

I was in luck and the sky was lit with shades of magenta and violet when we arrived. To make the most of the light, I set my white balance to ‘daylight’ rather than ‘auto’, since the latter has the tendency to neutralize the reddish tones of sunset, which would have countered the effect I was trying to capture.

In addition to a selection of digital photos, I also exposed a few Ektachrome slides.

I kept wondering what it would have been like to catch a pair of PRR P5 electrics grinding across the bridge in silhouette with a heavy freight. Perhaps, someone, somewhere had the same idea as me, but back in the day when P5s ruled the line!

No P5s for me; not even a couple of ten-speed bicycles—which about as good as it gets on the Low-Grade these days!

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Quiet Visit to Safe Harbor

Rain was predicted last Sunday.

I awoke early to find the sun shining.

So I drove the short distance to Safe Harbor with hopes of catching wheels turning on former PRR rails.

I hiked up to the large bridge on the old Low Grade. I walked the trail and inspected the views.

A bird spotter came along and told me stories about eagles and falcons.

I noted dark clouds rolling in from the West.

“Looks like rain.”

Before I reached the car drops were falling.

No trains passed during my visit. Not this time.

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Lumix at Bird-in-Hand

I paused at Bird-in-Hand on a sunny evening in anticipation of Amtrak Keystone 651.

This is a classic location; but better in the summer than the winter.

I had only my ‘wee Lumix’ and so made the best of it.

When Amtrack 651 sped into view I made these photos.

Not bad for a small easy-to-use camera.

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Looming Large at Gap

On Sunday, Keystone Train 661 was running five minutes behind the advertised.

Kris and I were waiting patiently at Gap. I stood the shade of a tree.

Although this may sound vaguely poetic, in fact standing in the shade is key to this image: avoiding the direct rays of the morning sun eliminates the effects of harsh lens flare.

I exposed a sequence of images as the westward train glided through the curve at Gap. This view was made with my Nikon Z6 with 70-200mm lens set for 190mm at f3.5. The relatively wide aperture allowed for shallow depth of field. My camera’s autofocus was set to the center lower left and the result is that the front of ACS-64 626 is razor sharp. Gap’s famous clock tower in the distance is slight out of focus, and yet a prominent part of the composition.

The classic catenary supports date from Pennsylvania Railroad’s electrification and continue to hold the wires in place for Amtrak’s trains.

In post processing I lightened the shadows and lowered the highlights to reduce contrast.

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Railroad Photography 101-Class 2, Part II

I mentioned that during last week’s Railroad Photography 101 class (held at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania), I was working with two cameras. Previously, I displayed the images I made with a FujiFilm XT1 with 12mm Zeiss Tuoit.

The photos in this post were made with my Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.

I’ve often said that when it comes to photography ‘there is no “right” answer’. Which is why I often try to learn from other photographers, and why I’m always experimenting with equipment and technique.

For these photos, I set up the museum’s portable LED lights to provide better lighting a on select locomotives. The intention was to direct diffused light into shadow areas and allow for more uniform exposure.

My next class at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is scheduled for Tuesday June 10th. See: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/railroad-photography-101-session-three-tickets-1318803158749?aff=oddtdtcreator.

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Red Signals and a Crescent Moon

The Norfolk Southern signals at Cola in Columbia, Pa., displayed a stop indication for movements in the westward direction.

The moon was a fine crescent and I aimed to juxtapose the lunar aspect with the railroad signals against the backdrop of the old Pennsylvania Railroad catenary masts.

Nikon Z7-II 24-70mm lens set at 70mm. ISO 100 f4 1/10th second. Camera mounted on a tripod.
Nikon Z7-II 24-70mm lens set at 70mm. ISO 100 f4 1/8th second. Camera mounted on a tripod.

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Crosslit at Rockville Bridge

We paused at the famous Rockville Bridge just long enough to roll by Amtrak 42 The Pennsylvanian on its daily run east from Pittsburgh.

I made this crosslit view from the Marysville side of the Susquehanna as the train crossed the magnificent row of arches over the water.

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Technique

Today, I’m giving my first Railroad Photography 101 class at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Among the topics I’ll touch on is ‘technique’.

To illustrate ‘technique’, I made this sequence of four similar images of former Pennsylvania Railroad E7A 5901 displayed at the museum, which demonstrate that subtle choices regarding angle, light, exposure and focal length affect foreground and background that alter the end result.

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Meet at Cove.

This is a follow up to Thursday’s post.

Not long after the eastward Norfolk Southern intermodal train came to a stop east of SIP 116 to change crews, the westward intermodal train that we’d been anticipating came into view.

This scene unfolded nicely, and I made a series of photos as the trains passed one another on the old Pennsylvania Railroad ‘Middle Division’ at Cove, Pa.

Bright sun and freight trains on the move brought me back to another time, when photographer Mike Gardner and I caught a series of Conrail freights at this same location.

Nikon Z6 with 70-200mm lens.
Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.
Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.
Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.

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The World Famous Horseshoe Curve

In the world of railways there are many horseshoe curves. I’ve visited many of these over the years: Utah’s Gilluly Loops; California’s Caliente Horseshoe in the Tehachapis; the famous Stanford Curve on Donner; and Oregon’s Leonard horseshoe among others.

While impressive, none compare to the World Famous Curve on the former Pennsylvania Railroad near Altoona, Pa.

This is more than just a horseshoe curve. It is among the great cosmic settings for American railroading and icon of 19th century railroad building. I don’t know if there’s much I can write about the Curve that hasn’t been written before. My friend Dan Cupper wrote a book on the subject (years ago my copy fell apart from over use).

I paid my first visit to Horseshoe Curve with my family back in August 1981. In the mid 1980s, my pal TSH and I made myriad trips to this Mecca of Pennsylvania railroading. Kris and I traveled here together for the first time three years ago.

In October, Kris treated me to a 58th Birthday visit to Altoona, including a pilgrimage to the Curve.

My curve ears started ringing about 1/3 the way up the stairs from the visitor’s center to the park at center of the great curve. ‘Westbound. GE’s in the lead. . . . No helper.’

As we climbed the steps, I recalled the first time I ascended these steps: We had just arrived at the parking lot in our 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser. In the distance I heard the rhythmic drumming of a 20-cylinder SD45. My brother Sean and I ran as fast as we could to reach trackside (near the old K4s Pacific on display) before the train passed. It was one of the few times that I witnessed a Conrail SD45 in full run-8.

More than 43 years later, Kris and I reached trackside in time to a position trackside to take in the action. (A PRR GP9 had replaced the K4s in the mid-1980s.) Before the westward freight passed, a light helper consiting of a pair of Norfolk Southern SD70ACU’s worked west.

The real show was not far behind . . .

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A Distant Roar.

In the quiet bucolic setting of the Railroad Overlook at Cassandra, Pa., anticipation is part of the joy of witnessing the passage of freights over the former Pennsylvania Railroad ‘Broad Way’.

The aural sensation of an approaching eastward freight on its ascent of Alleghenies begins with a distant roar. Kris tells me that I often don’t hear what she says, “…but you can hear a freight train five miles away!” I had a hearing test this summer and the doctor informed me that I have the hearing of a twenty year old.

“There’s GE’s in the lead, but it sounds like there might be EMD helpers too.”

After a little while a headlight appeared at the west end of the long tangent looking toward Portage. Oddly the sound initially fades when the train comes into view, only to return in a swell as it grows closer. This train is a monster and it was down to a crawl.

The other photographers standing on the bridge were engrossed in conversation and seemed oblivious. So I said, “There’s an eastbound close.”

“How close?”

I pointed. 

“Oh!” And with that positions were taken.

Working with two cameras, I made this sequence of photos, paying special attention to catch the helpers working at the back.

As my late friend Bob Buck would say, “It was a good show!” And it was.

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Bald Eagle on Washington Avenue

This is not about a bird.

The former Pennsylvania Bald Eagle Branch diverges from the Main Line at Tyrone, Pa.

Our quest was to intercept an excursion operated by the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society in conjunction with the Nittany & Bald Eagle—one of several short lines part of the North Shore group.

Last year, Kris and I had caught the Bellefonte’s restored Budd RDC on the move. I anticipated this year’s trip to also operate with the RDC.

Following the directions to Washington Avenue (kindly provided by a fellow photographer on the Amtrak platform at Tyrone) we turned the corner and were surprised to see an EMD diesel in Erie Lackawanna style paint ambling down the street.

The excursion from Bellefonte included the aforementioned RDC, but this was hauled by North Shore 2012 along with three other passenger cars. At the back was Lycoming Valley 2011 (LV is another of the North Shore group shortlines) wearing a retro Reading Company scheme.

Although we had done a lot of driving, and made a few significant detours (including a failed mission to intercept Amtrak 42 at Newton Hamilton, Pa.), in the end we arrived at Washington Avenue just in time to catch this rare move.

My previous photography at this location was with photographer Mike Gardner in March 2001, when we caught a Norfolk Southern coal train bound Strawberry Ridge coming up the street.

Photos exposed with my Nikon Z-series cameras.

We turned on to Washington Street in Tyrone, Pa., to see North Shore Railroad 2012, a former Penn Central GP38, coming down the street.
A scene to inspire model railroad builders.
I was hoping to see the Bellefonte’s RDC but was expecting it to run on its own.
Have I crossed paths with this former Southern Pacific GP35 before? Now it is dressed like a Reading Company locomotive.
Purists be damned! This is a back lit view with a long telephoto, but with it I captured the scene, the unusual track arrangement, and the rare excursion.

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Philadelphia 30th Street Station

It has been a few years since I last traveled to Philadelphia by train.

Kris and I arrived at 30th Street Station (officially William H. Gray 30th St. Station) on Amtrak Keystone 664 from Elizabethtown, Pa. It was a very pleasant journey aboard Amfleet I cars refurbished to the latest interior standards. Our train glided into platform nine on time.

The main concourse of the station was undergoing some renovation, but the space remains awe inspiring.

I made this series of photos using my Nikon Z7-II, my first Nikon digital photos at this citadel of the late, great Pennsylvania Railroad.

Outside the station it was sunny, warm and humid. Unfortunately, after leaving 30th Street, I found to my dismay that my notebook was missing! This was one of those dreadful OH NO! moments. I believe I left it on the train . . . .

I always carry a notebook, as I have for more than 30 years, and I had this one since Kris and I were in Ireland. My first entry was on March 7th and my last was at Downingtown about a half and hour before I lost it.

Kris helped me fill out Amtrak’s online lost property form including a detailed description of the book. Not only is my name and contact details written on the inside cover, but a printed copy of my Amtrak reservation was tucked into the notebook. Fingers crossed—perhaps it will find its way back to me.

Although this notebook contains my chronological notes, luckily I’ve been maintaining separate notebooks for my on-going Amtrak research, so at least I can continue my day to day writing without handicap.

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Late Sun at Safe Harbor

Our new home is a relatively short drive from the former Pennsylvania Railroad bridges at Safe Harbor.

The cutoff to Parksburg was abandoned in the 1980s and has since been converted into the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail, while the old Port Road route along the east bank of the Susquehanna River is operated by Norfolk Southern.

I’ve previously described the challenges in catching trains on this route. Owning to a daylight hours curfew on through freights using Amtrak’s former PRR electrified mainlines, most freight over the old Port Road tends to pass at night.

However, in the long days of summer it is possible to catch freights on the move in daylight. So over the last week I’ve made two attempts to catch trains on this route. In both instances I waited out the daylight without a wheel turning.

On July 2nd, we visited Safe Harbor. I hiked up to the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail to scope angles and wait. The droning of the Safe Harbor dam made it difficult to hear if a train was approaching. In the hour I spent there, I exposed a variety of photos of the tracks, bridges, dam and river.

One of these days, I hope to see steel wheels rolling on these rails.

This bridge now carried the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail, which offers a commanding vantage point of the river, railroad and Safe Harbor dam.

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Season’s Call for the Blossoming Trees

By the time you read this, the pink blossoming trees along Jefferson Drive in Lancaster will have leafed out in their Spring greenery.

Toward the the end of the blossoming season, Kris & I took a morning drive with our new puppy, Seamus. We paused briefly along Jefferson east of the westward signal.

Soft lighting made for a good time to catch an eastward Amtrak Keystone as it raced toward Philadelphia along the former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line.

I exposed a sequence of images to frame the train in the blossoms of one of the trees along the road. This was my fourth attempt in this sequence of pink tree photos.

I’ve included both a full frame and tightly cropped version of my favorite from the rapid-fire sequence of digital photos.

Exposed using a Nikon Z7-II with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens set to 44mm; f4, 1/2000th second, ISO800.. Full frame without cropping.
Exposed using a Nikon Z7-II with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens set to 44mm; f4, 1/2000th second, ISO800.. Full frame without cropping.
Exposed using a Nikon Z7-II with Nikkor Z-series 24-70mm lens set to 44mm; f4, 1/2000th second, ISO800.. Full frame without cropping.
This is a tightly cropped version of the above photo.
This is a tightly cropped version of the above photo.
This is a tightly cropped version of the above photo.

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Icy Afternoon at Safeharbor

The magnificent bridges at Safeharbor make for great subjects.

I’ve yet to see a train at this location. And much to my regret, in all likelihood, I will never see a train on the taller of the two bridges—since this now carries a rail trail instead of a railroad.

Kris and I have paid visits to Safeharbor in various seasons. Winter yields stark lighting ideal for making silhouettes of the great spans.

I made these views using my Nikon Z7-II with 28-70mm Nikkor zoom, and Kris’s Fuji XT4 with my 50-140mm Fujinon telephoto.

I’d like to think that, decades ago, some photographer braved the elements to make a wintery silhouette of Pennsylvania Railroad E44 or P5a electrics leading an Enola bound freight over the top bridge from this vantage point.
In the winter, Norfolk Southern freights using the lower of the two bridges are largely nocturnal owing to the limitations imposed by a freight curfew on movements over Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (which connects with this route at Perryville, Maryland).
Nikon Z7-II with 28-70mm Nikkor zoom
Nikon Z7-II with 28-70mm Nikkor zoom
Nikon Z7-II with 28-70mm Nikkor zoom
Nikon Z7-II with 28-70mm Nikkor zoom.
Fuji XT4 with 50-140mm Fujinon telephoto
Fuji XT4 with 50-140mm Fujinon telephoto

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4876 Up close

On this day (January 15th) in 1953, Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 4876 electric was leading The Federal (Boston to Washington D.C.) when the train suffered an airbrake failure as it approached Washington Union Terminal at speed.

The train crashed spectacularly with the locomotive ending up in the concourse of the station, which then collapsed under the excessive weight of the engine. This event made front page news all across the nation.

The locomotive, or parts thereof, were reassembled (or remanufactured) by the railroad. The engine kept its famous number.

In 1982, old 4876 was owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportaion and routinely assigned to work New York & Long Branch trains (also known as the North Jersey Coast Line) between Penn Station in Manhattan and South Amboy, New Jersey.

Scan of a black & white print.

In 1982, My father and I caught up with the battle-weary famous electric at Rahway Junction, NJ., where I made this black & white photo using my vintage Leica 3A, a camera that was even older than the vintage electric locomotive.

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RDC at Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Saturday, October 28, 2023, Kris and I drove to Bellefonte, Pa., to see the first runs of the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society’s recent restored Budd-RDC.

Bellefonte was hosting its Talleyrand Fall Fest and the traffic around the town was a bit intense. Also tickets for the train ride were completely sold out, so rather than travel on the car we settled on rolling by the RDC at a grade crossing near the station.

The trackage is operated by North Shore Railroad’s Nittany & Bald Eagle and historically was part of the PRR system.

The group’s RDC is car 9167, originally New Haven Railroad number 40, which makes it a sister car to Conway Scenic’s number 23 Millie (originally New Haven number 23), which I’ve often featured on Tracking the Light.

For more about the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society and their restored RDC see this recent article on the Trains News Wire by Dan Cupper: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/after-18-years-rail-group-resumes-rdc-runs-in-bellefonte-pa/

For the society’s site and ticket information see: https://bellefontetrain.org

I made this sequence of photos using my Nikon Z-series mirrorless camera.

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Amtrak 915 in Delaware

In the fading of sun of December 22, 1992, I made this Kodachrome slide of Amtrak AEM-7 915 slowing for its Newark, Delaware station stop on its way toward Philadelphia and New York’s Penn-Station. In the distance is a Conrail local freight.

Nikon F3T with Nikon f4.0 200mm lens.

Working with glint light was always a challenge. And I’d made a series of exposures of the train. This is probably my darkest; f8 1/125 with K25.

Greatly enlarged section of the same scanned slide.

On Wednesday, I stopped by the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania to continue research for my next book, and paused to make these contemporary photos of old 915 using my Lumix LX7.

I also featured 915 then and now photos on Tracking the Light back in April. See: http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/amtrak-915-1981-and-2023/

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Old Pennsylvania Railroad Station at Leola

Just a short distance up line from our new home is this old Pennsylvania Railroad station on the New Holland Branch at Leola.

I made these photos the other evening using my Lumix LX7 digital camera.

It’s been decades since the last passenger train operated over the line and I wonder what this station was like in its heyday.

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Hartman Station Road on the New Holland Secondary.

While runing a few errands, I found Norfolk Southern’s H29 local working its outbound run on the New Holland Secondary.

Leading the train was Norfolk Southern SD40E 6307 (originally an SD50) , which was making quite a show of climbing the short grade away from Greenfield in Lancaster, PA.

I zipped up to Hartman Station Road for a few quick photos using my Lumix LX7.

Step back a century and imagine this was one of PRR’s H10s 2-8-0 Consolidations. Now that would have been cool.

NS H29 working east at Hartman Station Road, Lancaster, PA. Lumix LX7 photo.

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Meet near Cove, PA.

A slow moving westward Norfolk Southern freight had crossed the former Pennsylvania Railroad Rockville Bridge in the evening light. After Kris and I made our images of the train on great span, we motored west on Highway 15 to catch it again.

Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm Nikkor Z-series zoom.

A few miles west of Marysville, near Cove, PA, we spotted a stopped eastward train, and set up up to catch the two trains passing in the evening light.

Imagine if it were 1953, and these were trains led by Pennsylvania’s impressive M1 4-8-2 Mountains types.

Nikon Z7-II with 70-200mm Nikkor Z-series zoom.

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Good Luck! Bad Luck. . . Rockville Bridge

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The famous Pennsylvania Railroad Rockville Bridge across the Susquehanna River is about an hour from our new home.

Saturday afternoon was clear and bright, so Kris and I made the short foray over to Harrisburg and north along the west bank of the river.

Thanks to our smart phones, navigating the turns off Interstate 81 and over to the bridge is now a relatively easy task. Back in the days of paper maps this had been a real challenge, because you have to make something like a double reverse figure eight up and over to get to the bridge.

Anyway, we arrived at the boat launch near the western piers of the great bridge, and within 30 seconds we heard a westbound Norfolk Southern freight coming. ‘Wow what perfect timing!’ I delighted at our good luck. A westbound in perfect light, and no waiting!

I reached for my Nikon Z6 with 70-200mm lens. Unfortunately, I discovered that the switch was already in the ‘on’ position, and found that I’d forgotten to turn the camera off after the previous evening’s photography. The batteries were flat. No electricity, no photos.

‘Oh no . . .but wait!’

As the train got closer, I reached for my Nikon Z7-II with 24-70mm lens.

It always helps to have a back up camera!

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Strawberry Ridge Coal Train at Tyrone

Twenty two years ago, photographer Mike Gardner and I made a project of photographing Norfolk Southern coal trains that served the Strawberry Ridge power plant in central Pennsylvania.

On this day, we followed a loaded train from Gallitzin toward Northumberland. It was misty and heavily overcast.

At Tyrone, the train diverged from the Main Line onto the former Pennsylvania Railroad Bald Eagle Branch, a line maintained in part by short line Nitany and Bald Eagle.

Mike and I set up on Washington Street in Tyrone, where the Bald Eagle branch came right up the middle of the street.

I made this photograph on Ilford HP using a Nikon N90S with Tokina 400mm lens. My goal was to accentuate the unusual trackage with a big train.

This would be a neat place to feature on a model railroad.

Bald Eagle Branch at Tyrone, PA, March 2001. Ilford HP5 with Nikon N90S and 400mm lens.

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Black & White SD80MAC at South Fork, Pennsylvania.

Nearly 21 years ago, back in March 2001, photographer Mike Gardner and I photographed this former Conrail SD80MAC leading an empty coal train by the old PRR SO tower at South Fork, Pennsylvania.

I made this medium format black & white photo using a classic Speed Graphic with roll-film back borrowed from regular Tracking the Light reader Doug Moore.

Last week I scanned this 6×9 120 negative using my Epson V600 flatbed scanner and adjusted the RAW file with Adobe Lightroom.

Tri-X.

I have numerous photos of the SD80MACs on Conrail when they were painted in blue and white and working in pairs on the Boston Line. However, I have relatively few images of these BIG 20-cylinder diesels in black & white Norfolk Southern paint.

The SD80MAC was not a common type. Only Conrail received them new frome EMD. Today, they are near extinct. The last I heard, there were just four left.

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