{"id":23087,"date":"2019-01-01T08:55:58","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T13:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=23087"},"modified":"2018-12-31T08:06:09","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T13:06:09","slug":"palmer-massachusetts-csx-b740-three-gp40-2s-and-calendar-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/palmer-massachusetts-csx-b740-three-gp40-2s-and-calendar-lighting\/","title":{"rendered":"Palmer, Massachusetts\u2014CSX B740: Three GP40-2s and calendar lighting."},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Some weeks ago, I had a few minutes before running an errand. I stopped in at CP83 near the old Palmer Union Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My timing was nearly perfect. Not long after I arrived, I heard a familiar roar to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The air was clear, and the sounds of EMD 645 diesels were resonating as they worked eastbound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought, \u2018must be the B740\u2019 (the CSX local freight that typically arrives in Palmer about mid-morning to work the interchange.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked up to the South Main Street bridge. As the train approached Palmer, it enters a short down grade, so the roar quieted. This change in pitch might confuse a novice visitor, who might become discouraged at the very moment a train is about to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure enough, after a couple of minutes, CSX B740 rolled into view and took the switch at CP83 onto the controlled siding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfect low and clear December sun over my left shoulder made for a calendar scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n