{"id":2559,"date":"2013-05-22T07:01:40","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T11:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=2559"},"modified":"2013-05-25T00:37:31","modified_gmt":"2013-05-25T04:37:31","slug":"csx-freights-on-the-former-boston-albany-in-new-york-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/csx-freights-on-the-former-boston-albany-in-new-york-state\/","title":{"rendered":"CSX Freights on the former Boston & Albany in New York State."},"content":{"rendered":"

Clear Blue Dome on May 17, 2013.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When possible I combine trips to take care of both business and errands, while leaving appropriate intervals for photography. Ideally, I\u2019ll organizing my time so I can conduct business during the heat of the day, while leaving the mornings and evening free to make photos when light is the best.<\/p>\n

Last Friday May 17, 2013 was a perfect execution of this philosophy. I\u2019d arranged to meet my friend and fellow railway photographer, John Pickett at 10:30 am to review some material for up coming book projects. John lives near Albany, so I departed Massachusetts in the early hours and aimed to work the far-west end of CSX<\/a>\u2019s former B&A route west of the Massachusetts-New York State line.<\/p>\n

My first location was State Line itself. This is conveniently accessed by a grade crossing within sight of the railroad\u2019s state-line marker. I\u2019d made a nice photograph of a Conrail eastbound here 25 years ago, and I wanted to repeat the effort with a CSX freight.<\/p>\n

\"Mass<\/a>
The former Boston & Albany mainline at the historic location on the Massachusetts-New York State Line on the morning of May 17, 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patience rewarded me with an eastward CSX intermodal freight, probably train Q022 (Columbus, Ohio to Worcester, Massachusetts<\/a>), lead by former Conrail SD60M 8774. Since the line is a single main at this location, I moved west to Chatham, New York<\/a> to wait for the westward Q019 (carries freight from Worcester to Chicago), and intermodal train that typically passes in the mid-morning. Along the way, I reviewed known locations, checking for places to photograph in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"SD60M\"<\/a>
I was happy to catch this Conrail-era EMD SD60M leading at State Line. Canon 7D fitted with 28-135mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"CSX<\/a>
Trailing view of the eastward freight passing the old State Line marker. Canon EOS 7D with 28-135mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Chatham,<\/a>
CSX Q019 passes the former Boston & Albany passenger station at Chatham, New York on May 17, 2013. Canon EOS 7D with 28-135mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Old<\/a>
Old Boston & Albany station at Chatham, New York. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

After 5pm, having finished my business with John (which incidentally included some photography along the Hudson River that will be featured in a later post), I returned to Chatham, picking a favorite location mid-way along the dispatchers controlled siding that extends east of town to the old \u2018Bottleneck Bridge\u2019 where the line crosses the New York State Thruway Extension. Here, I waited for the westward Q423 (Worcester to CSX\u2019s yard at Selkirk, New York<\/a>), which passed shortly after 6 pm.<\/p>\n

\"CSX<\/a>
An SD70ACe leads CSX’s Q423 at milepost QB173.7 east of Chatham, New York on May 17, 2013. Canon EOS 7D w 28-135mm lens set at 105mm. Exposed manually: ISO 200 f7.1 at 1\/500th sec.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I consider myself very fortunate that in this situation my past experiences combined with an appreciation for CSX\u2019s contemporary operations actually produced results. Not every effort yields ideal results; so despite planning and knowledge, I may have been skunked if trains didn\u2019t show up when I anticipated them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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