{"id":32739,"date":"2022-01-25T06:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T11:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=32739"},"modified":"2022-01-24T21:18:14","modified_gmt":"2022-01-25T02:18:14","slug":"south-monson-1983-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/south-monson-1983-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"South Monson\u20141983 &#038; 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I&#8217;ve had a special request from a regular Tracking the Light subscriber for more Central Vermont. So here we go! Read on . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I grew up less three miles from the South Monson crossing, where the Central Vermont Railway crosses Route 32 near the sand &amp; gravel company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On July 21, 1983, I made one of my earliest solo train chases by car. (Previously, I chased on a ten-speed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;d followed a northward CV freight from Stateline toward Palmer, where this met a southward freight led by GP9 4442. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Old 4442 was my favorite of  CV&#8217;s GP9s. It was my favorite for no other reason than it always seemed to lead the freight coming through Monson, and was almost always in Palmer during my forays there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I made this view of 4442 southbound crossing Route 32.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"298\" data-attachment-id=\"32741\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/south-monson-1983-2018\/cv_4442_south_at_south_monson_rt32_july21_1983_briansolomon442799\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?fit=2048%2C1286\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1286\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?fit=709%2C445\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?fit=474%2C298\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?resize=474%2C298\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?resize=1022%2C642 1022w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?resize=709%2C445 709w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?resize=205%2C129 205w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?resize=1536%2C965 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast forward to August 7, 2018. I&#8217;d stepped out of  Monson Savings Bank in time to see New England Central GP38 3850 work through town with the Federal Railroad Administration inspection train. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My first point of interception was at the South Monson Crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"316\" data-attachment-id=\"32740\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/south-monson-1983-2018\/necr_3850_w_fra_test_train_at_south_monson_rt32_crossing_dscf2376\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?fit=709%2C473\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?fit=474%2C316\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?resize=474%2C316\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?resize=1022%2C681 1022w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?resize=709%2C473 709w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?resize=205%2C137 205w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2376.jpg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>Digital photo of NECR 3850 leading a southward FRA inspection train at South Monson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"316\" data-attachment-id=\"32742\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/south-monson-1983-2018\/necr_3850_w_fra_test_train_at_south_monson_rt32_crossing_dscf2378\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?fit=2048%2C1365\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?fit=709%2C473\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?fit=474%2C316\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?resize=474%2C316\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?resize=1022%2C681 1022w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?resize=709%2C473 709w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?resize=205%2C137 205w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NECR_3850_w_FRA_test_train_at_South_Monson_Rt32_Crossing_DSCF2378.jpg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption>This is nearly the same angle that I&#8217;d taken back in 1983. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the intervening years between these two trains, the trees and line-side foliage have grown!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, I notice that my youthful enthusiasm for catching the train in motion seems to have resulted in a more successful photographic composition than my more skilled efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This last point is a topic I plan to explore in great depth in upcoming Tracking the Light posts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color\" style=\"color:#193287\"><strong>Tracking the Light Looks Back!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve had a special request from a regular Tracking the Light subscriber for more Central Vermont. So here we go! Read on . . . <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[],"tags":[7535,7536],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/CV_4442_south_at_South_Monson_Rt32_July21_1983_\u00a9BrianSolomon442799.jpg?fit=2048%2C1286","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2BVuC-8w3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32739"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32743,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32739\/revisions\/32743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}