NS Lehigh/Reading Lines and others - February 26, 2012
Author: Dan Davis
Photos from a trip to the NS Lehigh Line, Reading Line, and a few others on February 26, 2012.
Photo Gallery
ICE SD40-2 6214 in CP paint sits in River Yard. This unit started life in 1974 as CP 5682, and after that was sold to NREX, becoming their 5682. NREX then renumbered this unit as 3214, which was then finally sold to Iowa Chicago and Eastern aka ICE. This is the first ICE engine I've ever photographed. Also, CP SD40-2 5671 was trailing, but it was unfortunately blocked by a cut of cars
One final shot of ICE SD40-2 6214 as it sits in idle in River Yard.
The best I could do. CP SD40-2 5671 sits in River Yard.
212 moves east through CP 89 with an ES40DC/C40-9W/C40-9W lash-up.
21M glides westbound on the approach at CP Bethlehem with an elephant style ES40DC/SD50I/C40-9W lash-up pulling 70 axles of intermodal
NS SD60I 6749 trails on 21MM as the middle unit. This unit started life in 1994 as Conrail's 5626. I shot thms unit in blue back in August of 2010..
This was a nice surprise, H74 comes east out of Allentown Yard and onto the Lehigh Line at CP 88, headed towards the Washington Secondary with NS SD50 5425 in Conrail Quality blue leading! We shot tlis one at over 9 locations back in December!
NS SD50 5425 leads H74 east through CP 88. 5425 began it's career in in 1984 as Conrail 6745, and it's days are numbered as the SD40E rebuild program continues
NS GP38-2 5300 in fesh paint trails on H74. This unit was built in 1974 as Penn Central 8111, which then became Conrail 8111
H76 rolls east out of Allentown Yard and onto the Lehigh Line, where it will head into River Yard to do some work. H76 is powered by a four pack of EMD units, which include a GP38AC/GP38-2/GP59/SD40-2 lash-up. The lead unit is NS GP38AC, which was built in 1971 as N&W 4148. NS had 60 GP38ACs orginally...
NS GP59 4616 is the third unit on.
NS GP38-2 5351 is the second unit on H76. This unit was built in 1978 as Conrail's 8196.
And finally, the fourth and final unit on H76 is NS SD40-2 3341, which was built for Conrail in 1977 as their 6376
H76 slowly moves east into River Yard.
NS 290 moves east through Steel City, which is located near Milepost LE 83.1 with elephant style UP EMDs for power, with UP SD70ACe 8624 and UP SD70M 4643...
A close shot of the UP SD70 variants (SD70ACe 8624 and UP SD70M 4643) on 290
UP SD70M 4643 trails on NS 290..
In order to set up the train into Push Pull, the H76 crew split up the units, with NS GP38AC 4148 and NS GP38-2 5351 idling while 4616 and 3371 work the yard.
H76 NS GP59 4616 and SD40-2 4616 move east towards a cut of cars in River Yard as they prepare to pass the 4148 and 3341.
H76 continues east through River Yard, passing their other two units
H76 with NS GP59 4616 and NS SD40-2 3371 run lite towards a cut of cars
H76 shoves the hopper cars back towards the 4148 and 5351 as 262 makes it's approach into River Yard
H76 brings two hopper cars west through River Yard, now with 3341 taking the lead temporarily
262 passes the H76 as they make their arrival into River Yard.
NS C40-9Ws 9629 and 9926 lead 262 east into River Yard where they will leave the Roadrailers for LVRB to pick up
LVRB MP15s 20 and 19 work hard to bring the roadrailer trailers towards their final destination.
LVRB MP15s 20 and 19 bring the roadrailers towards their final destination.
18N moves eastbound through Steel City with two Dash 9s...
38G roars west by Milepost RV 33 in Emmaus with NS SD60 6610 leading the way.
NS SD60 6610 is the leader on 38G.
Third out on 38G is NS GP38-2 5280 which is on it's way back to Pavonia Yard. 5280 started it's life out in 1973 as PC 8077, eventually becoming Conrail's 8077 as well.
One of my favorite shots from the day. 39G heads eastbound, passing a field surrounded by a white fence with a trio of EMDs for power, including NS SD70M 2604 leading, plus NS SD60 6528 (ex UP) and NS SD60 6609 trailing..
NS SD60 6528 trails on 38G. This unit was recently purchased from HLCX, this unit was their number 5999, and before that, UP 5999. I shot this unit back in October when it was HLCX 5999.
15T roars uphill as they head westbound through Emmaus with NS C40-9W 8824 leading a pair of NS SD60s....
The second ex HLCX/UP, and the fourth UP Yellow unit of the day is NS SD60 6533 in the middle on 15T. This unit was formerlly HLCX and UP number 5949.
The third unit on 15T is NS SD60 6678..
261 moves west through Emmaus with 262's power from earlier, mow with 9926 leading..
25M lite engines head west through Emmaus with Seven, yes SEVEN C40-9Ws and an ex SOO Line thrown in for good measure...
The seventh unit on 25M is CEFX SD60 6001 in SOO Line Red and White paint. This unit was built in 1987
25M continues westbound through Emmaus.
After working Buckeye Pipe for a few hours, H70 makes it's presence known as they head west, with NS SD40-2 3374 leading the way as it roars in Notch 8. This unit was built in 1977 as Conrail 6436
NS GP38-2 5050 was the second unit on the east end of H70. This unit was built in 1972 as Southern 5050.
NS B32-8 3545 brings up the rear marker on H70. This is one of only 34 B32-8 units on the NS roster. The unit in front of it was NS GP38-2 5620
NS SD70 2569 trails a C40-9W and C40-8 on 16T. This unit was built in 1998 as Conrail 2569