Norfolk Southern (NS) 5608 - Rebuilt EMD GP38-2

rain of the day.....NS 5608 is on K-76 returning to Croxton from Allentown in Union, NJ 6/28/2025.

NS 4449 is on K-76 in Union, NJ 6/28/2025.

NS 5605 is on H-55 heading back to Suffern, NY at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 4/10/2025.

NS 5608 is on H-55 bound for Paterson, NJ at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 4/10/2025.

NS 5608 is on H-55 bound for Paterson, NJ at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 4/10/2025.

NS 5655 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 2/11/2025.

NS 5608 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 2/5/2025.

NS 5608 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ while train 1249 waits in Waldwick yard to change ends and head east. A set of tire tracks in the guage of the siding that used to be part of the wye that was once here is from a hi railer that hopped off here and the drove down the right of way alongside Waldwick Yard to the exit to the yard at Chestnut Ave in Allendale, NJ. This siding was retained to serve CM&Son trucking which distributes road salt and brine to municipalities and companies that plow and salt customers parking lots and driveways. They are not a current customer as its been a long time since I have seen cars on the siding.

The sun still shines as the clouds are beginning to move in from the north and west as NS 7584 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 1/16/2025. With the 3 locomotive lashup and healthy train, the H-55 looks like the through freights that used to run here just 25 years ago. After the Conrail split, NS ran one road freight each way a day. 47 and 48G were the symbols I believe. Conrail generally ran one through freight per day as well. The symbols were BUOI and OIBU. Sometimes, Conrail would run an auto train and a double stack container train if there was congestion on the River Line or the Penn Route. The last hurrah for the former Erie as a through route was back in the mid to late 1980s when the former Erie, aka The Southern Tier Line was the primary route for double stack container trains as the former Erie was the only line that could clear the double stacks. During this time there were two manifest trains each way a day, BUOI/OIBU and ELOI/OIEL. This, plus the stack trains and auto trains made the former Erie the place to be. Unfortunately, it would not last. Conrail was already working on the tunnels on the River Line as well as replacing the last timber trestles, including the longest one at Iona Island to allow the double stacks and 202" autoracks to run on the River Line and the former NYC Water Level Route. While most of the double stack trains went over to the River Line, there was still an occasional double stack line on the Southern Tier as the Lehigh Line and the Penn Route still could not yet clear double stacks. Once the River Line and Water Level could clear stacks, Conrail shifted their attention to the Penn Route. Just before the Conrail Split, Conrail worked on Pattenburg Tunnel on the Lehigh Line, clearing it for stacks. This would be the final nail in the coffin for through freights on what is often referred to as the Delaware Division. This is the former Erie between Port Jervis and Binghamton. NS continues to use the Southern Tier from Binghamton west to Buffalo. NS leased the Southern Tier aka the Delaware Division between Port Jervis and Binghamton to Delaware Otsegos subsidiary Central New York Railway. Basically, the NYSW. From Port Jervis east to Suffern, NS leased the tier to Metro North Railroad. Metro Norths segment is dispatched by NJTRansits Hoboken/Main Line Dispatcher. The former Erie, east of Suffern is owned by NJTransit and has been so since 1983 when Conrail got out of the passenger business. Conrail operated commuter service on behalf of NJDOT/NJTransit, Metro North Railroad and SEPTA from 1976-1983.

NS 5608 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 12/27/2024

NS 5608, NS 5655, and NS 7608 is on H-55 at WC Interlocking in Waldwick, NJ 12/20/2024.

Spring St. Yard

3rd unit on H76

After holding for 24M and H19, NS H22 enters the Columbia Secondary just before sunset

Norfolk Southern H22 "detours" away from its normal routing of Amtrak's Keystone Corridor and runs down the Royalton Branch to return to Lancaster

Norfolk Southern H22 works hard as they roll east on the Royalton Branch, passing the Unit 1 cooling towers of Three Mile Island

After being recrewed for the second time today, Norfolk Southern H22 heads back to Lancaster, making a "detour" move over the Royalton Branch

Norfolk Southern H22 running with the H30 crew rolls across the Tri County Boat Club private crossing

Norfolk Southern H30, which recrewed H22, crosses tracks at ROY interlocking to head for the Royalton Branch

Norfolk Southern H22 makes a rare daylight move on Amtrak's Keystone Corridor after being recrewed by H30, seen passing through Middletown Station

NS 5314 & 5608 are seen leading HO01 East at Rockville, PA.

Barr Harbor Drive at 1519.

Built June 1971 as N&W 4127, rebuilt October 2005.

38G starts its set and pick at Abrams at 1354.

38G passes through Valley Forge at 1331.

20t east11:05 am

two way meet

Research train rolling thru Macungie,Pa.

After dropping off a grain train, C69s power runs light back to the yard. Note one of the many sorry looking industrial buildings to the right.

Binghamton Yard

Norfolk Southern Research Department Track Test Vehicle sitting at the fuel rack. This picture was taken the day before the August 2010 issue of Trains magazine arrived in the mail with a two page article (pages 20 & 21) about it in the technology section.