News Updates

Things seem to be marginally better for the freight rail business. The passenger rail business ( some would say there is no such thing) is still a world of dreams. I do not expect to see an actual high speed rail system anywhere in the USA during my lifetime.

News from the Association of American Railroads

The Association of American Railroads reported freight traffic rose to 264,030 carloads in the week ended Jan. 16, up from 236,796 loads in the prior week. Intermodal loadings last week increased to 201,728 containers from the year's first week loadings of 196,788. The Journal of Commerce

Burlington Northern Santa Fe reported a 13% drop in fourth-quarter earnings, but a profit margin of 14.6% reflected the railroad's efforts to improve efficiencies. In addition, "We have seen some improvement in volumes during the second half of 2009 and expect this gradual improvement to continue," said CEO Matthew Rose. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (1/21)

Results at major U.S. railroads in the fourth quarter reflect the slow pace of economic recovery. Weak demand for coal -- an important business segment -- has hurt the industry, as has tepid consumption of imported goods. "Until employment shows some signs of improvement, you're going to have consumers stay on the sideline, and I think it's going to be pretty tough to see any kind of a strong recovery," said Jim Young, Union Pacific chief executive. ABC News/The Associated Press (1/21)

Union Pacific reported a 17% drop in fourth-quarter profit Thursday, but the results topped analysts' expectations. Although overall shipping demand remained soft, the agricultural and automotive business groups posted improvement. Additionally, CEO Jim Young offered some optimism: "Although still uncertain, the economic picture for 2010 looks somewhat more favorable than it did a year ago." Reuters

Zoo Tower, An American Icon

Zoo interlocking is a classic Pennsylvania Railroad structure and an iconic symbol of that great railroad since 1935. Named for the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, whose trees are seen at the right in this view, Zoo is the junction for two four-tracked routes. The Amtrak train curving to the right is on its way to New York via North Philadelphia, Trenton and Newark. The line my train is on heads West to Harrisburg as Amtrak, and from there on the Norfolk Southern to Chicago.

I apologize for the quality of my photograph shot through the window of an Amtrak Keystone Service coach. You may see much better photography and Zoo Tower information on a British railfan's web page at this link.

The Hyndman Helper

At Philson Station on the eastern side of the Sand Patch Grade in Pennsylvania this EMD SD50 helper No. 8595 is pushing at the rear of a long string of empty auto racks. These helpers are known as the "Hyndman Helpers" for the name of the town at the start of the grade. The helper will cut off at Manilla just before the Sand Patch tunnel at the summit. There it will wait for an eastbound train and will couple to its rear to go back to Hyndman. This old B&O route over the Allegheny mountains is to East Coast railroading what Tehachapi or Cajon are to the West Coast.

Going Remote at Enola Yard

The engineer of Norfolk Southern EMD SW1500 No. 2217 has his engine's control console strapped to his belt. This example of remote control locomotive operation is becoming more and more the standard in America's major rail yards. This example is at Enola, Pennsylvania. Enola was a historic Pennsylvania Railroad classification yard since 1905. Under Norfolk Southern management since 1999, Enola's tracks parallel the Susquehanna River's west bank just south of the Rockville bridge. NS has significantly increased the yard's capacity from it's downgraded condition under Conrail.

Potomac River Power

An aging GE C40-8 with an EMD SD50 trailing still do a good job for CSX pulling freights along the Potomac River, here at Point of Rocks, Maryland. The freight is westbound towards Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and Cumberland, Maryland. The MARC commuter platform can be seen behind No. 7532. Out of frame to the left is the historic Point of Rocks station. At this old B&O station you can watch the trains of today move over a route that remains from the very beginnings of American railroading.

Rockville - Great Train Photo Spot

A few miles north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania the Rockville bridge was the longest stone arch bridge in the world when it was completed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1902. It is 3,280 feet (1,164 m) long. The boat launching ramp at the northwest end of the bridge in Maryville, PA is a great spot to watch and photograph. As you can see in my photo, being on the north side of an east-west rail line makes it a problem for photography. The north side is always in shadow. As we often find when out train watching, the south side of the line may not have good vantage points. Film photographers must be careful with exposure. Digital photographers have it better because a good camera will get the maximum detail in the shadows so you can PhotoShop the frame for a better exposure.
You can see a good capsule history on Wikipedia.

The Search For Old Tracks

1912 L&RNG overpass on Eckman Road

My "Illustrated Historical Atlas of Lancaster County" purchased from the Lancaster County Historical Society contains the 1898 maps of the county showing the railroads in detail. One of them, labeled "Lancaster and Reading Narrow Gauge" is the subject of my post today.

As-built, the railroad was not narrow gauge, but standard. The last part of it around Quarryville, PA was abandoned in the 1970's. There are still relics to be seen like shown in the photographs. The West Willow station had a "For Rent" sign on it when I was there in December 2007. The Eckman Road overpass makes a splendid fortified-looking entrance for a private home.

West Willow Station of the L&RNG

The Low Grade Line is Gone

Officially known as "The Atglen & Susquehana Branch", the Pennsylvania Railroad's line from Atglen to Enola passed through Lancaster County. Abandoned by Conrail in 1989, this double-tracked electrified route was part of the Pennsy's route that bypassed cities and steeper grades for freight trains between the East Coast and Enola Yard west of Harrisburg. The route dates from the turn of the 20th century. The low-grade rumbled and hummed with the high horsepower of P-5, GG-1 and E-44 locomotives until the end of electric freight in 1981.
Today, the tracks have long disappeared but the steelwork for catenary support remain. The route has been transferred from owner Norfolk Southern to the various municipalities along it. Having no grade crossings in Lancaster County, many stone overpasses remain, often throttling the highways that use them.

The high voltage distribution lines above the abandoned right of way are owned by Amtrak who uses them to transmit power from the Safe Harbor hydroelectric plant to its main line at Atglen. One would-be copper wire salvager has been electrocuted by assuming the lines were dead.

Near Martic Forge an impressive steel trestle spans Pequea (PEK-way) Creek. My photos here show the growth of grass and small trees that are reclaiming the right of way. The lower photo, showing the trestle from below, shows a form of local transportation not subject to pressures of the market.