9/2 – NR-2 at three Spots

Back on September 2nd, I got a call from Nick Palazini that Providence & Worcester train NR-2 was just heading through Jewett City, CT.  And with a little hole in my schedule, and some beautiful blue skies, I figured a little trip was in order.  I figured i’d be able to get a little walk in.  Well, not only did we walk, there was a sprint or two mixed in.

So we decided to meet up at Stoddard Hill and start our adventures there.  By the time I got there, Nick and a friend of his were waiting in the parking lot by the boat lauch.  We said our “good mornings” (which included a “bird” or two – as usual), and decided to hike out to the south end of Stoddard Cove.  The tide was kind of high, but it looked like we could walk out to get a decent angle.  So off we went.

It wasn’t too mushy, so we made our way around and waited for NR-2s arrival.  Not too much long after we got into position, we heard horns to the north as NR-2 blew for the old Norwich Hospital crossing.  But with the still dry air, the sound carried right down the Thames valley, and it sounded like the train was on top of us!

A few minutes later, the rumbling grew louder, and NR-2 appeared from behind Stoddard Hill.

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And they rolled along Stoddard Cove with a nice reflection

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As they slipped behind the trees, I got a shot of the trailing locomotive, with Nick & his friend

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With the train rolling south, we headed back to the car.  But just as we got into the parking area, we saw a familiar car with someone coming out of it.  It was Bob LaMay asking if NR-2 had come by yet.  We told him he just missed them, but we were going to catch them hopefully at Fairview.  So he followed us as we set our sights on the Fairview Ave bridge.

When we got there, we weren’t sure where the train was, so we all grabbed our gear and ran from the parking lot to the bridge.  Luckily, though, we were ahead of NR-2 and had just enough time to catch our breath and get into position on the bridge.  Moments later, NR-2 came into view to the north.

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Then rolled under us

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At that point, they started switching Spicer Gas.  With that going on under us we were discussing our next move.  The subject of Shaw’s Cove across the river in New London came up, but a question of where to park presented itself, so we opted for the easier shot – Groton tower.

We were over there for a few minutes while NR-2 wrapped up spotting the car at Spicer, when NR-2 contacted the Amtrak New London dispatcher.  He had asked permission to head east to Midway.  Good call not to go to New London!

With that news, we all got into our cars and sped off to the spot just to the east of the tower.  We got there just as NR-2 was coming off of the east leg of the Groton wye.

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And I got a series of shots of them approching us

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One little bit of grafitti caught my eye

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Then the trailing locomotive came into view

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And pushed through the curve to the east

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Then one final shot, using Nick’s head & shoulders as a prop

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At that point, the three guys were talking about where to head next, and I had to break off and head back to the office.

Thanks for looking!
Tom