We got back home from Florida early last week, but because of things around the house, I didn’t get out to shoot at all. This morning, though, I finally got a chance to head out, and bagged Providence & Worcester train NR-2 at a couple spots. I also got some dredging along the Thames River channel on my way north to catch the P&W.
So I managed to get out this morning to hopefully catch NR-2 somewhere along the Thames River. Since I had no idea where NR-2 was, I decided to head north along Military Highway, which skirts the Thames River south of the US Navy Sub Base. On my way north, I saw something odd in the river – a barge that looked to be split open along the keel. At about the same time, I heard NR-2 was somewhere around MP22 – quite a ways north of me – so I decided to stop & check out the barges.
I pulled off about a half mile south of the USS Nautilus & checked things out – a pair of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock dump scows, along with a dredging crane barge were working in the channel south of the base. I got a few shots as one scow was pulling out loaded with silt, and another was being positioned alongside the crane barge.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11020] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11019] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11018] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11017] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11016] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11015] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11014] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11013] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11012]Interesting. But time to head north to catch what I ventured out into the cold for.
As I was continuing north on Route 12, I got an update on NR-2 – they finally got track from MP16 down to Fairview (there was a track car ahead of them). I figured I could catch them at Poquetanuck Cove on the Preston/Ledyard line.
I got up there a few minutes ahead of NR-2, so I relaxed for a bit – until I heard the horns to the north. Moments after I got out, I got a pair of shots of the short train skirting the cove.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11011] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11010]I figured I had enough time to leapfrog them and catch them at either Mill Cove or at the USS Nautilus.
Well, as I was passing by Dow Chemical, NR-2 reported to the Worcester dispatcher that they were south of MP5 – which is about 3/4 of a mile south of Dow. I guess Mill was out of the question.
I got to the USS Nautilus overlook park just as the crossing gates were dropping at the Sub Force Museum pedestrian crossing. I decided to head a bit further north and get a tighter shot of the train coming out from behind the museum.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11009]And finally a shot of the rear power, with the dredging behind.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11008]Yeah, it’s through the trees, but it was the best I could do without breaking my neck (I would have sprinted to another spot to get the barge and train in the clear, but the sidewalk there was pure ice).
A quick check of my watch told me I had about 20 minutes to get back to the office before my next teleconference. So the cameras hit the bag, and I headed for the office. It was a good thing – NR2 had to switch out Spicer Gas in Groton, so it would have been a while before they headed west on Amtrak.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
