Well, I couldn’t take a walk yesterday because I was kinda busy at work, and the dreary day really didn’t get me motivated to get outside and walk (even though I really should). But today, with bright blue skies, I couldn’t pass it up. I figured I’d stay close today, since it would be another busy day at the office. So it was off to Erickson Park in Ledyard for my (mostly) daily walk, coupled with Providence & Worcester train NR-2. But today there’d be more in store…
I got up to the park at my usual time, and as I started to walk around, my cellphone rang. Bob LaMay was up around MP 8 (where I was for this post) and was wondering if I’d heard anything about NR-2 yet (Bob told me last time we met up that he’d lost his scanner – see the 2nd half of this post) . I told him the scanner was silent on my trip over and I’d give him a call once I heard something. Back to the walk.
Moments later, the scanner woke up with NR-2 calling clear of MP13. So I got back on the horn to Bob and let him know that they were closing in on his position. I just kept on walking.
A few minutes later Bob called to let me know that they were clear of his position, and it was a short train. With this information I decided to head to the south end of the cove to get a shot of the entire train coming around the bend in the causeway.
So I picked my spot, and set up. A minute later, NR-2 called clear of MP5, and came into view a minute or so later. Grabbed a couple shots at the top end of the cove
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And a couple at the bottom
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Hopped back in the car and headed south. I figured a shot heading across the Thames River was in order, since they weren’t going to Tilcon in Groton (no cars on the train today). As I headed down Military Highway, I caught up to NR-2. As I was pacing beside them, they contacted the Shoreline Dispatcher and informed her that they’d be at the signal in a couple minutes, ready to head to the NECR in New London. She told them they’d have the signal when they get there, so I hightailed it for my usual spot south of the drawbridge. A couple minutes later NR-2 sounded their horns, and made their appearance on the bridge. I got a shot of the entire train as it was heading across the moveable span towards New London.
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While I was there, I got a few shots of a bulk freighter, the Orna, unlaoding some cargo at the State Pier in New London.
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As NR-2 was crossing over onto the New London side, they tried contacting anyone in the NECR yard to make sure nobody was there working. Well, there were a couple track foremen working in the yard at this time. NR-2 coordinated with the one working at the south end of the yard to make sure everyone could do what they needed to do without getting in each other’s way. This all happened while I was heading south. So I decided I’d pull off at the Waterfront Restaurant and see what I could see. Well, I saw that foreman crcrossing over the Winthrop Cove trestle in his hyrail. Got a pretty long shot of them heading into the yard.
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Then I got a shot of NR-2 spanning the Shaw’s Cove swing bridge directly across the river from me.
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And finally a bow on shot of the Orna unloading
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From there, the gear got packed away, and I finished my southbound trek to the parking lot, to spend the rest of this gorgeous day inside. Good thing I’ve got Friday off… 😉
Thanks for looking!
Tom
