Busy day again at work today, so I didn’t get out until a bit later than usual. By the time I got out, Providence & Worcester train NR-2 was already at the signal in Groton waiting to head west, but they’d need to wait for a couple Amtraks and a bridge opening. I guess it wasn’t in the cards for today. But I did get the two Amtraks as well as the US Coast Guard cutter Eagle moving a bit downriver.
Since I didn’t have much time, I opted for the overlook to the south of the Thames River drawbridge. The first thing I noticed was that the Eagle was moored to the pier near the Amtrak station in New London. But what was odd was the tugboat John Paul was hovering about. It looked like she was about to leave the pier and head south. A couple minutes later, the lines were cast off and the tug began to nudge the square rigger away from the pier
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Then a couple moments later, Amtrak train 171 came onto the bridge rather slowly. Apparently there was an issue with the cab signals, and they were running under a restricting indication, so they were rolling across the bridge at crawl.
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By that time, the John Paul had backed the Eagle away, and turned her so she was in the full morning sunlight.
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A quick look at the watch showed me that I had to get back to the office. But just as I made that determination, an eastbound Acela began blowing for the crossing near Shaw’s Cove across the river. Yeah, I could wait another minute for it to get to the bridge. A minute or so later, I got a couple shots of the train rolling across the Thames
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Then it was back into the car and back to the office.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
