An all-EMD NR-2

Now that I’m back home, I decided to take advantage of a hole in my schedule and get out to shoot Providence & Worcester train NR-2 somewhere in Ledyard. As things turned out, not only did I catch them, but it was an interesting train – at least for this neck of the woods. NR-2 was powered by a pair of EMD locomotives – we usually see the GE power down this end of the system. Nice change of pace…too bad the weather sucked.

I headed out at about my normal time, and of course the scanner was whirring away listening for anything on the P&W frequency. On the way out, I figured I’d head for Erickson Park and Mill Cove first – it was the closest, and if NR-2 was in the area, it would be the best bet I’d catch them.

Well the entire trip north, the scanner was silent. So I decided to take a little walk around the park, looking for angles. Well, nothing struck my fancy, but I did get an update on NR-2 – they were just north of MP12. So that put them about 20 minutes from me – I could still walk around a bit before they came into range.

About 20 minutes later, I heard horns to the north, NR-2 was rolling through the Dow Chemical plant at Allyn’s Point. So I got back to the car, and headed to the south end of Mill Cove.

I got to the spot just as NR-2 was reporting that they were south of MP5. So I grabbed my camera, and climbed up the side of the hill. Just then, the train sounded for the crossing at Red Top, and came into view.

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6945]

Cool, a pair of EMDs on the point!

Next shot I did things a bit differently in post. I did it as a black & white, but I really played with the filters in Lightroom, and came up with a kind of surreal looking scene, where most of it is really dark, and the train just stands out.

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6944]

Then a more “normal” shot of the entire train pulling through the curve at the top of Mill Cove

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6943]

And a final shot here at the Cove of the power, with the power plant across the river in the background

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6942]

With no power on the rear end of the train, I just enjoyed it passing by (along with couple horn blasts from Rod), then got back in the car and headed for Fairview.

I got there just as NR-2 entered the yard.

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6941]

And switched to the wide angle, getting some of the cruddy clouds in the frame

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6940]

As they passed by, I got a shot of the trailing engine, still looking shiny from her recent repaint

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6939]

Back to the telephoto for one final shot, as the train approached the signal at the Groton wye

[cpg_imagefixthumb:6938]

By then, I had run out of time and had to get back to the office. So I packed up and hit the road for work.

Thanks for looking!
Tom