Today started off with me thinking that I wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather today. I had meetings scheduled this morning, and by the time they’d be over, I would have missed Providence & Worcester train NR-2. Well as luck would have it (even on such an “unlucky” day), the meetings got rescheduled. A quick look at the watch told me I may have missed NR-2 anyways. But what the hell – it was worth a shot. If anything, I’d at least catch an Acela or two, and I’d get a chance to check out the work on the Thames River drawbridge. BTW, the bridge replacement is delayed again – no date is set yet. I’ll be this will throw the boaters into a tizzy…
Like usual, the scanner was on while I was rolling out of the parking lot. Not much going on. Until I started getting closer to Fairview yard – the P&W frequency was starting to pick up some transmissions. Hmmm, was NR-2 around somewhere? With it being about 10:30, I figured they were across the river somewhere working. So I figured I’d head across the river to maybe catch Amtrak Acela train 2150 down by Shaw’s Cove.
As I was heading across the Gold Star Bridge, I looked to the north and noticed something – NR-2 was working in Fairview yard! OK, cool, I’d be able to catch them somewhere. While I was heading across the river, I figured I had just enough time to get to Shaw’s Cove and catch 2150, then head across the river for NR-2.
As I pulled across the crossing at Shaw’s Cove, I could see 2150 rounding the bend to the west. So I parked, grabbed the camera, and got a quick shot of 2150 crossing the swing bridge.
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OK, pretty good for a grab shot of sorts. I didn’t hear NR-2 call the Amtrak Shore Line dispatcher yet, so I figured they were still over in Fairview for a while. Back east I went.
I got to the south end of Fairview just as NR-2 was beginning to pull south, and at the same time, they contacted the Shore Line dispatcher. But I noticed something on the horizon – a large smoke plume to the northwest.
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Well that turned out to be a huge fire in Colchester at an auto recycling business. But back to the action here in Groton.
The first shot of NR-2 I got was a long shot, through the heat.
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And a second one, this time in color
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Closer still, this time a bit clearer, as the EMD throttles up
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As the train rolled towards me, a Coast Guard training ship turned in the river in front of me
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And a nice crisp, clear shot of the entire train
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Switching to the wide angle, I got a shot with the Colchester fire smoke plume in the background
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As they rolled past, I headed back to the car. Since they haven’t heard back from the Shore Line dispatcher, I figured I had time to get down to the overlook south of the drawbridge.
Just as I got onto Thames Street, Shore Line contacted NR-2 and gave them the signal to head west right away. OK, now if only the traffic lights would cooperate.
I pulled into the parking lot just as NR-2 was beginning to come down the west leg of the wye, which gave me enough time to park, grab the camera and get into position.
While waiting, a fishing boat – the Hooked Up – came past me
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And proceeded north towards the bridge.
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Would the timing work to get them in the frame with NR-2?
Yep!
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Next, a pretty standard shot of NR-2 crossing the drawbridge
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And the head end passing the counterweight
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Then the trailing power
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As the train rolled off of the bridge, I figured what the hell, let’s get ’em rolling through the station and over Shaw’s Cove.
After a short wait, NR-2 rolled through the station
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And another view of the fire plume, still growing larger by the minute
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Then the trailing unit rolling through the station
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And approaching Shaw’s Cove
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Then a small boat came whizzing by (kinda looks like a Boston Whaler at this distance)
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And one with the little speeding boat, along with a sailboat waiting for an opening at Shaw’s Cove
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Then one final shot of the trailing power heading off of the bridge
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I figured I had a few minutes to check out if anything had changed with the new span across the river. So I headed for the Streeter boat launch under the Gold Star Bridge.
On the way there, the NECR frequency lit up – it sounded like train NERWNE was working the yard (they switched schedules around – NERWNE usually works at night, and NERWPA works during the day – apparently there’s track work to the north of Willimantic, prompting the switch).
Once I got to the boat launch, I got a quick shot of the span, not looking much different
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A look at the drawbridge, I got a shot of a larger excavator up on the counterweight. Just look for the yellow “DEERE” that really doens’t belong on the top of a drawbridge.
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And a shot of the heavy lift crane barge, tied up at the State Pier
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Finally, one shot with the span, and NERWNE in the background
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At that point, I was about out of time, so I packed up and headed to the office for the rest of the day.
Fast forward to the commute home. As I was pulling onto I-395 in Waterford, the P&W frequency lit up with NR-2 reporting to the Worcester dispatcher they were northbound out of Fairview. Cool, I could probably catch them in Norwich on the way home! So I set my sights on Chelsea landing.
I got there with no sign of the train. So I parked, and walked up towards Route 12. I wanted to get a shot of NR-2 pulling past milepost 12 just south of the Norwich tunnel.
Not more than a couple minutes later, the crossings at MP 12 activated, and NR-2 soon came through the crossing.
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Going a bit wider, I got another shot as the train started to pull through the curve
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As the train rolled past, I switched to the wide angle, and got one final shot of the trailing power under the nice blue skies.
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Not a bad finish to this Friday the 13th…
Thanks for looking!
Tom
