Well, a busy morning kept me from taking my walk at the usual time, so I figured a quick trip to the Old Saybrook Amtrak station was in order over lunch. I’d get a walk in, along with some stairs hopefully hopping between platforms. Only problem is it was freaking hot and humid today. But it wasn’t enough of a problem to keep me away. I just made sure I kept myself hydrated.
I got to the station apparently just in time for all the action. A quick look to the west showed Providence & Worcester train NH-1 already sitting on track 6 in the distant haze, waiting for NR-2s arrival.
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Then a moment later, NR-2 hit the detector across the river in Old Lyme. OK, should be interesting. While walking around, a timetable in between the two gauntlet tracks on track 3 caught my eye.
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Then the automated train warning voice came over the loudspeakers. It was for the center platform, and track 1 had a green. Looked like NR-2 was coming in on track 1 instead of the usual track 3. Not more than 30 seconds later, the automated warning system activated for the track 2 side. Woah, another train in the picture! A quick look to the west revealed who it was – an Acela. A quick run to the end of the platform got a shot into the haze of the Acela passing NH-1.
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A minute or so later, NR-2 rounded the bend to the east, just as I had suspected, on track 1. They headed west of BROOK interlocking to clear the signals, then head back east to track 3.
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Then an obligatory fisheye shot of the train passing the milemarker on the center platform.
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Once they cleared the station, they cut the train in two, and shoved some centerbeams of lumber up the east leg of the wye for NH-1.
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And the conductor made the cut.
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After getting back on track 3, the 2 sets of locomotives headed for Tilcon, making room for NH-1 to head from track 6 over to track 3.
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Once NR-2 was in the clear, NH-1 got clearance to head across the crossovers at BROOK, and onto track 3
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Then chased NR-2 down to Tilcon
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Once their eastern power was cut off out of view, they shoved a cut of cars into the Tilcon Old Saybrook plant.
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At that point, I was not only sweating quite a bit, but also it was time to head back to the ranch. So I packed up, and headed back to the car, where I fired up the AC and made the trek back to Groton.
That’s it for today! Hopefully it won’t be as humid tomorrow…
Thanks for looking!
Tom
