NECR northbound

Like usual, I’m a bit behind on postings.  So I’ll take advantage of a little time over lunch to bang out the two posts waiting in the queue.  First up is a quick chase of New England Central train NERWPA (the Willimantic to Palmer turn) between Eagleville, CT and Monson, MA.  In addition to that are a few shots from Palmer of the NECR yard switcher crew dropping a Providence & Worcester locomotive in the yard.

The chase began after I had lunch with my wife & daughter in Willimantic.  By the time we were done, I figured that NECR NERWPA should be in town working the P&W interchange.  So as they went off to ballet in Mansfield, I headed down to the yard to see what was shaking.

As I crossed Bridge Street, I saw headlights to the south – and judging by the scanner, they had just gotten into town to begin working the yard.  So I turned around and went to scout a couple spots in Willimantic – I wasn’t sure what the light looked like at midday, so I figured I had a few minutes to check things out.

After looking at a couple shots, nothing inspired me, so I headed back to the yard.  Well, just as I was passing by Dairy Queen on Main Street, I could hear the crew doing a final brake test before heading north.  OK, so I wasn’t going to get any shots in Willi today.  So it was off to the second stop I had in mind – Eagleville Dam on the Willimantic River in Mansfield.

By the time I made it through Willimantic traffic and into the clear on Route 32, I figured I had a good 2-3 minute head start on the train.  That coupled with the higher speed limit on 32 as compared to the tracks, I would have a good 5 minute lead by the time I got to the dam.

With the sun starting to swing to the west, I headed for the Coventry side of the Willimantic River and parked in the area near the boat launch.  Grabbing both cameras, I scouted around for some angles.  As soon as I settled on two spots, NERWPA came into view, crossing over Route 275.  Soon after that I rattled off a couple shots of the train rolling past the dam/waterfall.

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Then my second spot, a telephoto as they skirted along the Willimantic River

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But on my way out, something else caught my eye.  Some bottles sitting on top of a newspaper machine.  Someone having screwdrivers the night before?  And I never knew you added vanilla to a screwdriver!

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OK, enough of the cocktail speculation.  On my way back up to Route 32 I was trying to think about the next spot I could catch them.  Depot Road and Route 44 were pretty much out of the question, as was the field just south of those two crossings.  So I set my sights on Route 195 in Willington where the main ducks under the highway.

After sitting at a red light for what seemed to be an eternity, I got to the bridge about a minute before the train came into view.  That gave me enough time to park in the breakdown lane, put the signal on, and walk to the bridge.  Not long after I got there, the train came into view.

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And turning around I got a going away shot as they continued north

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As I climbed back in the car, I started thinking about the next stop.  I knew I wanted to get them rolling through Stafford Springs, but a number of other spots between Willington and there came to mind as well.  To be safe, I opted for a shot where the main ducks under Route 32 again near Milepost 48 on the Willington/Ellington/Stafford Springs town lines.

A couple minutes after I got there, the throbbing diesel sound of the EMDs could begin to be heard, and soon after that the crossing just to the south of me activated.  Then NERWPA came into view, and I got a shot of them snaking through the curves near 48

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A quick walk to the other side of 32, and I got a going away shot of them about to cross the bridge

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Next stop was Stafford Springs.  And with them having to slow down to a crawl to head through the curves there, I had plenty of time to get into town and into position.

The spot I had in mind was by the flange oiler on the north side of the curve, so I headed there, and waited.  A minute or so later, the train began sounding for the Route 32 crossing.  Soon after that, they rounded the curve and came into view.  My first shot was a telephoto with the town hall as a backdrop

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Then a couple wider shots as the train rolled past the brick buildings in town

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Now where to?

After the train passed, and back on Route 32, I pondered my next stop.  I pulled into the area near the State Line siding to check things out there.  Uninspired, I got back in the car and headed north.  I figured I could bag them where the tracks go under Stafford Hollow Road in Monson.

Well, in my effort to find the road, I wasn’t watching my speed.  But a Monson police officer was more than happy to monitor it for me!  After explaining why I was turning down this road to head to Palmer, he handed me a written warning for my excessive speed.  Thanking him for reminding me of the local speed limits, I scrapped the idea of trying to get them at Stafford Hollow Road, and instead went up to Bliss Street in Monson to get them going by the waterfall there.

With plenty of time, I grabbed my gear and started looking around for angles.  After I decided on an angle I decided it would be better shot with the 15mm fisheye instead of the 18-50mm.  So I headed back to the car to switch lenses.  As I got back to my spot, I could hear the train sound for a couple crossings to the south.  Not long after that, NERWPA came into view, and I got my shot with the waterfall.

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Over the radio I learned that the train would be stopping in Monson at Lydall to do a little work.  With my limited time left, I figured I’d bag them as they approached Lydall, then head straight up to Palmer to see what was going on there.  I parked along 32, and walked back a bit to get one shot as they passed by the river.

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As I pulled into the parking area, I saw a Providence & Worcester GP40 pulling away from Barney (AKA GEXR 3843), as the yard crew put it on an outside track.  So of course I got a series of photos of the action.

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By that time, I had to head back home, so I packed up and headed back south on 32.

Thanks for looking!
Tom