NR-2 in the nick of time

This morning I was able to get out for my walk, but things didn’t go exactly as planned.  In fact, they were pretty much made up on the fly – the scanner was unusually quiet when Providence & Worcester train NR-2 was usually talking.  So I took that as a sign that I could head a bit further north than usual.  That was almost the wrong decision…

So as I mentioned above, the scanner on my way out of the office was really quiet – not a peep on the P&W frequency.  So that meant I either just missed them, or they were running behind.  Both became more possible as I pushed north closer to Stoddard Hill and the scanner still quietly stared at me from the dash of my car.  OK, I figured I’d give Stoddard a shot and see what I could see.

As I pulled in, I saw someone else down by the boat launch, and it wasn’t a fisherman (they usually don’t use Nikon SLRs on a tripod).  Nope, it was none other than Fred Guenther, a fellow photographer from a little further west down the CT shore setting up for his shot.  So I grabbed my gear, and joined him.  My first question was if he had heard or seen NR-2 yet – he replied that he thought they were close by.  Just as he was saying that, I could hear a low rumble to the north – yep, NR-2 was on our doorsteps.

So I moved down towards the water, and seconds later NR-2 appears under some nice sunshine & calm water on the cove.

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OK, that was quick.  Fred & I talked for a bit longer before parting ways.  I figured I had time to catch them down at the south end of Fairview yard in Groton before I headed back to the office.

By the time I navigated my way through traffic lights, and behind slowpokes, I caught up with NR-2 as they were just entering Fairview yard limits.  But they didn’t continue south right away.  When I pulled into the parking spot at the south end of the yard, I could hear them shuffling cars around up at the north end.  OK, so I had plenty of time.

A little bit later, they finished up and pulled south.  I snapped a couple usual shots as they rolled past.

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Then a final shot of the conductor riding the power as they rolled south to pick up a hopper sitting on one of the yard tracks.

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At that point I called it quits and headed back to the office for the day.

Thanks for looking!
Tom