Actually got some blue skies today in between the threatening looking overcast – never actually got any rain down on the shore, just the clouds. Luckily the sun was out was in the morning when I headed out for my walk at Erickson Park and Mill Cove in Ledyard, CT.
I headed out a bit late again this morning, but I hoped that P&W train NR-2 would be also a bit late, as they typically are on Mondays. I got to Erickson Park and started my circuit around the path with my scanner in hand, checking the angles, and to see where the foliage was starting to turn.
Not long after I started, the scanner came alive with NR-2 reporting that they were south of MP12 in Norwich and about 20 minutes from the sub base. That gave me enough time to finish up the walk, and get into position. I opted for an angle to the south of the cove, getting some of the turning leaves across the river into the background of the shots.
About 15 minutes later, I could hear horns to the north – NR-2 was sounding for the crossings at Dow Chemical. So I headed back to the car and drove down to the south end of the cove. By the time I got my gear together and parked, NR-2 was sounding for the crossing at Red Top just to the north of me. Then NR-2 came around the bend at milepost 4, scaring away a large bird in the process
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4584]
Then came a pair of standard shots – one coming around the bend, and the other with the Harvard boat house in the background
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4583] [cpg_imagefixthumb:4582]
But after that I did something I haven’t done down at the Cove in a while – I put the wide angle lens on, and got this shot of the lead power crossing the inlet to the cove
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4581]
Then it was back to the telephoto for a shot of the trailing power clearing the curve, with the MP4 sign still visible
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4580]
Then the wide angle lens again. One a bit wide, and one a bit tighter
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4579] [cpg_imagefixthumb:4578]
Not bad at all! A quick walk across the street, and I was back in the car attempting to get ahead of the train in Fairview.
I guess I lucked out with the lights – I hit all greens, including the one at the south gate of the sub base! So I got to the bottom of Fairview well in advance of NR-2’s arrival. I got one shot of the approaching train
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4577]
Then a couple going away shots, that I think worked much better in black & white
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4576] [cpg_imagefixthumb:4575]
Listening to the scanner as the train rolled past, NR-2 was ready to head west to Old Saybrook. So I leapfrogged the train, and grabbed a shot of the continuing work on the west tower of the new lift span
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4574]
At that point, I decided I didn’t like the angle here for NR-2, and I made a quick sprint to the next spot to the south. Not more than a half minute after my arrival, NR-2 began rattling across the bridge. Two standard telephoto shots to stat off with
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4573] [cpg_imagefixthumb:4572]
Then the wide angle again. One shot of the bridge with NR-2 crossing
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4571]
And one of a fishing pole waiting for a bite (there were 4 or 5 fishermen working the river)
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4570]
Finally one more standard shot of the trailing power crossing the bascule span
[cpg_imagefixthumb:4569]
And then it was time to pack it in and head back to the office for a fun day of paperwork and server maintenance. But hey, that’s what pays the bills, and in some really sick & twisted way is actually fun. But that’s another story all together.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
