Two times in one day – not too bad. Got lucky this afternoon, and caught Providence & Worcester train NR-2 in New London as I was leaving work. Pretty good way to finish off the workday, and welcome in the long holiday weekend.
About 2pm, I got a call from Mr. Bob LaMay informing me that he was down in New London waiting for NR-2 to arrive in the NECR yard. Earlier today, I heard NR-2 saying that they’d be heading to Midway first, then off to Old Saybrook, and finally to the NECR in New London later in the afternoon, so Bob figured he was ahead of them since he didn’t see them on the Norwich Branch south of Norwich.
Well, at about 3pm, things were slow around the office, so we decided to head out early. As I was heading to the car, I pulled out my phone and started dialing Bob’s cellphone number. Just before I hit send, I was in the car and fired up the scanner. What do I hear, but NR-2 talking to the Shore Line dispatcher that they need to go to the NECR and not head for home. The dispatcher needed to line the switches, and let a train through New London before NR-2 could make the move into the yard. Maybe I’ll have time to get over the river before they hit the trestle over Winthrop Cove.
Well, I got there well in advance of the train – as I pulled into the parking lot overlooking Winthrop Cove, the train was on the move. Bob & I exchanged greetings and took positions in advance of the train. As the train was coming, a father and his kids decided that they wanted to take a short cut across the trestle and didn’t realize that a train was coming. Bob warned them, and they got out of the way of the incoming train. Moments later, NR-2 headed onto the wooden trestle over Winthrop Cove
[cpg_imagefixthumb:3187] [cpg_imagefixthumb:3186]As the train headed into the NECR yard, Rod gave a wave from the cab. While waiting for the train to pass by, one piece of graffitti caught my eye, so of course, the camera got a picture of it.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:3185]Interesting to say the least…
Once the train cleared, the father & kids headed over the trestle, and I grabbed a shot of the trailing power heading into the yard, with the Gold Star Bridge looming in the hazy humid background.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:3184]A quick look at my watch told me it was time to hit the road – Jill was waiting with the kids at our family’s place in Old Lyme. With the high temps today, she decided it would be better on the shore than inland, so she took the kids down there for the day. Tonight we’d have a nice little pre-Memorial Day cookout for dinner. Mmmmmm…hot dogs….
Thanks for looking!
Tom
