Started off on the wrong foot this morning. Got out later than usual, so I wasn’t sure if I’d catch Providence & Worcester NR-2 in any of my usual spots. But I figured what the hell, let’s give it a whirl and see what materializes. So I got into the car, fired up the scanner and headed north. The entire trip north the scanner was eerily quiet – not a good omen.
I checked out Mill Cove first, then Stoddard Cove – both times with the still quiet scanner. No sign of any train at all. Only sign of any rail activity was a sporadic part of New England Central train 608 working to the north in Franklin. Looks like I was striking out today.
With the lack of action, I figured I’d head back, check out the progress on the drawbridge, and head back to the office. So it was back down Military Highway for the trip south. Still there was nothing on the scanner except for the occasional transmission on the Amtrak frequency. Somewhat disappointed, I was going over the bridge at the south end of Fairview Yard and happened to look to the left. Something caught my eye – a P&W EMD!
Next stop was south of the drawbridge – maybe I could catch them heading across. Hate to waste such a beautiful, although cold, morning.
As soon as I got to the parking lot and parked, an Acela came across the drawbridge.
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And right on their heels NR-2 came rolling out of the Groton wye and onto the drawbridge. This time, I put the wide angle on the camera for a couple shots of the train heading onto the bridge with the docks in the foreground.
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Then one of the entire train crossing the drawbridge
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And a quick change to the telephoto for a shot of the trailing EMD passing the west tower.
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Then finally the entire train heading for the New London side of the river
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Next stop was the parking lot at the lobster company for a few across the river shots. The US Coast Guard cutter Tahoma was still at the docks in New London, so that made the first shot
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And a couple standards
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Just then I noticed that there was a ferry coming north – the Race Point. The timing worked out for a shot with the entire train crossing over Shaw’s Cove in the background.
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And one final shot of the train on the other side of the ferry
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Not too bad, eh? Ended up salvaging something out of what I thought would end up being a boring morning.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
