Quite a bit to pack into the small amount of time I was out & about this morning. I was able to catch a Los Angeles class fast attack sub, Providence & Worcester train NR-2, an easbound Amtrak Acela, and a helicopter taking off from New London. And I even got my walk in there to boot. But the icing on the cake is the sunshine held out while I was there. Sure a thin layer of cirrus clouds were moving in, but there were still quite a few patches of blue sky. A few of those made it into todays images.
The morning started out with silence on the scanner. So as I was enjoying my ride up Military Highway south of the Sub Base, something caught my eye ahead of me in the trees – something large and black. As I got a bit closer I saw the sail of a Los Angeles class fast attack sub heading back to the Sub Base. So I got ahead of it and pulled into the USS Nautilus overlook park just as they were passing by. I got a few shots of her (I’m pretty sure it’s the USS Providence) passing the first nuclear submarine with some fall color across the river
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As the sub was heading for her berth, I got back into the car and continued north. Still nothing on the scanner, so I’m not sure how things will be shaping up.
Without the position of NR-2, I figured I’d play it safe and head for Mill Cove and Erickson Park. At the very least I should get there ahead of NR-2, and ideally, I could get a walk in. A couple minutes later I got there, and parked. While grabbing my scanner and heading for the walk, it finally woke up and locked in on the P&W frequency. Rod was reporting that NR-2 was south of MP11 and about 15 minutes out of the base. OK, that gave me enough time for a short walk, then I’d get into position.
After looking around I decided the south end of Mill Cove would be the best. There’s color finally coming out around Red Top at the north end of the Cove, and only a little color at the south end. As soon as I heard the horns to the north as the train rolled through the Dow Chemical plant, I climbed in the car and headed to my spot on the bridge at the south end of the cove.
I got there as NR-2 was sounding for the crossing at Red Top, which gave me enough time to get into position, get my settings straight on the camera and wait for NR-2 to get into my viewfinder. A moment later, that ll fell into place as NR-2 rolled onto the causeway between the cove and the Thames
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A bit wider, getting some more of the color in the frame
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Then a swap to the wide angle lens again. This time I waited for the trailing power, and got some of that blue sky in the frame
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Then a vertical
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And as the train went out of view, I headed for the car and the Thames River drawbridge to the south.
As I caught up to NR-2 at Fairview, it sounded like they were going to be there switching for a while. So I figured I’d get a few shots of the drawbridge and the new west tower, then head back to the office.
I got to the first overlook, closer to the bridge, and got a vertical shot of both towers
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And a detail of work going on the west tower
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Then headed south to the other overlook. Right across from me was the research vessel Envirolab III begging to be photographed
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And another angle of the west tower
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I decided I could wait a bit to see if NR-2 would finish up in time. While waiting, and eastbound Acela was heading through New London. At least I’d grab that before heading out. First shot is of the train heading over the drawbridge
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Then a shot of them heading for the Groton side of the river
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Not long after they cleared the bridge, it began to open. The tugboat John P. Wronowski was heading back south after assisting the Providence into the sub base. I got the first shot of her as she was heading through the drawbridge
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Then a 3/4 view with the bridge in the background
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And a final shot of her passing the New London skyline
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Back into the car, and the scanner told me that the Shore Line dispatcher was holding NR-2 for a westbound Acela, and they’d head out behind them. A look at my watch told me I’d be cutting it close, so I opted for the safe decision – to head back to the office.
But I’d have room for one more. I got a shot of the Pfizer helicopter shuttle taking off from the research headquarters across the river in New London.
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I guess it was kind of work related…heh…
Thanks for looking!
Tom
