Last week the weather geeks were calling for a foot of wind-driven snow here in Connecticut. Nothing but doom & gloom from the boob-tube – I even got an email from Stop-n-Shop (grocery store for those who are not familiar with the chain) making sure to remind me to go out and get bread and milk, and even sent along FEMA’s emergency shopping list. Well, by the time the storm wrapped up, we got maybe 3″ of the white stuff – a far cry from the 10-16″ forecast. But I did manage to get out and shoot Providence & Worcester train NR-2 as the storm was starting. Well, at least they got the windy part right – it sure was blustery.
While listening to the scanner at the office, I heard the Worcester dispatcher acknowledge NR-2 at the Jewett City detector. I figured with the snow coming down in earnest, that it was time to head out and try to intercept the train somewhere in Ledyard.
As I was heading north through the Gales Ferry section of Ledyard, NR-2 called south of MP12, putting them about 7 miles north of me. I figured I could make it up to MP7 and bag them there.
I got to the parking area near MP7, parked the truck and gathered my gear. When I got to the hillside, I was greeted by a nice ski slope – steep and snow covered. As I was contemplating my way down, I could hear the distinctive rumble of GEs in the distance – I guess NR-2 was close by.
After navigating the hillside without falling on my ass or breaking my neck, I got into position near the MP7 marker. Then I could faintly see headlights to the north passing by Stoddard Cove.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11168]Then they came into view blowing the fresh snow around
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11167]A couple more shots as they approached
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11166] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11165]Then a going away shot of the power
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11164]And after the marker came into view, a wider shot of the Rawson stone hoppers speeding past
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11163]A quick scramble down to track level, and I got a shot of the entire train
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11162]With that in the bag, I headed back to the truck, which was the fun part – especially getting back up the hill.
After managing to get up to the top of the hill, I headed back south. I figured my best bet was Fairview yard, so I set my sights on that.
But I seemed to have hit the lights just right, and I made it to the USS Nautilus overlook park just as the crossing gates were going down at the Sub Force Museum. So I took advantage of the fact that I had my truck with me, and used the bed to get some elevation, working the Nautilus, NR2 and the sign into one shot.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11161]Nice bonus! Now it was time to head down to the south end of Fairview and get my shots there.
I pulled into the parking spot just as NR-2 was entering Fairview yard limits. I got out, and got a couple shots of the train approaching in the falling snow.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11160] [cpg_imagefixthumb:11159]After they passed by me, I got a detail shot of the two units
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11158]And finally a wider shot of them heading for the south end of the yard.
[cpg_imagefixthumb:11157]With that in the camera, I decided to head back to the office. Since the weather guys were calling for a huge snowfall, I was planning on leaving early anyways. Well, I did leave early, but the snowfall never materialized. Oh, well…still was a pretty good morning.
Thanks for looking!
Tom
2 thoughts on “The Blizzard that Wasn’t”
The weather is weird!. The last two years here at the western end of Lake Ontario,
we had record amounts of snow; this year, maybe an inch
TOTAL so far. And the temperature has been mild.
Our weather comes from the west; so any snow is
the remains from snow and cold that has travelled over land for quite a distance.
Now if the opposite were true we’d have piles of snow.
And then there is Buffalo New York, at the east end of western winds moving across lake Erie. More snow than they know what to do with, as usual. And Buffalo is about and hour’s drive from here, not counting the average stop at the international border of 20-40 minutes per vehicle.