Two fer One

A bit behind again today. I did get out yesterday and shot Providence & Worcester train NR-2 up along Stoddard Cove in Ledyard, CT, as well as an unusual move over the Thames River drawbridge. I also did get out today and bagged NR-2 at Mill Cove, then shot some more construction activity on the Thames River drawbridge project. And to top it all off, I finished up the roll of film in the Speed Graphic from yesterday, and scanned a couple frames in.

P&W NR-2 – 8/27/07

First up was the encounter on Monday. With bright blue skies, I felt it was in order to head up to Stoddard Cove and catch NR-2 heading south. The timing would work out well for this – as I got close to Stoddard Hill State Park, NR-2 reported that they were in Norwich yard for a set off, and would be about 20 minutes out of the sub base. A quick estimate put them about 15 from Stoddard Cove. That gave me plenty of time to get my gear together and take the hike along the tracks to my spot.

While waiting, a pair of fishermen went speeding upriver in the Thames

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And a dead weed caught my eye

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Not long after that, I could hear faint horns in the distance, followed by a rumble, and finally NR-2 skirting along the Thames River to the north in Preston

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As the train continued to snake along the banks of the Thames, another boat came speeding north through the channel.

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And moments later, NR-2 started clawing up the grade to the north of the cove

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Next up was the shot I was planning – but not a digital. Rather it was shot with the Graflex Pacemaker 23 Speed Graphic set up on a tripod, and shot on Kodak T-MAX 100 film.

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With the Speed still on the tripod, I figured a shot with NR-2 speeding past it was in order. So as the trailing locomotive came into view, I grabbed this shot with the fisheye on the 20D

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Not bad. I figured my shooting was done, so I leisurely packed up and walked back to the car. Of course, on the way back south, the radio was on, scanning P&W and Amtrak frequencies. I eventually caught up with the train at Fairview – they were waiting at the signal as I finally got there. But what was interesting is that they needed to go to track 4 and Midway to drop off a cut of loads for Tilcon, and the Amtrak dispatcher was having a problem lining a switch. So he sent NR-2 west over the bridge, then crossed them over to track 2, and finally to track 4 in Groton. That gave me the opportunity to shoot NR-2 from two different vantage points going over the drawbridge. Here’s the trip west.

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Then I scooted a bit north, closer to the bridge, grabbing a shot of the train rolling back east

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And as the now trailing power passed by, I noticed an extra set of arms leaning out of the cab window. I guess NR-2 has a trainee aboard

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That was it for this day of walking & shooting.

P&W NR-2 – 8/28/07

This morning was a bit overcast. I figured a shorter jaunt up to Mill Cove was in order this morning. I ended up getting to the cove a few minutes ahead of NR-2’s arrival. A quick look at the south end of the cove caught my eye – a pair of fishermen were on the bridge abutment at the inlet to the cove. That would be my shot for the morning.

So I set up and waited. Not more than a minute later, NR-2 was sounding for the crossings to the north at Dow Chemical, and subsequently reporting to the dispatcher that they were south of MP-5. Moments later, NR-2 was on the scene with a cut of cars for Tilcon on the head end.

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As the train crossed the inlet, waves were exchanged between the train crew and the fishermen below

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And I had to get a couple “hold on to your hat” shots of the train whizzing past

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From there, it was a quick ride south to Fairview Yard. There I got a shot of Rod riding the porch of the lead locomotive through the yard.

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While listening to the conversations with the Amtrak dispatcher, it sounded like the switch problem from yesterday was resolved, so the train was heading straight for track 4 in Groton. There was one more thing to photograph, though. There was more work done on the Thames River drawbridge’s east tower – another segment was placed. So of course I grabbed a few shots of the completed work

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And one shot with the Speed Graphic

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Hey, it was the last frame on the roll of T-MAX 100 from yesterday. I had to use it so I could develop it tonight. 🙂

Then it was back to the office for the remainder of the day.

That’s it for tonight. Thanks for looking!
Tom