Down Behind Buttonwoods
This is the last 'bucket list' shot (at least that is presently possible) that I had on my list for my home state of Rhode Island. It takes some luck making it happen but it finally came together!
Providence and Worcester Valley Falls based local PR-3 is in Cranston with their 83 car unit ethanol train for Shell (ex Motiva) tank farm at the Port of Providence. The local's two regular GP38-2s 2007 and 2008 (built new by EMD in Nov. and 1980 respectively for the then only seven year newly re-independent road) along with B39-8 3909 (ex LMX 8535 blt. Dec. 1987) are pulling down what I believe used to be called track 6 here near but is now just a long yard track tailing out the south (west) and of Cranston Yard. Counting from right to left of the train are Amtrak New Haven Line Mains 2, 1, and 3 with the turnout barely visible leading to Wellington Siding in the lower right corner hear near MP 180. All of those tracks are controlled and maintained by Amtrak though I'm not sure of the ownership of the track the train is on, though I believe it is maintained by the PW.
Anyway, the wide catenary poles spanning all the tracks makes photographic opportunities wonderful later in the afternoon here for southbound trains. But the problem is regular local PR-3 never has a big enough train to pull this far down and the only freight moves you see on that track would be if they were headed to the old Warwick Railway which is where the line continues on to curling off about 3/10ths of a mile behind me to cross Elmwood Ave and reach Safety Kleen. They are the only customer on what is now known as the Warwick Industrial but was once and independent shortline under a mile in length that interchanged here in Auburn (the section of town this spot is called) with the New Haven, Penn Central, and Conrail until being purchased by the PW around 1981.
While not impossible to catch PR-3 down here in good light, it is very uncommon since they don't travel this far very often and when they do it is normally early before the light has swung since they are a morning job. Thanks to the length of these ethanol trains they have to pull all the way down here in order for their tail to clear CRANSTON interlocking where freights cross Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to reach the yard which is on the opposite side from the freight track (Main 3). Once clear they will make a cut back at the east end of the yard and then shove up the Harbor Junction Running track between I95 and the Zoo to begin the work of spotting up their train.
Above the train is the Park Ave. overpass that is undergoing a refurbishment hence the shrouding around it. Lastly, I would be remiss without pointing out that this is a GREAT place for a trackside beer as just behind and to my left in an old industrial building is Buttonwoods Brewing offering some of the best and most creative craft beers in the Ocean State. I highly recommend them and on summer weekends when tables and tents are set up in the parking lot behind the loading docks you can enjoy a pint, a local food truck and a parade of Acelas, ACS64s, and MBTA trains....and maybe, just maybe...if you're lucky a little freight action!
Cranston, Rhode Island
Thursday December 23, 2021
Down Behind Buttonwoods
This is the last 'bucket list' shot (at least that is presently possible) that I had on my list for my home state of Rhode Island. It takes some luck making it happen but it finally came together!
Providence and Worcester Valley Falls based local PR-3 is in Cranston with their 83 car unit ethanol train for Shell (ex Motiva) tank farm at the Port of Providence. The local's two regular GP38-2s 2007 and 2008 (built new by EMD in Nov. and 1980 respectively for the then only seven year newly re-independent road) along with B39-8 3909 (ex LMX 8535 blt. Dec. 1987) are pulling down what I believe used to be called track 6 here near but is now just a long yard track tailing out the south (west) and of Cranston Yard. Counting from right to left of the train are Amtrak New Haven Line Mains 2, 1, and 3 with the turnout barely visible leading to Wellington Siding in the lower right corner hear near MP 180. All of those tracks are controlled and maintained by Amtrak though I'm not sure of the ownership of the track the train is on, though I believe it is maintained by the PW.
Anyway, the wide catenary poles spanning all the tracks makes photographic opportunities wonderful later in the afternoon here for southbound trains. But the problem is regular local PR-3 never has a big enough train to pull this far down and the only freight moves you see on that track would be if they were headed to the old Warwick Railway which is where the line continues on to curling off about 3/10ths of a mile behind me to cross Elmwood Ave and reach Safety Kleen. They are the only customer on what is now known as the Warwick Industrial but was once and independent shortline under a mile in length that interchanged here in Auburn (the section of town this spot is called) with the New Haven, Penn Central, and Conrail until being purchased by the PW around 1981.
While not impossible to catch PR-3 down here in good light, it is very uncommon since they don't travel this far very often and when they do it is normally early before the light has swung since they are a morning job. Thanks to the length of these ethanol trains they have to pull all the way down here in order for their tail to clear CRANSTON interlocking where freights cross Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to reach the yard which is on the opposite side from the freight track (Main 3). Once clear they will make a cut back at the east end of the yard and then shove up the Harbor Junction Running track between I95 and the Zoo to begin the work of spotting up their train.
Above the train is the Park Ave. overpass that is undergoing a refurbishment hence the shrouding around it. Lastly, I would be remiss without pointing out that this is a GREAT place for a trackside beer as just behind and to my left in an old industrial building is Buttonwoods Brewing offering some of the best and most creative craft beers in the Ocean State. I highly recommend them and on summer weekends when tables and tents are set up in the parking lot behind the loading docks you can enjoy a pint, a local food truck and a parade of Acelas, ACS64s, and MBTA trains....and maybe, just maybe...if you're lucky a little freight action!
Cranston, Rhode Island
Thursday December 23, 2021