608 At Eagleville Dam
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany and shot two trains at CP60 which I've already shared here. I had plans to meet up with two friends who were driving up from New Jersey to spend the night with me camped out in the Steaming Tender's Airbnb caboose in Palmer. On the way north they intercepted returning southbound New England Central Railroad train 608. So after wrapping up with CSXT I cut southwest into Connecticut to meet them here where they were set up and waiting at one of the signature shots between Palmer and Willimantic.
Leading the way is NECR 3317 a classic SD40T-2 'Tunnel Motor' blt. Apr. 1980 as SP 8526. The woods of Eastern Connecticut are a long way from Donner Pass, Pegra Pass, and the Siskiyous for which she was built to lug endless lumber and perishable drags east. Later this scarlet and grey beast burnished the rails of Soldier Summit and the mightiest grade of all...Tennessee Pass! As a lover of the Rio Grande just thinking of the places she's been in her more than four decade career brings a smile to my face.
But those legendary railroad locales aren't mentioned to dimish the beauty of this spot which is purely New England, a region second to none this time of year. This is about MP 36.3 on the New England Central's Palmer Sub, the ex Central Vermont, approaching the Stonehouse Road overpass. They are passing beside Eagleville Dam on the Willimantic River and according to a brochure for the town park: 'Cotton fabric was produced here from 1814 to 1931, and then shoe lasts were made until the mill was demolished in the 1950s.'
Sharp eyes will note that the trailing unit is NECR 3857 (EMD GP38AC blt. Apr. 1971 as Gulf, Mobile and Ohio 730) which is the last original blue and gold unit in service on the property dating from the road's 1995 startup.
Village of Eagleville
Mansfield, Connecticut
Wednesday October 19, 2022
608 At Eagleville Dam
Wednesday was one of the slower days of my stay at home fall 'train-cation' and though it yielded only a few shots I do like the results.
I spent some time late morning on the east end of the old Boston and Albany and shot two trains at CP60 which I've already shared here. I had plans to meet up with two friends who were driving up from New Jersey to spend the night with me camped out in the Steaming Tender's Airbnb caboose in Palmer. On the way north they intercepted returning southbound New England Central Railroad train 608. So after wrapping up with CSXT I cut southwest into Connecticut to meet them here where they were set up and waiting at one of the signature shots between Palmer and Willimantic.
Leading the way is NECR 3317 a classic SD40T-2 'Tunnel Motor' blt. Apr. 1980 as SP 8526. The woods of Eastern Connecticut are a long way from Donner Pass, Pegra Pass, and the Siskiyous for which she was built to lug endless lumber and perishable drags east. Later this scarlet and grey beast burnished the rails of Soldier Summit and the mightiest grade of all...Tennessee Pass! As a lover of the Rio Grande just thinking of the places she's been in her more than four decade career brings a smile to my face.
But those legendary railroad locales aren't mentioned to dimish the beauty of this spot which is purely New England, a region second to none this time of year. This is about MP 36.3 on the New England Central's Palmer Sub, the ex Central Vermont, approaching the Stonehouse Road overpass. They are passing beside Eagleville Dam on the Willimantic River and according to a brochure for the town park: 'Cotton fabric was produced here from 1814 to 1931, and then shoe lasts were made until the mill was demolished in the 1950s.'
Sharp eyes will note that the trailing unit is NECR 3857 (EMD GP38AC blt. Apr. 1971 as Gulf, Mobile and Ohio 730) which is the last original blue and gold unit in service on the property dating from the road's 1995 startup.
Village of Eagleville
Mansfield, Connecticut
Wednesday October 19, 2022