Down Cranston Way
Just another frame I like of this relatively uncommon Saturday extra run of a Providence and Worcester Railroad unit ethanol train destined for the Shell tank farm at the Port of Providence. This is one of the coolest shots in Rhode Island, and while easily accessible is challenging to get and I've only managed it a few other times. Leading the train are a B40-8, B40-8W, B39-8E GE trio the first two of which are wearing their original independent P&W colors with the third dressed in the Genesee and Wyoming corporate scheme.
They are pulling down what I believe used to be called track 6 but is now just a long yard track tailing out the south (west) end of Cranston Yard. Counting from right to left from the train are Amtrak New Haven Line Mains 2, 1, and 3 with the turnout for Wellington Siding out of sight right behind me. 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.
The wide catenary poles spanning all the tracks make photographic opportunities wonderful in the afternoon here for southbound trains. The problem, however, is that the only freight that normally comes to Cranston in daylight is Valley Falls local PR-3, and they never have a big enough train to pull this far west. The only time they would be seen here is if they were headed to the old Warwick Railway which is where this track continues (it no longer ties back into the main on the west end) curling off about 3/10ths of a mile behind me to cross Elmwood Ave and reach Safety Kleen. That is the only customer left 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 neighborhood this section of town is known as) with the New Haven, Penn Central, and Conrail until being purchased by the PW around 1981.
Thanks to the length of these ethanol trains they have to pull all the way down to this point in order to clear CRANSTON interlocking where they crossed Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to reach the yard which is on the opposite side from the freight track (Main 3). They have pulled just a few car lengths west of MP 180 and have paused to make a cut back at the east end of the yard before starting their reverse move up the Harbor Junction Running track between I95 and the Zoo to begin the work of spotting up the first half of their train.
Cranston, Rhode Island
Saturday April 20, 2024
Down Cranston Way
Just another frame I like of this relatively uncommon Saturday extra run of a Providence and Worcester Railroad unit ethanol train destined for the Shell tank farm at the Port of Providence. This is one of the coolest shots in Rhode Island, and while easily accessible is challenging to get and I've only managed it a few other times. Leading the train are a B40-8, B40-8W, B39-8E GE trio the first two of which are wearing their original independent P&W colors with the third dressed in the Genesee and Wyoming corporate scheme.
They are pulling down what I believe used to be called track 6 but is now just a long yard track tailing out the south (west) end of Cranston Yard. Counting from right to left from the train are Amtrak New Haven Line Mains 2, 1, and 3 with the turnout for Wellington Siding out of sight right behind me. 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.
The wide catenary poles spanning all the tracks make photographic opportunities wonderful in the afternoon here for southbound trains. The problem, however, is that the only freight that normally comes to Cranston in daylight is Valley Falls local PR-3, and they never have a big enough train to pull this far west. The only time they would be seen here is if they were headed to the old Warwick Railway which is where this track continues (it no longer ties back into the main on the west end) curling off about 3/10ths of a mile behind me to cross Elmwood Ave and reach Safety Kleen. That is the only customer left 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 neighborhood this section of town is known as) with the New Haven, Penn Central, and Conrail until being purchased by the PW around 1981.
Thanks to the length of these ethanol trains they have to pull all the way down to this point in order to clear CRANSTON interlocking where they crossed Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to reach the yard which is on the opposite side from the freight track (Main 3). They have pulled just a few car lengths west of MP 180 and have paused to make a cut back at the east end of the yard before starting their reverse move up the Harbor Junction Running track between I95 and the Zoo to begin the work of spotting up the first half of their train.
Cranston, Rhode Island
Saturday April 20, 2024