Tim Stockwell
Gone Too Soon
The former D&H Albany Main has had quite the up and down history over the past 15 years. In the early 2000s, the section from Delanson to Voorheesville lay dormant and weed-ridden while the section from Albany to Voorheesville experienced a rebirth with autorack traffic to and from the Guilderland Industrial Park. Then, when structural issues arose with a bridge over the Normanskill Creek in Delmar, CP found it cheaper to reactivate the line from Delanson to the Guilderland Industrial Park rather than to repair the bridge. Sadly, CP then tore up the tracks between Voorheesville and Albany, which included the iconic diamond over CSX in Voorheesville. Soon after, the auto business dried-up, and eventually CP leased the remaining portion of the Albany Main to SMS Rail Services. Thanks to Norfolk Southern, auto traffic returned to the Guilderland Industrial Park, and SMS began running over the former Albany Main between Voorheesville and Delanson on a daily basis. For a period of only about 10 months, this attractive, Reading-inspired GP38-3 hauled most trains. For fans of the D&H, it was a nice throwback to a time when the D&H ran GP39-2s that still wore their Reading paint. Unfortunately, this engine suffered mechanical issues in early February 2011 and went back to New Jersey, never to return. Then, once the new Mechanicville Yard opened, NS rerouted the auto traffic there, and today SMS only runs a few trains per week over this line. The Albany Main saga is a perfect example of why it's good to take advantage of great photo opportunities when they arise. (Photo info: SMS GP38-3 #2003 approaches the Schoharie Turnpike just east of Delanson with loaded autoracks for the industrial park on October 13, 2010).
Gone Too Soon
The former D&H Albany Main has had quite the up and down history over the past 15 years. In the early 2000s, the section from Delanson to Voorheesville lay dormant and weed-ridden while the section from Albany to Voorheesville experienced a rebirth with autorack traffic to and from the Guilderland Industrial Park. Then, when structural issues arose with a bridge over the Normanskill Creek in Delmar, CP found it cheaper to reactivate the line from Delanson to the Guilderland Industrial Park rather than to repair the bridge. Sadly, CP then tore up the tracks between Voorheesville and Albany, which included the iconic diamond over CSX in Voorheesville. Soon after, the auto business dried-up, and eventually CP leased the remaining portion of the Albany Main to SMS Rail Services. Thanks to Norfolk Southern, auto traffic returned to the Guilderland Industrial Park, and SMS began running over the former Albany Main between Voorheesville and Delanson on a daily basis. For a period of only about 10 months, this attractive, Reading-inspired GP38-3 hauled most trains. For fans of the D&H, it was a nice throwback to a time when the D&H ran GP39-2s that still wore their Reading paint. Unfortunately, this engine suffered mechanical issues in early February 2011 and went back to New Jersey, never to return. Then, once the new Mechanicville Yard opened, NS rerouted the auto traffic there, and today SMS only runs a few trains per week over this line. The Albany Main saga is a perfect example of why it's good to take advantage of great photo opportunities when they arise. (Photo info: SMS GP38-3 #2003 approaches the Schoharie Turnpike just east of Delanson with loaded autoracks for the industrial park on October 13, 2010).