Tim Stockwell
Top 5 Catches of 2020: #1
(In case this is the first time you're "checking in" to this theme week, here's an explanation. Otherwise, skip down to "#1"!)
There's no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year due to the pandemic and economic shutdown. It's therefore been pretty surprising that this ended up being one of the best years of railroad photography I've ever had. What's more surprising is that--if January was any indication--it was going to be a slow year for railroad photography considering I didn't shoot my first moving train of the year until January 30th! So, certainly some of the success that came was because a more flexible work schedule due to working from home more and doing meetings via Zoom rather than in person. However, at the end of the day, it was just one of those years where everything fell into place.
So, though I don't do this every year, I thought it was worth sharing with my friends on Flickr what I think were my "Top 5" catches of the year. With my favorite, end-of-the-year slide show having been cancelled this year, it seemed even more appropriate.
Before I introduce the #1 catch of the year you see here, I think it's worth recounting the "honorable mentions" of the year: CP heritage SD70ACU leading CP 252, D&H-inspired SNEX Alco RS-36 #5012 pulling trains on the Batten Kill, NS detour trains with NS GP38-2s on the NS D&H, GMRC, and CLP/former D&H Rutland Branch, my first-ever chase of the New England Southern (which ended up being their second-to-last revenue run before VRS ownership), an incredible day in St. Lawrence County, NY that included catching VTR GP18 #801 on the New York and Ogdensburg and catching the Massena Terminal for the first time (I already shared some shots from this day in a "theme week" dedicated to that day), a pair of CP SD70ACUs on ST 11R in perfect light, shooting the CLP 203 on VTR's BD-2 local for my first time shooting Vermont Railway between Vergennes and Middlebury, a double Sangerfield run for NYS&W's UT-1 train on a perfect October day, a couple different catches of the Mass Central with both of their "bluebirds," and finally MA&N Alco C425 #2453 pinch hitting on NYS&W UT-1 (which I shared a shot of recently).
So, with all that said, onto the "Top 5 Catches of 2020":
#1: D&H 5019 "Rescue Mission":
I've already shared a couple photos and longer stories of this event, but--for me--the hands down #1 catch of 2020 was Raven Rail LLC's July 18th move over the former D&H Adirondack Branch between Corinth, NY and North Creek, NY to rescue former D&H Alco RS-36 #5019. First, it's a catch that almost didn't happen for me. At the time, restaurants had recently reopened for dine-in service, and my wife and I had plans to have my mom come babysit our son that afternoon so that we could enjoy a late lunch out together to celebrate my birthday. Well, my wife woke up with a little bit of a sore throat, and not knowing for sure what it was, she thought it was best we cancel or plans so as to not expose my mom. To say I was disappointed would have been an understatement. Meanwhile, that morning, a friend of mine had messaged me asking me my plans for the day, upon which I told him about my date with my wife. With my plans now cancelled, I circled back with him that I was now free, and he proceeded to pass along the info about the secretive move: Raven Rail LLC would use former Alco plant switcher S-1 #5 to retrieve former D&H Alco RS-36 #5019 from North Creek, NY. Suddenly, my disappointment turned to excitement. Ever since the Saratoga & North Creek closed its doors, I had given up hope on ever photographing a moving train on the former D&H Adirondack Branch again. When I photographed the last revenue freight--a train of previously-stored empty tank cars--between North Creek and Saratoga Springs on July 18, 2020, I had assumed that was the last moving train I'd ever photograph on that line. Boy was I happy to be wrong!
It's tough to describe how I felt this day, but the closest thing I can compare it to is being able to have one more, great time together with a loved one, knowing that it might be the last time you get to see them. It was a blessing, but it was also bittersweet. I chased the light engine move north, then chased the equipment move back south to the very end. It truly felt like a rescue mission, with other friends and acquaintances involved. My friend Colin Buckowski alternated between being on the flagging crew and being on the train crew, my friend Brad Peterson followed the equipment move south from North Creek in his hi-rail truck, and I assisted Batten Kill owner Bill Taber with flagging crossings in the middle of the night for the final leg of the train's journey south of Hadley. What else can I say? It was the most memorable railroad event of 2020 for me, easily #1.
In this shot, #5 has the 5019 and a former Upper Hudson River Railroad coach in tow as it passes Riverside Station in Riparius, NY on the way south.
Raven Rail LLC "Rescue Train"
Riparius, NY
July 18, 2020
Top 5 Catches of 2020: #1
(In case this is the first time you're "checking in" to this theme week, here's an explanation. Otherwise, skip down to "#1"!)
There's no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year due to the pandemic and economic shutdown. It's therefore been pretty surprising that this ended up being one of the best years of railroad photography I've ever had. What's more surprising is that--if January was any indication--it was going to be a slow year for railroad photography considering I didn't shoot my first moving train of the year until January 30th! So, certainly some of the success that came was because a more flexible work schedule due to working from home more and doing meetings via Zoom rather than in person. However, at the end of the day, it was just one of those years where everything fell into place.
So, though I don't do this every year, I thought it was worth sharing with my friends on Flickr what I think were my "Top 5" catches of the year. With my favorite, end-of-the-year slide show having been cancelled this year, it seemed even more appropriate.
Before I introduce the #1 catch of the year you see here, I think it's worth recounting the "honorable mentions" of the year: CP heritage SD70ACU leading CP 252, D&H-inspired SNEX Alco RS-36 #5012 pulling trains on the Batten Kill, NS detour trains with NS GP38-2s on the NS D&H, GMRC, and CLP/former D&H Rutland Branch, my first-ever chase of the New England Southern (which ended up being their second-to-last revenue run before VRS ownership), an incredible day in St. Lawrence County, NY that included catching VTR GP18 #801 on the New York and Ogdensburg and catching the Massena Terminal for the first time (I already shared some shots from this day in a "theme week" dedicated to that day), a pair of CP SD70ACUs on ST 11R in perfect light, shooting the CLP 203 on VTR's BD-2 local for my first time shooting Vermont Railway between Vergennes and Middlebury, a double Sangerfield run for NYS&W's UT-1 train on a perfect October day, a couple different catches of the Mass Central with both of their "bluebirds," and finally MA&N Alco C425 #2453 pinch hitting on NYS&W UT-1 (which I shared a shot of recently).
So, with all that said, onto the "Top 5 Catches of 2020":
#1: D&H 5019 "Rescue Mission":
I've already shared a couple photos and longer stories of this event, but--for me--the hands down #1 catch of 2020 was Raven Rail LLC's July 18th move over the former D&H Adirondack Branch between Corinth, NY and North Creek, NY to rescue former D&H Alco RS-36 #5019. First, it's a catch that almost didn't happen for me. At the time, restaurants had recently reopened for dine-in service, and my wife and I had plans to have my mom come babysit our son that afternoon so that we could enjoy a late lunch out together to celebrate my birthday. Well, my wife woke up with a little bit of a sore throat, and not knowing for sure what it was, she thought it was best we cancel or plans so as to not expose my mom. To say I was disappointed would have been an understatement. Meanwhile, that morning, a friend of mine had messaged me asking me my plans for the day, upon which I told him about my date with my wife. With my plans now cancelled, I circled back with him that I was now free, and he proceeded to pass along the info about the secretive move: Raven Rail LLC would use former Alco plant switcher S-1 #5 to retrieve former D&H Alco RS-36 #5019 from North Creek, NY. Suddenly, my disappointment turned to excitement. Ever since the Saratoga & North Creek closed its doors, I had given up hope on ever photographing a moving train on the former D&H Adirondack Branch again. When I photographed the last revenue freight--a train of previously-stored empty tank cars--between North Creek and Saratoga Springs on July 18, 2020, I had assumed that was the last moving train I'd ever photograph on that line. Boy was I happy to be wrong!
It's tough to describe how I felt this day, but the closest thing I can compare it to is being able to have one more, great time together with a loved one, knowing that it might be the last time you get to see them. It was a blessing, but it was also bittersweet. I chased the light engine move north, then chased the equipment move back south to the very end. It truly felt like a rescue mission, with other friends and acquaintances involved. My friend Colin Buckowski alternated between being on the flagging crew and being on the train crew, my friend Brad Peterson followed the equipment move south from North Creek in his hi-rail truck, and I assisted Batten Kill owner Bill Taber with flagging crossings in the middle of the night for the final leg of the train's journey south of Hadley. What else can I say? It was the most memorable railroad event of 2020 for me, easily #1.
In this shot, #5 has the 5019 and a former Upper Hudson River Railroad coach in tow as it passes Riverside Station in Riparius, NY on the way south.
Raven Rail LLC "Rescue Train"
Riparius, NY
July 18, 2020