Tim Stockwell
New York and Ogdensburg at Norfolk, NY
Today we're heading home after our annual, summer visit to see my wife's family in Potsdam, NY. So, I'll share a shot from this particular trip for "Switcher Saturday."
Vermont Rail System's New York and Ogdensburg Railway is an interesting operation with a lot of history. Based out of Norfolk, NY (pronounced "Nor-FORK"), it utilizes original Norwood and St. Lawrence tracks from there to Norwood, then uses the last-existing section of the Rutland (nee-Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain) between there and Ogdensburg.
Power has been consistent in recent years, with VTR GP18 #801 and VTR GP38 #205 splitting the duties. However, the 801 may unfortunately be retired now. For now, its replacement is GMTX SW1500 #173. Photographically, the engine is so-so. Its yellow-orange paint is eye catching, but it's imperfect between a grey fireman's-side door and some other patches. But, prior to VRS bringing in "new" power, during the line's latter years under the St. Lawrence and Raquette River, it hosted a pair of SW900s. So, the 173 is a bit of a throwback to that era.
I decided I wanted to try to catch this engine running, so I got out in the early morning this past Tuesday and Wednesday and did just that.
On Tuesday morning, the 173 brought a pair of empty LPG tank cars (with a VTR hopper as a spacer) from Norfolk down to the CSX interchange in Norwood. On my drive up, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the old Norwood and St. Lawrence depot in Norfolk had at least been repainted, if not also having had some other exterior work done. Now, I'm not sure what the depot's original colors were, but I knew the new blue would contrast the 173's yellow-orange nicely. So, I made sure to get the shot you see here.
To see what this depot looked like previously, see my other shot from four years earlier:
www.flickr.com/photos/99942178@N03/51804492824/in/datetak...
New York and Ogdensburg Railway
Norfolk, NY
July 2, 2024
New York and Ogdensburg at Norfolk, NY
Today we're heading home after our annual, summer visit to see my wife's family in Potsdam, NY. So, I'll share a shot from this particular trip for "Switcher Saturday."
Vermont Rail System's New York and Ogdensburg Railway is an interesting operation with a lot of history. Based out of Norfolk, NY (pronounced "Nor-FORK"), it utilizes original Norwood and St. Lawrence tracks from there to Norwood, then uses the last-existing section of the Rutland (nee-Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain) between there and Ogdensburg.
Power has been consistent in recent years, with VTR GP18 #801 and VTR GP38 #205 splitting the duties. However, the 801 may unfortunately be retired now. For now, its replacement is GMTX SW1500 #173. Photographically, the engine is so-so. Its yellow-orange paint is eye catching, but it's imperfect between a grey fireman's-side door and some other patches. But, prior to VRS bringing in "new" power, during the line's latter years under the St. Lawrence and Raquette River, it hosted a pair of SW900s. So, the 173 is a bit of a throwback to that era.
I decided I wanted to try to catch this engine running, so I got out in the early morning this past Tuesday and Wednesday and did just that.
On Tuesday morning, the 173 brought a pair of empty LPG tank cars (with a VTR hopper as a spacer) from Norfolk down to the CSX interchange in Norwood. On my drive up, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the old Norwood and St. Lawrence depot in Norfolk had at least been repainted, if not also having had some other exterior work done. Now, I'm not sure what the depot's original colors were, but I knew the new blue would contrast the 173's yellow-orange nicely. So, I made sure to get the shot you see here.
To see what this depot looked like previously, see my other shot from four years earlier:
www.flickr.com/photos/99942178@N03/51804492824/in/datetak...
New York and Ogdensburg Railway
Norfolk, NY
July 2, 2024