Tim Stockwell
Thirty (Twenty-One) Thursday
It's hard to believe that I haven't posted this one yet, but that might be due to the fact that the Batten Kill has become quite overrun in recent years and, therefore, I haven't seen a need to post my shots shortly after taking them.
In 2021 and 2022, Raven Rail-owned Alco S-2 #3021 called the Batten Kill home. The engine hadn't seen use since its days on the Saratoga & North Creek, and my railroad boss Hal Raven had it moved to Shushan, NY on the Batten Kill where he could more easily work on it. On a few, rare occasions, it made some "shakedown runs," and -- thankfully -- I was able to catch a couple of them. This one from August 4, 2021 saw the 3021 leading a northbound train of inbound loads from Eagle Bridge to Greenwich Junction. In a classic Shushan scene including a diamond-shaped crossing and laundry hanging out on the line, the 3021 looks right at home on the former D&H Washington Branch (although I'll admit I don't think the D&H switchers ever ran over this portion -- I think they were confined to the G&J).
By 2023 or so, the 3021 moved over the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson. It's one of my favorite engines to ride in between the seats, the smooth ride, the view, and the turbocharger sound. However, it's been terrible when trying to cut the air into a train -- often dumping if you as much as sneeze on the anglecock. The engine itself is essentially a kicker, and it takes forever to charge a train. For now, we're not really using the engine as it's waiting on a new cylinder.
Considering we've got two (soon to be three) original D&H RS-3s on the SC&H -- along with the fact that this S-2 isn't original D&H -- I'd personally love to see this engine get repainted into FJ&G orange, yellow, and black and renumbered 21. That might take a heck of a lot of arm twisting, though -- as well as volunteer hours. I'm curious what any of you think of the idea, but the FJ&G paint scheme is currently only preserved on model railroads...
Batten Kill Train BK-F
August 4, 2021
Shushan, NY
Thirty (Twenty-One) Thursday
It's hard to believe that I haven't posted this one yet, but that might be due to the fact that the Batten Kill has become quite overrun in recent years and, therefore, I haven't seen a need to post my shots shortly after taking them.
In 2021 and 2022, Raven Rail-owned Alco S-2 #3021 called the Batten Kill home. The engine hadn't seen use since its days on the Saratoga & North Creek, and my railroad boss Hal Raven had it moved to Shushan, NY on the Batten Kill where he could more easily work on it. On a few, rare occasions, it made some "shakedown runs," and -- thankfully -- I was able to catch a couple of them. This one from August 4, 2021 saw the 3021 leading a northbound train of inbound loads from Eagle Bridge to Greenwich Junction. In a classic Shushan scene including a diamond-shaped crossing and laundry hanging out on the line, the 3021 looks right at home on the former D&H Washington Branch (although I'll admit I don't think the D&H switchers ever ran over this portion -- I think they were confined to the G&J).
By 2023 or so, the 3021 moved over the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson. It's one of my favorite engines to ride in between the seats, the smooth ride, the view, and the turbocharger sound. However, it's been terrible when trying to cut the air into a train -- often dumping if you as much as sneeze on the anglecock. The engine itself is essentially a kicker, and it takes forever to charge a train. For now, we're not really using the engine as it's waiting on a new cylinder.
Considering we've got two (soon to be three) original D&H RS-3s on the SC&H -- along with the fact that this S-2 isn't original D&H -- I'd personally love to see this engine get repainted into FJ&G orange, yellow, and black and renumbered 21. That might take a heck of a lot of arm twisting, though -- as well as volunteer hours. I'm curious what any of you think of the idea, but the FJ&G paint scheme is currently only preserved on model railroads...
Batten Kill Train BK-F
August 4, 2021
Shushan, NY