Maine Central (MEC) 693 - EMD SD39

SLN 5 in the Canisteo valley. This is not normally a well lit shot, as its dark side most of the time. I took advantage of the Southern Tier gloom to get the angle not normally seen, and this panoramic view of the valley.

SLN 5 is out of the Canisteo valley as it passes under the bridge at Carson.

One of my favorite locations was this shot from the NY overpass just east of Canaseraga. It shows the Erie split level main, as well as a great view looking east. SLN 5 rolls west behind a pair of Springfield Terminal units to complete the scene.

SLN 5 rolls between the side by side semaphores at Adrian.

JET 1 is getting out of town as NY 10 waits on track 2. As soon as the westbound clears, NY 10 will head up the runner to change power and crews, then back out onto the Tier to head east.

JET 1 has recrewed and is now rolling west, taking its 102 cars to the Southern Tier Line at QD behind a motley mix of Guilford power.

Guilford established a pair of trains, JET 1 and JET 2 to make some kind of effort to hasten freight velocity to New England. In an optimistic approach by the marketing types, these were called JET 1 westbound, and JET 2 eastbound. Here we see JET 1 coming through Bevier St with 102 cars. It will take the Buffalo Runner to QD, where a new crew will get on for the trip to Buffalo, avoiding the yard and its interminable terminal delay.

Two weeks into spring, the Earth is still a little groggy. SLN 5 makes its way past a field of stubble corn that wont see a plow for a few more weeks yet, splitting the semaphores at MP 337 as it goes, the signal on track 1 already dropping in response. 50 stack platforms make up the train today.

-310-693-656-623-640-312

693-641-604-603

MEC 693(SD-39) ex ITC 2306-N&W 2966

after power swap

693-7314-340

693-690-7314-340

ex ITC 2306;N&W 2966

MEC 693, showing her Illinois Terminal green paint and Norfolk & Western lettering, waits for a re-crew at the head-end of a canned westbound at Meadowcroft Street.

MEC 693, in the company of a pair of P&LE GP-38's, waits for a re-crew at Meadowcroft Street.

Ringling Bros. "Blue Train" pauses at Gardner to water the livestock and swap motive power.