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| Title: |
CSX 3290 |
| Description: |
I had only made one full day trip by myself in the month of February, so it only makes sense that something would hapen to pop up right during the first of March that would drag me out of the house. I recieved word today that the CFE would be running a Satuday Extra Upper Sandusky Job east to work with some cars. Not only that, but OHCR 4023, which was recently transferred from the IORY to the CFE, was planned in the consist. The train was not OD until 10 AM, which gave me enough leisure time to not have to wake up super early to get to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, I noticed that the OHCR unit and the other SD40-2 that was planned to be with it was still stuck in a consist of 4 units that were together the night before on the Robb Transfer Job. I began to hope and pray that the said consist from earlier would still be used, instead of the two Geeps that were up front. I had time to kill, so I decided to get some CSX action at NS Tower Down Town before really focusing in on the CFE. CSX had 3 trains lined up, L423, M561, and Y244, all with pretty decent power. However, my IBD had other plans for me, and I ended up missing all 3. When I got to NS Tower, things were quiet until finally horns could be heard from the north and the slab train, B522, came south with a pair of CSX GEs on the head end. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/7/2023 7:11:02 PM |
| Location: |
Lima, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CSX 3290(ET44AH) |
| Views: |
85 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 2132 |
| Description: |
I could definitely hear two CFE trains working on the radio, one of which had the set of power with the OHCR. "CFE 3486" rang out over the radio, so I knew that the Geep pair had been taken off, which was a relief. They were still taking much longer to work than I had anticipated. There was a rail train sitting underneath the Jameson Ave. Bridge, and I was kind of worried, and yet excited, to see if the Upper crew would pick up the rail train. Sure enough, I drove down there and that is exactly what was happening. I knew my chances of grabbing OHCR 4023 all the way back to Lima were probably shot now, but CFE power east of Upper Sandusky is extremely rare, and now Id be able to get some shots with some really awesome signals! I drove a little bit further and I found the two Geeps sitting back toward the yard. I was told the engineer on the train was a buff. More than likely if he wasnt, this wouldve been the power. What a relief! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 8:06:17 AM |
| Location: |
Lima, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 2132(GP38-2) |
| Views: |
46 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
Sure enough, after backing into their whole train, CFE 14 was lined across CSX and IORY, and the train was headed off east. CFE 3486 is one of the "newer SD40-2s on the CFE roster, which did kind of make the eastbound run a little more interesting. First shot was by the PRR Depot in Lima. The chase is on! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 8:20:54 AM |
| Location: |
Lima, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
43 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
My goal was to get the OHCR unit leading past some of the staple artifacts along the east end of the PRR, including the PLs at Ada and the Tower at Dunkirk. So, I decided I would hit some of the less exciting shots with the orange unit leading. Little did I know at the time, though, I wouldnt get an opportunity to get those shots with the OHCR unit. Nonetheless, it gave me an opportunity to get some shots I wouldnt usually take. Dola was my first spot with the train passing the wooden grain elevator. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 3:14:16 PM |
| Location: |
Dola, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
35 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
Kirby was up next. I didnt realize this, but shooting eastbounds at Kirby with the elevator arent exactly possible, but I found a nice barn to get a shot of the train tripping the defect detector in town. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 3:16:21 PM |
| Location: |
Kirby, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
29 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
I tried my best to get into Upper before the train could, but I couldnt get there quite in time. I did get one shot of them dropping SE Cabin over the CSX Columbus Subdivision. I was hoping to get a frame with the maintenance building in the background. I got one shot though, so Im happy. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 9:43:07 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
28 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
US 30 saves a railfan pursuing after a train after Upper Sandusky, a quick hop onto the highway before getting off again at Nevada to grab the train passing the water tower. Heres where things really get interesting, as CFE power rarely ever gets this far east on the line. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 9:47:35 PM |
| Location: |
Nevada, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
62 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
NS 1230 |
| Description: |
CFE 14 keyed up Sandusky as they approached the diamond with the Sandusky District at Colsan. NS indeed had one lined up to come north. I knew as long as I stayed near a location where I could quickly get back onto US 30 I would be able to grab the NS train as well. I was originally going to grab the train at the State Road 98 crossing, but there was already a train in the siding there. One that was apparently switching crews, so I knew I wouldnt be able to sit there. I decided to go north a little bit to Caldwell Road where the siding ends at West Benson. After sitting there, the loud roar of an EMD motor struggling up the hill was heard, and this loaded coal train with a solo SD70ACe with an awful horn knocked down the signals at West Benson and continued toward Bellevue. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 9:55:22 PM |
| Location: |
Bucyrus, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
NS 1230(SD70ACe) |
| Views: |
29 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CFE 3486 |
| Description: |
And with time to spare I made it to the final location where Id get the orange unit on the front. The giant signal PRR Signal bridge at West Yard on the west side of Crestline. This is the largest PRR Signal Bridge still standing in the state of Ohio. Its too bad Conrail had to switch out the PL heads for trilights! Nonetheless, its still cool! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:01:20 PM |
| Location: |
Crestline, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CFE 3486(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
35 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
CSX 4549 |
| Description: |
I had also been tracking a CSX SD70MACe leader on the Indy Line this morning on the front of CSX M332. I thought about going south to Sidney to grab it while I waited for the CFE to work Upper. Well, since they ended up going all the way to Crestline, that put me right by the Big 4. I shot a text to a buddy to ask where it was, right when I heard them key up dispatch saying they were ready to blast from Crestline. I assumed that the CFE would take a while to run around their train and continue west, so I took a gander and went into downtown Crestline to shoot M332. Backlit, but definitely another great catch for the day! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:08:05 PM |
| Location: |
Crestline, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
CSX 4549(SD70MAC) |
| Views: |
18 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
And just like that it was time for the real highlight of the day. I had posted about this train on Facebook earlier in the day, and all the fans from the area came flocking to the PRR to see this very rare occasion. I wasnt very sure about it at first, but I was convinced by a friend to grab the train at West Yard again, where an original PL Signal guards the eastbound movements. Im glad he convinced me too, as this shot turned out to be one of my favorites from the whole trip. I bet theres not a lot of railfans out there that can say theyve shot an OHCR by these signals! Just like that, the chase west was on! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:12:04 PM |
| Location: |
Crestline, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
32 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
This took some real determination to get to, but I ended up managing to get to East Colsan to grab the train passing the PL signals there. The original heads were removed from the bridge by Conrail, but the bridge itself still stands. Conrail replaced these signals with trilights, but had recently been replaced again by the CFE with PL heads, made just down the road at Mead Electronics in Bucyrus. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:16:24 PM |
| Location: |
Bucyrus, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
29 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
I was convinced that CFE 14 would be held up by NS again at Colsan, so I went to the grain elevator east of town to grab the train passing it. I hadnt heard them key up NS to get across, so I called a friend, and sure enough NS let them right across, so they were still out in front of me. I knew there was no way I would be able to get back out ahead of it before it began doing its work at Upper, so I decided to just drive directly there. Sure enough, I found the train, and a ton of other rail photographers. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:21:20 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
19 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
The sun peaks out for just a moment as OHCR 4023 and CFE 14 begin to do their work. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:24:27 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
25 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
The sun is set, but the railfans are still out, and the train is still working! CFE 14 pulls the outbounds and inbounds out in order to shove the inbounds into the elevator. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:27:42 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
41 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
The crew reverses the cut into the elevator siding. |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:28:43 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
19 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
OHCR 4023 |
| Description: |
The train backs down far enough to get a wider frame with the elevator. The sun has completely set now, and a lot of the other fans are heading their separate ways toward home. I was invited to grab some pizza at the East of Chicago Joint downtown by a friend who had been taking photos in the group. It was good to get to sit down with him as I usually only get to see him once or twice a year if that. After that, we parted ways, and I went home. What. A. Day. ! Definitely hope to get a train on this stretch of track again soon, and also get the 4023 leading on other parts of the CFE! |
| Photo Date: |
3/4/2023 Upload Date: 3/12/2023 10:34:10 PM |
| Location: |
Upper Sandusky, OH |
| Author: |
Jacob Werling |
| Categories: |
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| Locomotives: |
OHCR 4023(SD40-2) |
| Views: |
25 Comments: 0 |
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