I just got home from chasin the train today. Cloudy,cool but sun did break
out a little at Whitney Point on the south bound run. 142lead 4006,2012
488, 489 and 21 nice looking (well maybe not the ConDot pair)cars south
leaving SY about 20 mins late. Runby at Tully, water just north of Cortland station, brief stop at Cortland. Continued south making good time
with another runby at WP. Only diesel crew was in the 4006 that I saw
and the 9,s were online. Since I don't know my way around Bingo that
well I got lost looking for QD where the train terminated. They swapped
the power around on the wye east/north of QD but she did finally show up although it looked strange with the 142 coupled to Walters "Pope-
moble. Had a nice chat with Earl P. who was running the train. Some
one asked him how much the diesels ''helped" with the train and he said
he only needed a push to the grade in Jamesville since the line is pretty
flat following the Tioughnioga River south from Cortland. Earl also said
that the 142 used about 4-41/2 tons of coal and a tank and a half of
water. I also chased the return trip as I wanted to see the 9's on the
point in their M&E paint. (I liked them in their Amtrak scheme better I
think). All in all it was a great time. I never tire of steam.
STEAM ON
/--OOO--:-oo--oo-
One way or the other we're gonna fix this railroad.