NYS&W SY-1 chase/ Marathon maple trains pics

Having just returned from the annual trek to the Northern Division for the maple fest, its time to share some images from the weekend. I did not shoot any images on Sunday, march 29 owing to: 1) lousy weather for image capturing; and B) the fact that my travelling partner was not feeling well, necessitating my return trip home a bit earlier on sunday than planned. That said, i arrived in Cortland on Thursday, March 26 with the plan of chasing the SY-1 the following day. Low and behold, the weather gods cooperated, and here are the images from that chase:

First, Jamesville, after having spotted cars at the quarry:

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Jamesville Beach, at Apulia Road:


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Next, Tully:

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After spotting cars at the "Ag center" in town, the next stop was Binghamton, so at that point, "the chase was on":

Little York:

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Lisle:

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Whitney Point:

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And finally at Chenango Forks, where the Utica line joins in:

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After opassing south at "FORKS", the BH-1 crew, in the siding on the south end of the run around(there were suit-kote cars stored on the north end), reversed out of the run around, then headed north with the 3022, the borrowed power car and 4 bi levels which was the maple fest train for the coming weekend. They took the consist to Cortland where the BH-1 added the 3634 to the south end of the train, and then staged the train on the main at the Cortlnd station the night before the trips were to run. Some images:

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A view of the second track in place at Marietta in Cortland, complete with tank car:

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And finally, a couple of views of the shuttle train on saturday, when the warmth topped 70 degrees in Marathon:


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This it for now. A more detailed written text on my weekend will be coming soon. stay tuned. it was as usual, a great time, and i got to catch up with several friends both on and off the railroad, and it was a blast. Here's hoping they run again in 2010!!

RB

I enjoyed your Maplefest Pax train photos.

I especially enjoyed your freight phots at Little York & Lisle. Nice composition.

It was nice to meet you this weekend. You got some great pictures there!