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Altoona area this past weekend

Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Pennsylvania

Moderator: bwparker1

Altoona area this past weekend

  by OCtrainguy
 
I went out to the Altoona area with a friend of mine this past weekend. One of the things we were hoping to see where the SD80MACs. As it turns out, we did not see a single one of them from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Here's my trip report during that time.
(Neither one of us has a scanner, so some of the train ID's were given to us, or picked up from the scanners at either Cresson or Horseshoe Curve.)

Friday, October 20th

Altoona - pedestrian overpass

1:15 WB mixed/auto D9-40CW & PRR 8-40CW
1:16 EB cofc/tofc 2 SD70M-2s
1:22 EB mixed 2 D9-40CWs
1:33 EB helpers 3343 & 3341
1:36 WB gondolas D9-40CW & BNSF 4571; 4 helpers
2:02 EB tofc/cofc 2 D9-40CWs
2:28 WB mixed 2 D9-40CWs & GP38-2 5333; helpers 3341 & 3343
2:33 WB tofc 2 D9-40CWs
2:39 EB cofc 9762
2:40 WB tofc 2 D9-40CWs & 2763
3:07 EB auto 9234 & 2578
3:19 WB cofc 2 SD70M-2s
3:20 WB helpers 3345 & 3351

Altoona/Logan Twp. - CP Rose
(Notebook was left in the car, so I have the order, but not times of the trains)
Yard Train assembly 2 D9-40CWs, high hood GP38-2, 2 RTP4s & GP40
WB coal train PRR 8-40CW & D9-40CW
EB tofc 2 D9-40CWs
WB tofc D9-40CW
WB Pennsylvanian Amtk P42DC
Yard yard crew GP38-2 5257
EB mixed D9-40CW & PRR 8-40CW
Yard yard crew NS 2230 moving GP38-2 rebuilds

Saturday, October 21st
South Fork
9:04 WB mixed PRR 8339 & D9-40CW; 2 blue helpers
9:10 EB helpers 3392 & 3335
9:45 EB Pennsylvanian Amtk 156

Cresson
10:40 EB NS 10N 2 D9-40CWs, SD70M-2, 3336; helpers 3342 & 3425
11:10 WB helpers to Cresson 3368, 3344, 3345 & 3351
11:20 WB helpers out of Cresson 3341 & 3343
11:47 EB PPLX coal 2 D9-40CWs; 4 helpers

Lilly
1:45 EB mixed D9-40CW & BNSF 4601; helpers 3341 & 3343
1:48 WB helpers 3335 & 3392
1:54 EB 64R (ethanol) 7513 & 8806
2:05 WB helpers 4 helpers

(This is when we found out about the derailment)

Altoona/Logan Twp. - CP Rose
(Notebook was left in the car, so I have the order, but not times of the trains)
EB 64R (ethanol) 7513 & 8806 (getting a new crew)
EB tofc 2 D9-40CWs
WB mixed 9380 & 9927; 2 helpers (went through the yard)
WB tofc D9-40CW & BNSF unit with green/white cab
WB tofc 3 D9-40CWs

Altoona - pedestrian overpass
4:45 EB NS 262 2 D9-40CWs
4:50 WB mixed 9380 & 9927; 2 helpers
5:00 EB coal 3392, 3335 & 2 D9-40CWs
5:07 WB coal ES40DC & SD70M
5:15 EB auto D9-40CW & 2541
5:16 EB helpers 4 helpers (would stop at station, then proceed back west)
5:24 EB mixed 2 D9-40CWs
5:35 WB coal PRR 6777 & 8976
5:40 WB helpers two horse head helpers
5:55 WB helpers 3335 & 3392
5:58 EB engine move 2 new GP38-2 rebuilds

Sunday, October 22nd
Conemaugh
7:50 helpers 3343 & 3341 (awaiting next job)
8:00 WB mixed D9-40CW, CRIX (ex-UP) SD50, BNSF D9-44CW
8:20 EB 64R (ethanol) 3423, 3427, 9951 & 6699 (getting a recrew)

While coming to South Fork via Rockville Road, we saw a loaded coal train alongside Frankstown Road
on the South Fork Secondary, so we stopped to photograph it.

8:45 EB coal 3425 & 3342 at one end; 7514 & 9284 at the other

South Fork
9:20 EB 64R (ethanol) 3423, 3427, 9951 & 6699
9:33 EB coal 7514 & 9284; helpers 3342 & 3425
9:36 WB mixed D9-40CW & UP SD70M
9:48 WB 65J (garbage) Primer ES40DC & BNSF 7609

Lilly
10:20 EB mixed D9-40CW & ES40DC

Horseshoe Curve
11:40 EB mixed D9-40CW & ES40DC
12:05 EB engine move 6710 & 6705
12:40 EB gondolas 2 D9-40CWs
12:55 WB 13G SD70 & D9-40CW

At that time, it started to rain, so we decided it was best to head home at that point.
Was hoping to see the SD80MACs and do wonder how the traffic levels would've been if the derailment hadn't occurred.

Re Altoona

  by dwil89
 
I am out in Cresson right now..on-line via wireless intenet...traffic levels are prety much bck to normal now...was very slow early in week...I chased some 80MACS down the South Fork Secondary today....

Re: Re Altoona

  by OCtrainguy
 
dwil89 wrote:I chased some 80MACS down the South Fork Secondary today....
Murphy's Law in action. I was pretty succesful during my trip in July, but was hoping to mix some colors with the SD80MACs during this past trip. Besides, I'm not sure how much longer there will SD80MACs wearing Conrail Quality paint.

Re: Re Altoona

  by dwil89
 
OCtrainguy wrote:
dwil89 wrote:I chased some 80MACS down the South Fork Secondary today....
Murphy's Law in action. I was pretty succesful during my trip in July, but was hoping to mix some colors with the SD80MACs during this past trip. Besides, I'm not sure how much longer there willSD80MACs wearing Conrail Quality paint.
We lucked out with perfect timing last Friday morning when we drove down from Cresson to South Fork...Just as we were pulling in, a C47 with blue MACS 7210 and 7215 was starting to pull a string of hoppers off the single track and through the yard...power on the other end consisted of black Mac 7212, SD70M 2582 and blue MAC 7214 on the rear....When we heard the C47 crew get their FORM D from 'FORK' to 'CAIRN', we set up at the Dam and shot the consist there before chasing it to Central City, shooting it at about a half dozen spots along the way....I also spotted blue MAC 7211 at the Juniata Turntable.....Black MAC 7207 was spotted working on a C90 local at Conemaugh.

  by OCtrainguy
 
Is the C90 the local that works Gallitzin? During my visit in July, I saw two SD80MACs with two or three cars and another SD80MAC on the hind end heading east through Cresson. I was in line to pay at the Sheetz in Cresson and saw the train pass by. Another railfan there told me it was a local, but didn't know which one.

  by trainfreak
 
Last time i was out in the area for the weekend my father and i caught 5 of the 80MAC's up in Gallitzin switching out the lumber company up there. It was an intersting process to watch as they split up the 5 locomotives into two sets while one went down the siding to get the lone lumber car. Ive got pictures of it but still have yet to upload them due to being busy.

  by dwil89
 
OCtrainguy wrote:Is the C90 the local that works Gallitzin? During my visit in July, I saw two SD80MACs with two or three cars and another SD80MAC on the hind end heading east through Cresson. I was in line to pay at the Sheetz in Cresson and saw the train pass by. Another railfan there told me it was a local, but didn't know which one.
The C90 often works between Conemaugh and Gallitzin...The Lumber company is called Degols Lumber.....The MACS don't venture over to Altoona as often as they used to, as setouts for the locals are done more often in Conemaugh/Woodvale nowadays where in the past, they were also done in Altoona Yard.

  by bwparker1
 
trainfreak wrote:Last time i was out in the area for the weekend my father and i caught 5 of the 80MAC's up in Gallitzin switching out the lumber company up there. It was an intersting process to watch as they split up the 5 locomotives into two sets while one went down the siding to get the lone lumber car. Ive got pictures of it but still have yet to upload them due to being busy.
Jeff:

If you get a chance, please post for us, or send to me and I can upload on my website and then post for the benefit of the group.

Thanks,
Brooks
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