Tag: Allentown PA

‘Raccoons’ viewed passing under Hill to Hill bridge

, , ,

Known as ‘raccoons’ by many (because of the white painted outline of the front windshields), Norfolk Southern SD70M 2615 is joined by NS C40-9W 9453 as power for today’s train 18G. Passing under the ‘Hill to Hill’ bridge in the background, and the Fahy bridge in the foreground, the crew accelerates slowly after crossing the Lehigh River on the truss bridge seen just to the right of the lead unit, where the middle of the train just happens to be at this moment.

Crews on eastbound trains will negotiate the two fairly sharp curves at the east exit of Allentown Yard with caution, to avoid any problems. The signals seen are the westbound home signals for CP BETHLEHEM, just a few hundred feet behind the locomotives, milepost 88 on the Norfolk Southern Lehigh Line.

Image recorded April 3, 2010.

Norfolk Southern SD70M 2615 is joined by NS C40-9W 9453 as power for todays train 18G

Click on the image to display it at a larger size. Use your browser’s Back button to return to this page.

 

Union Pacific units pass through Allentown, Pa.

, , ,

No, this is not an image from Chicago, nor Memphis, nor Birmingham; surprisingly, this is Allentown, Pennsylvania, on the Norfolk Southern (ex-Conrail) Lehigh Line. On this beautiful day before Easter Sunday in the northeast, the colors are indeed ‘in bloom’, as at least four grey and yellow Union Pacific units will pass through Allentown on this warm spring day.

Here at the west end of Allentown Yard at CP BURN we have NS train 19G with UP 5255 (AC45CCTE) and UP 4799 (SD70M) waiting on the conductor to climb aboard & head west, and NS train 11J with NS 9669 (C40-9W) and NS 9029 (C40-9W) slowing to a stop for a recrew. The van will arrive within minutes with both the 19G conductor and the new 11J crew; with it’s empty auto-rack consist, 11J will get the nod first, followed by the lengthy and slower moving 19G.

Image recorded April 3, 2010.

Union Pacific trains pass through Allentown on Norfolk Southern Lehigh Line

Click on the image to display it at a larger size. Use your browser’s Back button to return to this page.

 

Norfolk Southern train 38G accelerates westbound out of Allentown yard

, , ,

Norfolk Southern train 38G, with NS 7572 (ES40DC, blt 6/06) and NS 7622 (ES40DC, blt 2/07), accelerate westbound out of Allentown yard, about to cross Basin St. and pass CP-BURN on the Norfolk Southern Lehigh Line. 40 degrees Fahrenheit and no snow…in Allentown, in January? Yes, one of the most beautiful winter days in Pennsylvania in recent memory!

Image recorded January 23, 2010. Norfolk Southern train 38G accelerates westbound out of Allentown yard

Click on the image to display it at a larger size. Use your browser’s Back button to return to this page.

 

Elevated roadbed provides challenging departure from Lehigh River valley

, , ,

Westbound trains leaving the Norfolk Southern Allentown yard must negotiate this broad, sweeping curve after crossing the Lehigh River. With the degree of curvature at this location, the necessary super elevation in the roadbed  is quite evident here, as Norfolk Southern ES40DC 7572, with sister 7622 behind, leans hard into the curve, approaching Basin St. and CP BURN, with a lengthy train trailing. With the curvature and steady increase in elevation for the next mile, locomotives work fairly hard on this stretch of the NS Lehigh Line to bring their trains out of the river valley.

Image recorded January 23, 2010.Elevated roadbed provides challenging departure from Lehigh River valley Click on the image to display it at a larger size. Use your browser’s Back button to return to this page.