So this photo has a story. This is southbound Reading and Northern train NRFF (North Reading Fast Freight) on its way back south from Pittston. Leading the way is drab SD40-2 3059 still in its NS black (EMD blt. May 1979 as high hood SOU 3327) while sharp looking SD50 5018 acquired from CSXT (EMD blt. Mar. 1984 as SBD 8550) trails. They are at MP 120.9 on the RBMN mainline crossing the new bridge (opened Feb. 2020) that connects two former CNJ lines that never connected from north to the west. To read more about the bridge project check out this link: www.railwayage.com/mw/rn-opens-new-bridge/ They are about to pass over the hand throw switch at Jim Thorpe Jct. (that connects with the three mile long Jim Thorpe branch in foreground that extends to Packerton Jct.) and pass the division post indicating the start of RBMN’s Reading Division.
So now that you know the technical this is not the shot I wanted. In fact when we left home around 11 AM my intention was to drive straight to White Haven for the northbound run in perfect light with 5018 leading. Alas Connecticut traffic was nothing short of horrifying and it was impossible to find a way across the Hudson River. So a when we left RI Google said I’d arrive at 3:45 PM, then quickly it said 4:15 then 5…but I thought I’d still make the train…but by the time maps said 6 PM I gave up and realized I’d get nothing. Instead it was 7 PM…twice as long as planned, when we finally made it to Jim Thorpe.
I wanted to at least say I saw and shot something….so I cranked up the ISO and settled for monochrome which was appropriate given the leader anyway. They curled across the Lehigh River almost exactly at sunset, but the sun was gone about 15 min earlier thanks to the rolling hills even on this evening two days shy of the longest day of the year. Oh, and to add to the adventure…not 10 min before getting this shot I heard my gf scream ‘Dave!’ and when I came running I saw a big old fat black bear ambling about in the woods no more than two car lengths from us!
Definitely a day I won’t soon forget…and all I’ve got to show for it is this shot…appropriately dark given my angry and frustrated mood while shooting it…but hey, at least we saw a bear…and it didn’t eat us!
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Friday June 18, 2021
