Recent content by Sandpatch

Black River & Western's 2-8-0 No. 60 at Ringoes, NJ in July 1985, built 1937. She's currently out of service for an inspection, but will return. [Nikon N2020, Kodachrome]

Simpson, SC, 07/30/2025 with my aged D5100. I was running an errand far from home and saw railroad signal indications that a train was coming, so went to this spot to set up. I'd wanted to get this shot for a long time, but the location is very close beside a highway and isn't a safe place to...

This is one of my very first train pictures, from 51 years ago in August 1974 in suburban Chicago. It was shot with my mother's Kodak Instamatic 126, plastic lens, square viewfinder and all. A year later, I was given my Dad's old 35mm Kodak Retina Reflex (as my older brother had also used)...

In April of 1988 I came across this ancient C&O car shop at Thurmond, WV along the New River. Nobody was around, so I cautiously entered and greatly enjoyed an unhurried walk about the place, soaking up the ambiance and imagining what it was once like. Check out the water column at left. All...

How neat to have seen that. You're right, turntables and roundhouses are rare and to find one in its native state is something special. I so miss that sense of open discovery and uninhibited exploration that was commonly found decades ago. Railfanning is just not as much fun today. These...

I miss 'em too and the friendly waves we used to get. Heck, even pulpwood racks as seen ahead of the SOU hack here are gone. These were once a staple of southeastern railroading. [October 1985, Montgomery, AL, Nikon EL-2, Kodachrome]

Closing out the day at Childersburg, AL in October 1988. The caboose era is in sunset too. Train is on the former Central of Georgia crossing over the Southern.. [Nikon N2020, Kodachrome]

At work in Cresson, PA. [10/1994, Nikon N2020, Kodachrome]

The Cresson, PA engine terminal in April 1989. With pusher locomotives on station and two coal-heavy branchlines, it was a busy spot.

You came away with some really nice shots @Browncoat , even capturing CSX's WM Emblem unit in the first photo. (y) Yeah, ya never know who you're going to meet when you arrive at a spot. Some people and kind and well informed, and others are, um, less so.

From today, Train 15R at Simpson, SC. [D5100]

May 1981 climbing the Alleghenies at Horseshoe Curve west of Altoona, PA. [Nikon EL-2, Kodachrome]

Probably so, then there are CN and CP with their extensive U.S. holdings that they'll want to protect. It took 2-1/2 years of expensive litigation for CR's situation to be settled and I'm guessing this final round of transcontinental mergers will take at least that long. It boggles the mind to...

Marion, OH is a fine spot too. AC Tower has since been taken down off it stilts, but it remains on site for railfans to see. Of course, CR is long gone. :( [September 1997, Nikon N2020, Kodchrome]

I was last there in September 1997. It remains a busy area; the rail park should be great. F Tower was still manned when I was there. From what I read, it still stands, but was closed in March 2015. [Nikon N2020, Kodachrome]