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CSX West Springfield local B740 is seen spotting cars at the East end of the yard in Palmer. This is the interchange point for Mass Central and New England Central, 10-20-21.
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CSX West Springfield local B740 is seen spotting cars at the East end of the yard in Palmer. This is the interchange point for Mass Central and New England Central, 10-20-21.

  • CSX Q436 is seen approaching CP-83 in Palmer, MA with a monster train of 75 loads and 60 empties. At the yard, they will spot 29 cars for New England Central. The CSX 911 "Spirit of our First Responders is leading the train, a GE ES44AH painted in this scheme in 2019.<br />
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Shooting this locomotive leading a train in good light has been at the top of my list for some time. Those of you who know me know that I am a career firefighter and very much into my job and the history behind it. This locomotive has led trains local to me in perfect light several times in the last couple of months but always seems to do so when I am out of state on vacation. <br />
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A tip from a friend told me that this unit would be on this morning's Q436 manifest out of Selkirk, but he had no idea if the unit would be leading. I woke up early and took a chance driving straight to Palmer. Another tip and then a look at the Chester Rail Camera confirmed the unit was leading. By the time they got to Palmer, the clouds were playing all kinds of games but parted at the right time at all three locations we shot the train, 3-3-22.
  • CSX Q436 is seen approaching CP-83 in Palmer, MA with a monster train of 75 loads and 60 empties. At the yard, they will spot 29 cars for New England Central. The CSX 911 "Spirit of our First Responders is leading the train, a GE ES44AH painted in this scheme in 2019.<br />
<br />
Shooting this locomotive leading a train in good light has been at the top of my list for some time. Those of you who know me know that I am a career firefighter and very much into my job and the history behind it. This locomotive has led trains local to me in perfect light several times in the last couple of months but always seems to do so when I am out of state on vacation. <br />
<br />
A tip from a friend told me that this unit would be on this morning's Q436 manifest out of Selkirk, but he had no idea if the unit would be leading. I woke up early and took a chance driving straight to Palmer. Another tip and then a look at the Chester Rail Camera confirmed the unit was leading. By the time they got to Palmer, the clouds were playing all kinds of games but parted at the right time at all three locations we shot the train, 3-3-22.
  • The CSX "Spirit of Law Enforcement" has been the main focus of most Massachusetts railfans this week as it has made two trips into the state on road freights from Selkirk. Although Q427 was likely slated to head West in the dark, a good friend called me with a tip that the Y120 crew would likely bring the train from the Pan Am interchange down to the yard in Worcester in the afternoon. Once the crew showed up a small group of us headed to pick our spots. The train is seen shoving back into the yard passing Polar Park, 2-11-22.
  • The CSX "Spirit of Law Enforcement" has been the main focus of most Massachusetts railfans this week as it has made two trips into the state on road freights from Selkirk. Although Q427 was likely slated to head West in the dark, a good friend called me with a tip that the Y120 crew would likely bring the train from the Pan Am interchange down to the yard in Worcester in the afternoon. Once the crew showed up a small group of us headed to pick our spots. This was my favorite of the frames that I shot, 2-11-22.
  • The CSX "Spirit of Law Enforcement" has been the main focus of most Massachusetts railfans this week as it has made two trips into the state on road freights from Selkirk. Although Q427 was likely slated to head West in the dark, a good friend called me with a tip that the Y120 crew would likely bring the train from the Pan Am interchange down to the yard in Worcester in the afternoon. Once the crew showed up a small group of us headed to pick our spots. A public parking garage offered this view at the train emerges from the tunnel under Saint Vincent's Hospital, 2-11-22.
  • This was the final shot in my chase of Q424 as the light was fading quickly. I had never shot at the popular location at Huntington Curve so it seemed like the logical place to get one more shot before going home, 2-8-22.
  • CSX manifest Q424 (Selkirk, NY to West Springfield, MA) is seen crossing over the West Fork Westfield River in Chester, MA as the day steadily turns into the blue hour, 2-8-22.
  • As I was leaving the Amherst Railway Society's giant train show at the Eastern States Exposition, two of my friends gave me a heads up that an empty grain train had just passed them at Palmer. I knew that if the train showed up in time the light would still be good at the old Boston & Albany West Springfield freight house, now used as a Baptist church. Not long before the sun dipped below the horizon, G104 rounded the bend and entered the scene in some sweet afternoon light., 1-30-22.
  • CSX train Q425 is seen building their train at the CSX West Springfield Yard. The Amherst Railway Society's giant train show is going on across the street at the Eastern States Exposition, 1-30-22.
  • After a late January blizzard dumped two feet of snow on parts of Massachusetts, the next morning was clear blue skies. On the way to the train show in West Springfield, I met up with some friends, old and new at West Warren on the old Boston & Albany for CSX intermodal train I-022. <br />
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The guys had beaten down a path on the unplowed road with their truck and I followed them in with mine. We then trudged through the snow out to this spot in the woods where we joked around and busted balls for half an hour or so before we heard the distinct hum of Gevos at track speed. We trudged out of there quite happy with the results. Some of us continued to the train show while others who attended yesterday took advantage of the beautiful Winter day to shoot more trains, 1-30-22.
  • CSX manifest freight Q436 is seen crossing over the diamond at Palmer. This is where the New England Central (former Central Vermont) crosses the CSX Boston Subdivision (former Boston & Albany) 11-9-21.
  • Syracuse to Worcester intermodal train I022 is seen passing Charlton Depot at CP-57 on the old Boston & Albany Route. The train is just over twelve miles from their destination, 10-22-21.
  • Syracuse to Worcester intermodal train I022 is seen snaking through the Spencer State Forest at CP-60 on the old Boston & Albany Route. The train is just over fifteen miles from their destination, 10-22-21.
  • Syracuse to Worcester intermodal train I022 is seen snaking through the Spencer State Forest at CP-60 on the old Boston & Albany Route. The train is just over fifteen miles from their destination, 10-22-21.
  • A nice surprise on the B&A was an SD40-2 (built for the PRR as an SD40 in 1966) and a YN-2 GE leading auto rack train Q264 bound for East Brookfield, MA. The train is seen just outside the facility. The power will cut away and head to Worcester and the East Brookfield & Spencer Railroad will bring the cars into the yard, 10-22-21.
  • A nice surprise on the B&A was an SD40-2 (built for the PRR as an SD40 in 1966) and a YN-2 GE leading auto rack train Q264 bound for East Brookfield, MA. The train is seen at CP-64 in East Brookfield about to land at the facility, 10-22-21.
  • CSX West Springfield local B740 is seen running around the train at the yard in Palmer passing CP-83. This is the interchange point for Mass Central and New England Central, 10-20-21.
  • CSX West Springfield local B740 is seen spotting cars at the East end of the yard in Palmer. This is the interchange point for Mass Central and New England Central, 10-20-21.
  • CSX Syracuse to Worcester intermodal train I022 is seen passing over the Quaboag River in West Warren, MA. The foliage has been late this season with much more green visible compared to previous years, 10-20-21.
  • CSX Syracuse to Worcester intermodal train I022 is seen entering West Warren from Palmer. The foliage has been late this season with much more green visible compared to previous years, 10-20-21.
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