BaltimoreAndOhioRR

Sister fast intermodal trains seen at the Batavia Farm Road grade crossing in Rosedale, Maryland. First train is the westbound CSX I031 with locomotives CSX 772(GE ES44AH, built 2007) & CSX 3292(GE ET44AH, built 2015) and the second train is the eastbound CSX I032 with locomotives CSX 3382(GE ET44AH, built 2016) & CSX 3236(GE ES44AH, built 2015). 4 7 02 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

First train is a long westbound empty coal train CSX E750 and the second train is the Amtrak Capitol Limited passenger train heading east (south) through Point of Rocks Station in Frederick County, Maryland, with the #130 Phase II Heritage engine and several privately owned historic passenger cars (listed below). Third train is CSX L153 carrying blue ash cars out of the PEPCO spur, followed by the westbound empty autorack train CSX Q217. Fifth train is the eastbound loaded rock train CSX B548, and the last train is the local CSX L128 headed back west to Brunswick Yard. The private cars are: 🚃Gateway Rail Services "Hollywood Beach RPCX800129" - (Five double bedrooms, shower, buffet kitchen for beverage and full meal service, Sun Lounge with space for dining. Diesel generator, retention toilets, TV/CD/DVD/VCR, stereo. The largest windows of any solarium car on the rails! Car is based across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Illinois. Built at Pullman in 1956 as HOLLYWOOD BEACH for service on Seaboard Air Line’s New York-Florida Silver Meteor. Later owned by Seaboard Coast Line and renamed SUN RAY. Sold to Amtrak in 1971 and sold again in 1989. Acquired by current owner Keith R. White in 2016.) 🚃Northern Sky Rail Charters "Northern Dreams" - (Built by Pullman-Standard in 1955 as 5 double bedroom-buffet-Redwood Lounge car North Platte for the Union Pacific Railroad. Rebuilt by UP to an 11 bedroom car in 1956 and renamed Star Scene. Number 1705 added in 1969. Sold to Amtrak in 1971. Number changed to 2254, later to 2230 when modified for Amtrak's Virginia-Florida "Auto Train." Retired in 1997. Sold to current owner in 1999 and renamed Northern Dreams. Upgraded and refurbished in 2003). 🚃Northern Sky Rail Charters "Northern Sky" - (The Northern Sky is a former Union Pacific 9003 dome car. In his book, THE UNION PACIFIC STREAMLINERS author Bill Kratville records that in 1955 the UP became the last of the transcontinentals to invest in dome cars, labeled Astro-Domes by the UP's Passenger Traffic Department. Rebuilt from the wheels up to reflect the ultimate in both equipment and amenities, the Northern Sky is a completely self-contained luxury environment. It carries complete air conditioning and heating as well as its own power generators and water supply. There is a complete built-in CD/stereo system, television, and VCR. The Northern Sky accommodates eight overnight guests in supreme comfort in its four double bedrooms. The interior appointments offer all the details of a fine hotel, from hand-crafted custom woodwork, to the luxurious carpeting. The upper level dome provides a stunning 360 degree panorama of the landscape as it glides by. The spacious observation lounge offers scenic views from the comfort of lushly upholstered seating). 🚃Meteor Rail "Cimarron River PPCX 800069" - (Privately owned 1948 Pullman sleeping car which has been renovated with modern heating, electrical and air conditioning systems while retaining the charm and ambiance of 1940's railroad travel. It sleeps 20 people. The car is certified and inspected to run on Amtrak trains and has its own 30KW diesel generator for trips off the Amtrak system. CIMARRON RIVER (original #1466) was built by Pullman Standard in 1948 as a 14 roomette-4 double bedroom sleeper for the Frisco Railway's streamlined "Meteor". The Frisco substantially reduced their passenger system 1965 and the CIMARRON RIVER and other sleepers were sold to the Canadian National Railway. The Canadian National rebuilt the car, removed the stainless steel fluted siding and renamed the car RAINBOW FALLS. VIA Rail Canada assumed ownership of the car in the late 1970's and repainted it blue. In 1981, VIA discontinued many trains and RAINBOW FALLS was surplus to their needs. In June 1983, two brothers, Andy and Tony Marchiando, bought the car from VIA. The car was returned home to St. Louis and renovation work began. The exterior is now repainted in the original colors and lettering. The first trip of the renovated CIMARRON RIVER was in October 1986. Since then, the car has traveled over 500,000 miles, in 48 states, and behind a variety of diesel, steam and electric locomotives. It has traveled north to Canada's Northwest Territories, to the southern border of Mexico and into Guatemala-the extreme north and south ends of the continuous standard gauge North American rail network. The car is available for charter behind Amtrak trains or in special trains off the Amtrak system). 🚃Friends of the 261 "Caritas" -(This beautiful railcar started life as a 14-4 sleeper on the Frisco, and today it’s one of the premiere railcars in operation in the nation. Fully renovated in 1985). 🚂 Locomotives: CSX 3012(GE ES44AH, Built 2012), CSX 821(GE ES44AH, Built 2008), CSX 3177(GE ES44AH, Built 2015), CSX 950(GE ES44AH, Built 2011), & CSX 3040(ES44AH, Built 2012); and AMTK 40(GE P42DC, Built 1996), AMTK 130(GE P42DC, Built 2000), & AMTK 28(GE P42DC, Built 1996); and CSX 520(GE AC44CW, Built 2001) & CSX 943(GE ES44AH, Built 2008); and CSX 726(GE ES44AH, Built 2007) & CSX 570(GE AC44CW, Built 2002); and CSX 952(GE ES44AH, Built 2011), CSX 831(GE ES44AH, Built 2008), & CSX 927(GE ES44AH, Built 2008); and CSX 923(GE ES44AH, Built 2008) & CSX 854(GE ES44AH, Built 2008). 4 20 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

👮‍♀️👮‍♂️ CSX Pride in Service "Honoring Our Law Enforcement" police engine leading mixed manifest freight train Q410 eastbound through the Queensbury Road grade crossing in Riverdale Park, Maryland. Bonus Chessie boxcar. Locomotives: CSX 3194(GE ES44AH, built 2015), CSX 118(GE AC44CW, built 1996), & CSX 951(GE ES44AH, built 2011). 5 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

The MARC passenger train P873 heads west, then the loaded coal train N744 heads east through the Boyds MARC station along the Metropolitan subdivision in Maryland. Locomotives: MARC 24(MPI MP36PH-3C); and CSX 5121(GE AC44CW) & CSX 735(GE ES44AH). 3 28 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

CSX local mixed freight train L127 crossing Highfield Road in Highfield-Cascade, Maryland, just after getting a crew change, on its way to Hagerstown Yard in Maryland. Locomotives: CSX 4313(EMD GP39-2, Ex- RDG, Ex- DH, Built 1974), CSX 4066(EMD SD40-3, Ex- SCL, Ex- SBD, Built 1979), & CSX 4010(EMD SD40-3, Ex- L&N, Ex- SBD, Built 1979). 3 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Westbound mixed manifest freight train CSX Q371 comes up the Old Main Line blowing a rare-for-CSX Nathan AirChime P5 horn as it passes Point of Rocks Station in Frederick County, Maryland. Locomotives: CSX 397(GE AC44CW, Built 1999), CSX 5264(GE ES40DC, Built 2005), CSX 3074(GE ES44AH, Built 2013), CSX 7002(GE CM44AC, Built 1995), CSX 7004(GE CM44AC, Built 1994), & CSX 5349(GE ES40DC, Built 2006). 4 18 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Steam Engine #2102 pulls 100 empty coal hoppers northbound through the Schuylkill Road grade crossing in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. ---From Wiki : "Reading 2102 is a preserved class "T-1" 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive. Originally constructed by Baldwin in 1925 as an earlier 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive, No. 2102 was rebuilt by the Reading's own locomotive facility as a 4-8-4 in 1945, and it was used for pulling heavy coal trains for the railroad until being retired from revenue service in 1956. Between 1962 and 1964, No. 2102 was used to pull the famous Iron Horse Rambles excursion trains alongside sister engines 2100 and 2124. After the Rambles ended in 1964, No. 2102 was sold to Steam Tours Inc. of Akron, Ohio to spend the next 23 years pulling various fan trips in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. In 1985, it was sold again to Andy Muller to operate on his Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad alongside 4-6-2 "Pacific" No. 425, until its flue ticket expired in 1991. Beginning in February 2016, the locomotive was restored back to operating condition and returned to service on April 6, 2022. Configuration:​ • Whyte- New: 2-8-0, Rebuilt: 4-8-4 • UIC- New: 1'D, Rebuilt: 2'D'2 Gauge- 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia.- 70 in (1,778 mm) Length- 110 ft 6 in (33.68 m) Axle load- 69,550 lb (31,550 kilograms; 31.55 metric tons) Adhesive weight- 278,200 lb (126,200 kilograms; 126.2 metric tons) Loco weight- 441,300 lb (200,200 kilograms; 200.2 metric tons) Tender weight- 367,700 lb (166,800 kilograms; 166.8 metric tons) Total weight- 809,000 lb (367,000 kilograms; 367 metric tons) Fuel type- Anthracite coal Fuel capacity- 52,000 lb (24,000 kilograms; 24 metric tons) Water cap.- 19,000 US gallons (72,000 l; 16,000 imp gal) • Firegrate area- 94.5 sq ft (8.78 m2) Boiler- 96 in (2,438 mm) Boiler pressure- 240 lbf/in2 (1.65 MPa) Cylinders- Two, outside Cylinder size- 27 in × 32 in (686 mm × 813 mm) Power output- 5,500 hp (4,100 kW) Tractive effort- Loco: 68,000 lbf (302.5 kN), Booster 11,100 lbf (49.4 kN), Factor of adh.- 4.09 Operators Reading Company Steam Tours Inc. Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Class- New: I-10sa, Rebuilt: T-1 Numbers: RDG 2044, RDG 2102, D&H 302, Allegheny 2102, RBM&NR 2102,R&N 2102 Retired- 1956 (revenue service), October 27, 1991 (1st excursion service) Restored- April 29, 1962 (1st restoration), April 5, 2022 (2nd restoration) Current owner: Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Disposition: Operational, based in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania" 5 20 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

Norfolk Southern mixed freight train 11K passes the Macungie train watching platform with the "Blue Mane" conversion engine in the DPU spot. Macungie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives: NS 4186(GE AC44C6M, built 1996), NS 8031(GE ES44AC, built 2010), & NS 4000(GE AC44C6M, built 1991). 5 5 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

Norfolk Southern double stack intermodal train 294 goes through the Seventh Street grade crossing next to Purr Haus in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Locomotives: NS 4183(GE AC44C6M, built 1996) & NS 3632(GE ET44AC). 5 5 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Norfolk Southern double stack intermodal train train NS 201 heads west on the Norfolk Southern Lurgan Branch through the Alleman Road grade crossing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Locomotives: NS 8123(GE ES44AC, Built 2012), NS 8020(GE ES44AC, Built 2008), & NS 4419(GE AC44C6M). 3 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

A fast 6-engine empty coal train, CSX E784, heads west through the Boyds MARC Station on the Metropolitan Subdivision in Maryland. Locomotives: CSX 520(GE AC44CW, Built 2001), CSX 123(GE AC44CW, Built 1996), CSX 513(GE AC44CW, Built 2001), with DPUs CSX 3441(GE ET44AH, Built 2017), CSX 557(GE AC44CW, Built 2002), & CSX 890(GE ES44AH, Built 2008). 3 28 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

CSX double stack trash train L112 heads west through Boyds MARC station in Maryland along the CSX Metropolitan Subdivision on its way to Pepco. Locomotives: CSX 3004(GE ES44AH, Built 2012) & CSX 700(GE ES44AH, Built 2007). 3 28 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Amtrak Capitol Limited passenger train P030 heads south (east) through Point of Rocks station in Maryland transporting a pair of brand new Siemens ALC-42 diesel locomotives. Locomotives: AMTK 25(GE P42DC, Built 1996), AMTK 309(Siemens ALC-42, Built 2022), & AMTK 308(Siemens ALC-42, Built 2022). 4 18 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Ex- Georges Creek SD35 in Western Maryland livery is used to shuttle the passengers/participants along for the Trains Magazine sponsored "Welcome Back #1309" photo freight train charter excursion by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Seen here heading back east past the Dakota Road grade crossing along the Great Allegheny Passage Trail in Cumberland, Maryland. Locomotives: PNLX 7436(EMD SD35, Ex- WM, Ex- BN, Ex- BNSF, Ex- GCK , Built 1964). 2 26 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

The newly painted Amtrak "Operation Lifesaver" locomotive leads the eastbound Capitol Limited passenger train P030 through Boyds MARC station in Maryland, along the CSX Metropolitan Subdivision. Bonus Qatar jet. ✈ Locomotives: AMTK 203(GE P42DC, Built 2001). 3 28 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

The mixed manifest freight train Norfolk Southern 12Z heads east through the Alleman Road grade crossing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Locomotives: NS 12Z - NS 7242(EMD SD70ACU, Ex- UP, Built 1996), NS 8044(GE ES44AC, Built 2010), & NS 7679(GE ES44DC, Built 2007). 3 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

The mourning dove who made a nest in an unused flower pot on my back porch for the second year now has a pair of newly hatched chicks 🐣🐣. I'll try to post more updates as they grow. 4k UHD. 4 28 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Petting the mourning dove that made a nest in an unused flower pot on my back porch for the second year in a row. She has laid two eggs and I will post periodic upodate videos to show the progress. 4K UHD. 4 13 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Western Maryland steam engine #1309 pauses just after going under the CSX Mountain Subdivision bridge as it prepares to head in to the station for the final photo-op session of the day during the Trains Magazine sponsored "Welcome Back #1309" photo freight train charter excursion. Also seen is the Gearges Creek #7471 running long-hood-forward. PNLX 7471(EMD SD40M-2, Ex- WM, Ex- CSX, Ex- GCK, Ex- HLCX, Ex- MKCX, Built 1966). Cumberland, Maryland. ------ From Wiki: "Western Maryland Scenic Railroad No. 1309, formerly Chesapeake and Ohio Railway No. 1309, is a compound articulated class "H-6" "Mallet" type steam locomotive with a 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement. It was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1949 for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) where it pulled coal trains until its retirement in 1956. It was the last steam locomotive built by Baldwin for the North American market. In 1975, it was moved to the B&O Railroad Museum for static display. In 2014, it was purchased by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR), who undertook a multi-year effort to restore it to operating condition." "No. 1309 was built from a 40-year-old design, with mechanical lubricators, stoker, and superheater, the last of a series of 2-6-6-2s that the C&O began in 1911. A very similar design, the USRA 2-6-6-2, was chosen by the United States Railroad Administration as one of its standard designs thirty years earlier during World War 1. "The engine is a Mallet articulated locomotive. This design was a compound locomotive where steam was expanded once in smaller rear cylinders and the exhaust captured and expanded a second time in larger lower-pressure front cylinders. While compound locomotives are more efficient than single-expansion machines, their extra complication led to very few United States railroads using them after the turn of the century. The added length of two sets of cylinders required the engines to be articulated to enable operation on tight radius turns common in mountainous areas in West Virginia and Kentucky coal country, which added even more complication. It also had two cross compound air compressors mounted on the smokebox door to supply enough air for frequent heavy braking needed in mountain railroading. While complicated and uncommon, the C&O had a long history with Mallets and they were ideal for slow speed work in West Virginia. "The Chesapeake and Ohio ordered 25 of these engines in 1948 to pull coal trains. When coal production dramatically fell due to labor unrest in 1949, the order was revised to just ten engines (numbered 1300 to 1309), and 1309 became the last domestic steam locomotive built by Baldwin. "Once in service, it will be the largest steam locomotive in regular scheduled service in the United States and take 2-8-0 No. 734’s place as the largest active steam locomotive in the state of Maryland. *(A much larger steam locomotive, the Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 was restored to operational status in May 2019 but is being used for occasional excursion service as opposed to regularly scheduled service.)" 2 26 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

Cape May Seashore Lines "Bunny Express" excursion train trip just after leaving the Tuckahoe Station in Woodbine, New Jersey, about to cross the Tuckahoe River. Locomotives: GMTX 2015(EMD GP38-2, Ex- PC, Ex- CR, Ex- HLCX, Built 1969) & GMTX 2661(EMD GP38-2, Ex- PRSL, Ex- CR, Ex- MQT, Built 1970). 4 16 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR

CSX local mixed freight train L127 crossing Maple Avenue in Smithsburg, Maryland, on its way to Hagerstown Yard in Maryland. Locomotives: CSX 4313(EMD GP39-2, Ex- RDG, Ex- DH, Built 1974), CSX 4066(EMD SD40-3, Ex- SCL, Ex- SBD, Built 1979), & CSX 4010(EMD SD40-3, Ex- L&N, Ex- SBD, Built 1979). 3 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Three southbound Norfolk Southern freight trains seen in Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia on the NS "H" Line. First train is the double stack intermodal train with mixed freight 201. Second is double stack intermodal train 203. And third train 11Z is transporting three New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway EMD SD60's. Locomotives: NS 8153(GE ES44AC, Built 2013), NS 3680(GE ET44AC), & NS 8010(GE ES44AC, Built 2008); and NS 1100(EMD SD70ACe, Built 2014), NS 1819(EMD SD70ACC, Built 1994), NS 8017(GE ES44AC, Built 2008), & NS 4324(GE AC44C6M); and NS 4178(GE AC44C6M, Built 1996), NS 9487(GE C44-9W), NYSW 3802(EMD SD60, Ex- OWY, Ex- EMDX, Ex- GMTX, Built 1986), GMTX 9014(EMD SD60, Ex- OWY, Ex- EMDX, Ex- GATX, Built 1986), NYSW 3804(EMD SD60, Ex- OWY, Ex- EMDX, Ex- GMTX, Built 1986), & NS 1234(EMD SD70ACe). 4 5 02 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Norfolk Southern local freight train K80 heads east through the Alleman Road grade crossing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Locomotives: K80 - NS 6100(SD40-2, Ex- NW, Built 1975) & NS 6327(SD40E, Ex- CR, Built 1983). 3 24 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

Mixed manifest freight train CSX Q410 heads east transporting a brand new rebuilt MARC EMD engine to Riverside Yard in Baltimore, past the site of the original Elkridge train station in Howard County, Maryland, along the CSX Capitol subdivision. Locomotives: CSX 3210(GE ES44AH, Built 2015), CSX 459(GE AC44CW, Built 2000), & MARC 75(EMD GP39PH-3C, Ex- MILW, Built 1968). 4 13 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.

A mourning dove made a nest in an unused flower pot on my back porch for the second year in a row. She has laid two eggs and I will post periodic upodate videos to show the progress. 4K UHD. 4 13 22 © BaltimoreAndOhioRR.