An Afternoon in Bethlehem

[ssw9662]

Since CSX wrecked on Wednesday in Ohio, there have been a few trains detouring over NS through Pennsylvania. After getting word that one of these trains was about 30 miles away, I decided to head out to Bethlehem and try to see it.

I arrived in Bethlehem at about 2:30, expecting the detour train to be through at any time (I seemingly forgot that these trains got no priority in the past). After waiting about an hour, I caught my first movement of the day, a set of lite power that was returning to the yard in Allentown.

http://ssw9662.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=914965


I had waited an hour longer and I was about ready to call it a day (It was in the mid-50's with some nasty wind gusts, not the best conditions for railfanning) when I heard that the detour train was finally on its way west only a couple of miles away. Apparently, it got held up earlier because it set off a detector a few miles to the east. I set up for a shot of the train passing through in some nice afternoon light.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=206073


As the detour train's cars were passing, a pair of Philadelphia Bethlehem & New England (A former Bethlehem Steel subsidiary that now switches the intermodal terminal in Bethlehem) switchers pulled up with a string of Roadrailers. These Roadrailers would be on the night's 261.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=206081

[scooter3798]

Austin,
    I love the shot of the 70MAC's comin around the bend in front of the old blast furnace. As for the PB&NE units, I still can't get over how odd they always look pulling up strings of roadrailers or well cars.

Scooter