A Santa Fe Geep and a Smoking SD50

[ssw9662]

Yesterday I got a heads up call from a friend who was railfanning in Reading. Turns out Roadrailer I62 was heading east with a BNSF GP50 still in Santa Fe paint, a rare event since the Roadrailers around here almost never have foreign power. I decided to head down to Bethlehem and catch the I62 there. Luckily for me the train was held at Reading for three westbounds, so I had more than enough time to spare. As the I62 neared its terminus at Bethlehem, it only had one more train to wait for, which was hot intermodal 213. The 213 had two blue C40-8Ws today, a former LMS and a Conrail.

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As the 213 cleared CP-Burn, the I62 was sent to Bethlehem. After a half hour of sitting in the bridge in freezing weather, I was finally rewarded as the train came into sight. I knew this shot wasn't going to be great, I was set up for when the power returned to tie down.

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Before the power on I62 returned, the H76 was sent east. As it began to accelerate, the lead SD50 put on a show and began to spew out clouds of thick smoke.  This one's for Emmett, apparently GE's aren't the only ones that have trouble pulling a six car train.   

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After H76 cleared, I62's power was sent to CP-JU where it would tie down. I set up for this photo of the ex-Santa Fe GP50 passing the old blast furnace . It certainly looked a bit out of place here!

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Roster shot of the BNSF 3197, still in good shape for a fairly old unit.

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