A day of Junctions.

Today we decided to go scope out a new railfanning location down in Front Royal, VA called Riverton Junction. This area is along the Shenandoah River and both the NS and CSX lines. After a stop at RadioShack to pick up a roof top antenna (to strengthen our signal) we found our location and I started to find the perfect spot for taking pictures. While waiting for some traffic I played around with the settings on our camera to get this neat picture of one of the train bridges which crosses the Shenandoah.



This bridge combines the CSX and NS lines to cross the Shenandoah River.

This picture is of the bridge that carries just the NS line over the Shenandoah River. Just to the right on the picture you can see the diamond where the CSX line crosses to the other bridge.



After about an hour or so of waiting and no chatter on the radio we decided to head up to Shenandoah Junction, WV. We took US-340 all the way up to Route 9 and got there in about an hour.

We spent about 3 hours in Shen Junction and got word on the radio that we had a WB train on approach. I hopped out of the car and to my favorite spot in anticipation of a CSX rounding the bend. Little did I know that we were waiting on the Capital Limited (Amtrak). I must say that I was disappointed but happy to have had at least ONE train that day.

Here you can see the engineer giving us rabbit ears.



The day was a bit of a bust but I couldn't imagine spending it with anyone but Eric (well except for maybe my family). :)

A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles. - Tim Cahill

Shenandoah Junction, WV and Brunswick, MD

So after 3 days of being cooped up in the house with bronchitis I decided it was time to get Eric out and about. The day welcomed us with warm weather and sunny skies so it was time to do some railfanning. We headed up to Shenandoah Junction, WV our now favorite hotspot. When we arrived there were 2 other vehicles there and all red signals. We didn't have to wait to long until we got our first WB train.



The rails were busy that day with 6 more trains through Shenandoah Junction in about a 2 hour period. After our last train went through we decided to head out as it was starting to rain a little bit. We headed towards home by way of US-340. I had an idea of a possible place to catch some train action and headed that way. The place we headed to is a park like area right along the Potomac River north by northwest of Harpers Ferry, WV. The view of the tracks is slightly hindered by several very tall trees. Walking towards the road and a clearer view of the tracks I saw this very old and beautiful passage with a stream flowing through.



We took some time while waiting for a train to come to admire the beauty of the Potomac River.



We struck out on catching a train through here and headed on towards Brunswick, MD. On approach to Brunswick we saw a train slowly moving WB and were disappointed by this missed opportunity. We pulled onto the road that takes us down to the commuter lot where we park and saw that the barriers were down over the tracks. I put the car in park and jumped out and Eric got behind the wheel so I could investigate as to what was going on. I looked westward and saw that the train we originally thought we had missed was moving EB into the yard.



While I snapped some pictures of the train moving into the yard, Eric informed me that they were moving into the yard to couple with some additional cars. About 5 - 10 minutes later they got clearance to head WB. Their destination was Cumberland, MD and after further information on the radio revealed they had a 3 hour window to get to Cumberland otherwise the crew out be considered "outlaws". Here is CSX 4826 (lead engine) heading WB past the Brunswick Train Depot. I really love this shot and am very proud of it. :)



Another awesome day of railfanning with my partner in crime.

Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. - Ray Bradbury

Point of Rocks, MD and Shenandoah Junction, WV

When you read the subject line you would think that we did a LOT of driving today. We drove less than 100 miles and covered a lot of road in 3 states. Ah yes...the 3 state tour. Eric and I both stayed home from work today....a little R&R or what have you. We slept in and then decided around 10:30 to head out for Point of Rocks. We picked up some blunch (breakfast/lunch) on the way and got to Point of Rocks a little after 11. We heard some chatter of an EB train and headed over the tracks to park. We climbed up the bank to get in position and got what I think is my best railfan picture ever. The shot I was talking about with Eric and my parents of hoping to get one day....yes friends...I got the train coming through the tunnel.



I told Eric that all we need now is a cam corder so we can get audio AND still shots. hehee....it would have been awesome to hear the sounds of the whistle bouncing off the tunnel walls.

We hung around to catch 2 more trains after this one and then got into that lull where there isn't a lot of movement on the rails. We decided that we would head out and started back towards home. All of a sudden I got an idea to head up to Shenandoah Junction, WV to a hot spot for railfanning. We turned around and headed back towards Point of Rocks up through Lovettsville and Brunswick and into WV via US - 340.

When we got to Shenandoah Junction there were a couple of other railfans there already so we grabbed a spot and waitied. Not long after we got an EB train and then a SB on the Norfolk Southern line. It was a busy day.

SB NS.


We stood outside with the other railfans and had a good time talking with them and getting info on different sites, webgroups, etc.

It was an awesome day and a much needed one. Here is a link to all of our pictures from January 21 and January 28. I'm working on captions so you have the feeling of actually being there. :)

Railfanning

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. - Miriam Beard