I tood trackside at dusk, just moments ago, at a long reverse curve on the former Pennsylvania Railroad. In the distance the rails reflected the oncoming train, still a mile away. Then the throaty exhaust became clear, then magnified as the EMD’s entered a canopy of trees. The light and the sound filled the natural tunnel and charged at me.
The engineer opened the throttle slightly to compensate for the curve and the slight grade. Then suddenly the train was upon me, the engineer waving in recognition of previous encounters. Welded rail never made it to this section of the railroad, thus the sound was even more pronounced.
I naturally started to move a bit further away, seeking safer ground, but the moment hypnotized me. The high cars rode arrow straight, without a trace of lateral movement. Dust began to swell as the train created a fury. Just as quickly the train was past, the EOT device blinking as the train raced west into the last remaining dying embers of summer twilight.
Surely, this was how it was decades ago when the Pennsylvania Railroad dared to call itself The Standard Railroad of the World.
Gabe it was the CFE’s FWCH…but it sure didnt look, sound, or feel like a regional. Got the book yesterday, was going to begin reading it when FWCH hit town.
Brian…i wouldnt know how to post a photo on here if my life depended on it! Someday perhaps i will learn.
Ed, I rode that line on an Amtrak train back in 1972. Probably rougher than in Standard Railroad days. Didn’t they have to build parts of that line from scratch at the time of the breakup?
One nit to pick: decades ago it would have been a cabin car, not an EOT.
It was double track up til early 90’s then one track was removed. I was surprized tonight at how there was no lateral motion at speed. Most of the time the trains are moving fairly slow…slowign down or speeding up from a set out. This was the first chance to see it at speed.
Also, the effect of it being right at dusk was incredible.
You are correct about the EOT device and cabin car.