The following photos were taken between Fri 1/14 and Sun 1/16.
Friday 1/14
I got out of work a tad early. Pretty rough on a Friday, right? Where I work is very near CN’s Neenah Sub. I make a habit of keeping a scanner and camera with me almost always. Today I heard the MP181.1 detector (between Oshkosh & Neenah) sound off for a southbound train while warming my truck up. By the time I started to head towards Neenah to pick my son up from daycare, two things happened:
I got an email from my wife (Yay for BlackBerry!) saying that my Mother-in-Law would be picking our son up early on Saturday morning and “…would we mind if he stayed until Sunday evening?”
I saw the southbound, much sooner than I expected.
I had the luck of a long line of sight on the train so I could set up just north of the Oshkosh Swing Bridge. M342 came along shortly.
Once M342 went by I had to get to Neenah to get my son from daycare. After exiting at Breezewood from US41 and turning on Harrison St…I saw headlights in the rearview mirror. I only had time for a grab shot of Q199. I couldn’t believe how empty this train was. It was a close to baretables as I’ve seen in this area.
After picking up my son and heading home for the day I made plans to be trackside as e
Nice report, Dan, and great photography! I envy your ability to get out by the tracks and make it work for you. Bring some of that luck down here with you sometime!
I have the potential to spend days trackside and get plenty of trains, but would probably never come up with pictures–or even experiences–like that, because (a) I’m too impatient during the times when no trains are coming, (b) I would rather have the companionship of a friendly, excitable railfan, who probably would require some of the creature comforts that might not always be in agreement (time-wise and taste-wise) with mine, and (c) I certainly wouldn’t mind having one of the young ones in my life along with me, but see (b), above, and (d) I’m not a fan of the cold when it comes to railfanning…why, I can’t even bring myself to say the name of this season! W…Win…longing for spring!
Maybe when the weather improves I’ll send my wife to my mother-in-law’s house for a time, take my computer and my bike to Elmhurst (wi-fi, food, hobby shop, and slow trains) or LaGrange (potential for all of the above except the slow trains). My daughter keeps my grandchildren busy, but maybe they could join me for lunch (or even supper, if the day is long enough).
Anyway, Dan, good luck, good skill, and good action…nice when it all comes together for you, isn’t it?
Thanks Carl, I had some pretty good luck. The cold weather wasn’t too bad really. Most of where I was can be accessed by car and I can sit 'n wait in a warm car. The longest time between trains leaves plenty of time for reading magazines (hmm, which one?) or getting a bite…or shooting the breeze.
I’ve been making notes of approximate arrivals for a while and the weekend proved them close…almost within an hour of the “average” time. Normally (lately) my time while trackside is limited by my lil’ traveling buddy as he will only tolerate so much time in the car. I would love to head to your neck of the woods…maybe this summer.
Dan, great photo’s. I really liked 3, 8, and 12. I would really like number 3 for a desktop photo, except for one detail. As they say on some of the Canadian forums I visit, you take pictures of “The Other Railroad”, as opposed to my “Home Team”.
Thanks Bruce. I would be happy to send you a large version of #3 should you so desire. Feel free to PM with your email if you want it. I don’t get many chances to shoot CP. I would like to change that a bit this summer…but time (and budget) will tell. By looking at my index of roster photos by road via my Flickr Index you can see the very few chances I’ve had to even see 'em. I think I probably only have one attempt at something other than a “roster” picture and it’s not even pretty.
Very nice! Good to see someone from my neck of the woods! I have to say the Point-Green Bay push-pull has to be my favorite train CN runs these days. Its always interesting to see what power they give it although wow I think you caught the most unusual I’ve seen yet! Makes me want to get trackside again…even if it is darn cold out there! Thanks again!
You’re welcome! I’m willing to bet there’s more folks in our area either on here or other sites as I’m always seeing folks watching the same things I am when trackside, and I’m not trackside as often as I could be.
Did you catch the push-pull on Tuesday? All UP power: a pair of AC4400CWs or in UP-ese C44ACs. I’ll see if I can dig my pics out & post them in the Trackside Lounge.
I drive down Harrison Street in Neenah as often as possible just hoping to catch a train or two. Often there is someone parked in the Brigade lot facing the tracks and I wonder if it is someone from this or one of the other railroad forums.
I live about a block from the Appleton “yard” and can just see the tops of engines and cars over the top of a garage near the tracks.
Thanks for the compliment! I stop at the Brigade spot from time to time. If you see a tan Chev blazer with a radio antenna on top it’s probably me. Interestingly enough…I have never done much looking at the tracks in Menasha/Appleton/Manitowoc Sub…but there seems to be some really neat little things going on.
There is actually quite a bit of switching that goes on in the Appleton yard. The power seems to change quite often. I have seen CN, EJ&E, and GT all in one week.
If I ever see you along Harrison St I will have to stop and say hello. I drive a black Ford pickup or my wife’s silver Subaru.
