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| PHOTOS: CROYDON (1560448) | |||
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PHOTOS: CROYDON |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Thu Oct 29 00:19:05 2020 Every year on the Wednesday before thanksgiving I head out to an NEC station with fellow rail enthusiast Chuchubob in order to catch some of the extra trains Amtrak runs to handle the Thanksgiving crowds. Typically it's just one or two extras with the regular trainsets having a few extra cars added to the consist, but it's always a fun time. Still, there exists a struggle not to have the chosen location get too repetitive. At first the chosen location was Bristol, then Morrisville, then Levittown for a few years and even Tioga thanks to a scheduling mixup. In 2019 I idly decided on giving Croydon a try and I was in no way disappointed. Not only did the station have high level platforms with great sight lines in both directions, it was also situated next to the Milepost 69 intermediate signals and a brew pub which eliminated the need to pack things in early and head to lunch. I had such a good time I will surely be back in future years. You can see the full set of 2019 photos here (mirror).To save you having to scroll down here is a video montage of many of the trains I captured that day. Due to some technical issues I wasn't able to catch all of the trains, but I did manage to get most of them! The Croydon parade kicks off with an eastbound Amtrak Keystone service train hauled by Amtrak ACS-86 #644 and including cab car #9632   Newt up was an inbound SEPTA R7 led by Silverliner IV #365 with #398 at the rear.  Amtrak Regional Train XXX with Amtrak ACS-86 #653.  Westbound Keystone this time with ACS-86 #661 passing under the Milepost 69.4 intermediate signals. Metroliner Cab Car #9651 was bringing up the rear.  An outbound six car R7 was next on track #1 with SEPTA Silverliner IV #156 on point.  What followed was a three way meet between Amtrak Train #98, the northbound Silver Meteor, southbound Acela Express Train XXXX and southbound Regional Train XXX. Train 98 was powered by ACS-86 #639 and included 4 sleepers, a diner and a baggage car for a total of 6 Viewliners. The lead AX power car was #2028 with #2007 trailing and the Regional was being hauled by ACS-86 #619    A northbound AX was next on the scene with power cars #2003 and #2001.   This was followed by another inbound R7 with #101 in front and #440 on the rear.   Next was an eastbound Keystone with ACS-86 #604 and Metroliner cab car #9640.   Following that was Amtrak #615 with Train 86.  I finally got the first Regional Extra of the day with southbound Train 1195 and ACS-86 #667.  This was followed by northbound Regional Train #182 and ACS-86 #640.  A second outbound SEPTA R7, sandwiched by Silverliner IV's #333 and #149, stopped at the station and was passed by southbound and was then passed by Amtrak Regional Train #95 and ACS-86 #654 as it pulled away.   Acela Express power car #2020 is seen here passing under the 69.4 intermediate signal with #2009 on the rear of the trainset. Not the Advance Approach signal on Track #1 in mid-flash.  Amtrak Train #43, the westbound Pennsylvanian, was up next on Track #4 with ACS-86 #668 getting up close and personal.  It's peanut butter Acela time again with a northbound sporting power cars #2025 and #2023. Does anybody know why the trainsets never seem to have sequentially numbered power cars o.0   The day's second extra was Regional 1174 with ACS-86 #649. The standard Train 174 originates in Lynchburg with this extra section originating in DC with the assumption that 174 will be full of Virginia traffic.   Up next was Amtrak Train 91, the southbound Silver Starve, with ACS-86 #670, racing an inbound SEPTA R7 led by Silverliner IV #404.    If Silverliner IV's #404 and #156 look familiar, its because they were on the first outbound trainset that passed by.  Keystones were coming thick and fast with another eastbound example hauled by ACS-86 #664 and trailed by Metroliner Cab Car #9644.   The Lynchburg counterpart to Extra 1174, Regional Train 174, then appeared with ACS-86 #637 leading.  I was then treated to an in-station meet between an outbound SEPTA R7 train, with Silverliner IV #286 in front, and Amtrak Acela Express power car #2027 (which was paired with #2033). Silverliner IV #337 was in the trailing position.   Croydon was really great for meets as soon as the Trenton-bound R7 train had pulled away, a southbound Acela appeared to pass it with power cars #2012 and #2013. A rare example of a matched AX trainset.    By this point it was getting late in the day and I still wanted to try my luck at Langhorne on the R3/Trenton Line. On my way out I did notice Croydon's rather unique ADA solution. Still, it's got way fewer moving parts (ie none) than an elevator overpass.  Langhorne was a complete bust, but I was able to get some photos of the Conrail vintage signals still in service on the Trenton Line. The old SEPTA Neshaminy Line 2391 ABS signal was still in place.  That is all for Thanksgiving Wednesday 2019, next week I'll brave the elements to Thanksgiving Sunday 2019. Thanks to Chuchubob for providing transportation and conversation. |
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