In 2025 a friend in southern New Hampshire I had stayed with during the HART tower trip back in October 2024 informed me that they would be soon be moving back to Ohio. Although I had largely completed by Connecticut Valley signal documentation project there were still a few odds and ends I wanted to check on so I found a free weekend with cheap Acela runs. Unfortunately, my friend was presented with a surprise gift of tickets to see Ringo Star's All Star Band at Carnegie Hall on the night where I would arrive via Amtrak's Valley Flyer to Greenfield, MA. Well, no problem, instead of transferring to the Flyer, I could just backtrack from New Haven to where my friend would be parked at Stamford, killing the remaining time at a brewery in South Norwalk. Here is a set of photos from what turned out to be a surprisingly successful Plan B.
Somehow I managed to get a reasonably priced seat on the 330pm Acela out of BWI which arrived with a classic set and power cars #2027 and #2033.
Using an upgrade to first class I was able to two meals on my trip to New Haven, crab meat enchiladas and a cheese plate.
I managed to make a very short connection to the next westbound Metro-North local with M8 MU #9729 leading. The previous eastbound MNRR NHL train was on the adjacent track with M8 #9365 on the rear.
I arrived at South Norwalk well after dark. I had been to the station a couple times before to visit the nearby preserved SS44 interlocking tower, but never inside the actual station building.
After having to walk about twice the distance to the brewery due to a "can't get there from here" problem, I stayed until last call before walking back to the station. Given the darkness the best I could do was a video montage where I managed to catch every type of train that passes through the station, MNRR M8 MUs, Danbury diesel shuttle, Amtrak ACS-86 hauled Regional and Acela Express trainset.
My MNRR train to Stamford was lead by M8 #9135. This pulled in next to the Stamford local's leading M8 #9413. The train of M8's on the central storage track included #9295.
Fast forwarding to the next day, the former B&M East Deerfield Yard had completed its transition from former Guilford painted locomotives to G&W painted Berkshire and Eastern. One former CN unit as well as a leased GATX cow-calf pair were also in evidence.
NS is still running freight on the former B&M line to Mechanicville, NY. A triplet of road power was on hand with SD60E #6971 ahead of C40-10W #7693 and SD70ACe #1146.
Later that day I managed to catch northbound Vermonter train #56 making its stop at Bellows Falls with 50th Anniversary heritage P42DC #45.
My return plans remained unaltered and I got a ride to Springfield to connect with a Springfield Line shuttle train. The packing deck provided a view of the new bus terminal that replaced the former Union Station express baggage facility and, unfortunately, the old Boston and Albany interlocking tower.
I even managed to catch the arrival of northbound Springfield shuttle train #460 with P42DC #107 and Metroliner cab car #9632.
Train #460 platformed on low level track #8 while my noon-departing southbound train #463 was on high level track #4 with P42DC #127 and cab car #9645. I suspect high level track #6 was being held open for the northbound Vermonter.
Train #460 seen here at New Haven track #1 allowing passengers to make a same track connection to a Southbound Regional train #160 with ACS-86 #610.
Of course there was a lot of Metro North M8's hanging about including an arrival from Grand Central bookended by #9316 and #9423 and #9135 hanging out of track #6.
While my Springfield "trainset" went to the yard, a new one pulled in on track #4 with P42DC #113 and cab car #9647 for the upcoming Train #464.
Of course I would be departing on the following Acela Train #2255 with Power Car #2015 leading. Originally announced for track #1 a change to track #3 allowed me to catch the switch throw and display of the 3W signal at SS75.
Work on the replacement SS45 WALK movable bridge was under way at South Norwalk. This has created a long term bottleneck with two tracks out of service east of the movable bridge to remediate low clearance road bridges.
Of course I did another first class upgrade, scoring the single "Joe Biden Seat" 15A. Unfortunately I was once again bedeviled by the plant based meat balls that had been on every menu since the fall of 2024.
Here we have power car #2015 at New York Penn Station.
I'll wrap things up with this video of southbound MARC commuter train making a stop at the BWI Airport Rail Station with Kawasaki cab car #7848 leading and SC44 #86 providing power.
Next time I'll be back with some DC area stuff followed by a selection of surviving Delaware Lackawanna interlocking towers.
Posted by
cortelyounext
on Thu May 21 17:23:29 2026, in response to PHOTOS: NORWALK NIGHTS, posted by Jersey Mike on Thu May 21 13:39:56 2026.
The ubiquitous plant-based meatball dish sure looks good but I understand. Then again, you scored Dogfish Head 90 so there's that. I enjoy DH 60 along with Guinness Extra Stout and Brooklyn East IPA.
Now here comes the TMI - I was walking through Penn Station Saturday last and happened to walk by a small bar I had no intention of stopping at until I noticed they were streaming the NCAA D1 lacrosse quarterfinals so I had to stop. I saw the place had Jai-Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing in Tampa which I enjoy on my layovers down there but asked if the other IPA on tap was local, something I favor. It was and I asked if I could have a sample. Long story long, the Merman from Coney Island Brewing was really quite good... and Notre Dame ended up beating Hopkins at Hofstra.
Posted by
cortelyounext
on Thu May 21 19:19:11 2026, in response to Re: PHOTOS: NORWALK NIGHTS, posted by https://salaamallah.com/ on Thu May 21 18:54:38 2026.
Not sure. I DO NOT eat the nasty swine, I don't care -- NOPE!
Posted by
cortelyounext
on Tue May 26 09:23:00 2026, in response to Re: PHOTOS: NORWALK NIGHTS, posted by Jersey Mike on Tue May 26 08:28:08 2026.
Unfortunately D90's tend to give me headaches and leave me feeling unwell. I miss the previous Space Dust IPAs.
Which is exactly why I choose the 60s since there is a significant difference in ABV and attendant effect on me. As far as the Space Dust, if by that you mean the Elysian from Seattle, which I trust you do, I enjoyed that "one", literally. I only had one but really liked it and would have it again.
