Late At The Lake. Although the light had receded from the scene, the opportunity to catch NYSW SD40-2 3024 leading west of the Sparta, New Jersey yard was not to be missed. As this locomotive does not have PTC, it would not normally be seen on the point in this area.
Silver And Maroon In 2023. "Every year since 2009 (except for 2020), special trains have operated on the first two weekends of December in northern New Jersey and southern New York to collect donated toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation" explains Operation Toy Train website about the organization's mission to travel across New York and New Jersey during the holiday season. On Saturday, December 9, 2023, New York, Susquehanna, and Western Railway 3024 (ex-NS 3553, exx-HLCX 7200, née-BN 7200, SD40-2, EMD, 10/1979, "Silver and Maroon") made its Toys For Tots Train debut. Perhaps the most sought after leader on the NYS&W, this unit was repainted earlier in 2023 into an older paint scheme of the railroad. As with last year's train, the Erie Turntable/Port Jervis Transportation Museum and Dining Car Society participated. At the end of the day, the group announced that they had collected over 20,000 toys, which is the real purpose of the train.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
