Batten Killed It!
After making the 7 hr round trip drive the prior Friday to see nothing I wasn't sure making the trek again in rainy miserable weather was worth it.
But I had good intel that the 4116 was in Eagle Bridge and the "new" locomotives on property hadn't been taken north. When I received positive confirmation that westbound Pan Am freight 11R had six loads to set out I was 90% certain a run would happen today. So I made the trek again and this time I scored! This is the 3rd time I've seen the Batten Kill move out of 10 attempts over 25 yrs!
This was a particularly special train as it featured in order:
G&J 4116 - veteran ex D&H Alco RS3 (blt. 9/52)
SNEX 5012 - ex Atlantic & Danville Alco RS36 (blt. 12/59)
Caboose - privately owned and newly lettered for G&J
Two ex BAR EMD BL2s last used by the defunct Saratoga and North Creek. numbered 52 & 56 they were built in March and April 1949
One company flat car with ties
Six loaded hoppers
It made for an impressive sight headed north on the old D&H Washington Branch seen here passing the vintage 1909 ex D&H depot.
At Shushan the caboose and BL2s would be set in the siding, tied down, and the switch spiked for the main.
The RS36, last used by the defunct Delaware Coast Line, is operable and may soon see use here on the Batten Kill.
New York state has the largest number of ALCO diesel locomotives working in everyday service. Here are some of them. Soon I hope to chronicle all of them.
An assortment of photos of the distinctly unique (and 'cute') little locomotive EMD ever built, the BL2! I understand it also makes a tasty sandwich..Oh, that's a BLT! (When a new BL2 photo is "ordered", it will be served fresh!)
