New Hope & Ivyland Railroad hosted a Railfan Weekend on Sept. 24 and 25. Part of the events included a Saturday Night Photo Session. #40 is seen at Buckingham Valley posing for the cameras.

40 waits to couple up to it's next train

A railfan gets a low angle shot of Consolidation 40 as it sits at switch for the CSX interchange in Ivyland. Note the diesels that will lead the train back to New Hope sitting on the left.

NH&I GP30 2198 and C30-7 7087 have uncoupled from their train and are backing into the siding to allow NH&I 40 to couple onto this end of the train for a runby.

While waiting for NHIR 2198 to back up, I shot it with this rail made in 1905, exactly 100 years earlier. New Hope's 2-8-0 #40 was built 20 years after by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.

At first glance it looks like #40 is pulling the train and the smoke can be seen in the background. Actually, the smoke in the background is actaully the lead C30-7 and GP30 "doing a little house ... (more)

NHIR 2198 (GP30) leads NHIR 7087 (C30-7) on the four car passenger train, behind the mixed freight, to Ivyland.

Six-axle power for a shortline. NH&I 7087 dwarfs an SUV on the road below as it leads a mixed frieght over Rushland Trestle.

NHIR 40 and the afternoon mixed freight round the curve in Buckingham Valley, one of the most picturesque spots on the line.

A different view of the Rushland Trestle taken from track level of the afternoon mixed freight headed towards Ivyland.

The whole 12-car mixed freight can be seen here in the last minutes of sunlight. Note that the diesels on the other end are producing more exhaust than the steam locomotive.

NHIR 531 (ex-UP #9531) moves around the yard getting ready to run around the short excursion train.

On the return trip to New Hope #40 was tacked onto the back of the train to enjoy the ride. The mixed train is seen crossing the Rushland Trestle.

#40 pulls the 9:30AM mixed freight train south towards Ivyland over a gravel road just north of the Buckingham Valley station.

NH&I 2198 geta a rest this warm Sunday morning. This used to be the NH&Is main freight power, but the railroad has acquired some larger power in the past few years.