NS 227 swings onto the double track connection in Alliance, to head towards Cleveland, and ultimately the Detroit area. To the right, are the Alliance Amtrak Station, and a pretty large MOW facili... (more)

Thermite Weld in full blast

MOW crew check the Thermite weld before removing the kettle.

NS C-01 led by 5623 crosses Rt 183 bridge on slow orders due to a 18 wheel big rig which ignored the signs 12' 6"

Ex Conrail now NS, 5400 leads a coal drag on to the Bayard subdivision at Alliance.

MOW crews cut the mainline and prepare to install a new switch. They started at dawn and will have the new main switch in by 4 pm.

MOW crew wrangle the switch into place, pulling spikes and re-aligning the plates the hard way.

MOW can be a lonely job, often working with a lookout this welder concentrates on his work.

Loram Railgrinder sprays liquid on to the tracks after grinding to keep the heat from starting fires.

Time for a wheel change on this 250 ton hot metal car after it derailed on the main.

Sperry handheld rail defect detector.

MOW stand back as the Thermit Weld fires up to make the weld at around 2,000 degrees.

MOW workers use plain old fashioned elbow grease and high tech sighting to align the diamonds.

NS OC special swings north off the Fort Wayne line and on to the Cleveland main at Alliance Ohio.

Loram Rail Grinder in action at Alliance Ohio, close up. 80-200 f2.8 lens.