I thought of a good one the Tuesday morning but by the time I had gotten photos that went along with my idea, it was on to the next project. That next project just happened to be the arrival of BNSF 9647 in New Jersey on NS 68Q. For those who have no idea what I am taking about. BNSF 9647 is a locomotive in a one-of-a-kind paint scheme. "The unit was decorated in this fashion to celebrate the approval of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe merger by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the 20 July 1995." (from: http://www.qstation.org/9647/) Sean and I caught it trailing in the 3rd spot on its way into North Jersey on Tuesday evening just after the sun had set in Manville, NJ. We both went back to Sewaren, NJ where the ethanol is unloaded at Motiva Enterprises but saw no movement.
Earlier this afternoon, I got a text from Sean (thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) with a heads up that a Conrail crew was pulling the empties out of Motiva. I knew I had at least an hour or two to get up to Port Reading (PR) to watch the run around. Lucky for us here in New Jersey, foreign locomotives cannot lead west of Harrisburg so to save headaches later, the power has to be wyed for the return trip. This is the ONLY time in 68Q/69Qs journey that the trailing locomotives are open or unfrontcoupled. After a quick half-lunch I took off around 2PM for PR and Carteret. As I got to PR, OI16 was just pulling down to PD to work the yard along side the rear (actually front) of an ethanol and I saw a headlight behind the last car which meant the power was already uncoupled. I grabbed a few shots of OI16 and took off for Carteret. Upon arrival I saw two CSX engines under the ramps. I walked to the tracks and looked south...nothing...looked north...and :-D. The unobstructed nose of BNSF 9647 sitting just south of the drawbridge at RH. I ran back to the truck to get my camera knowing the sun would only give me a few seconds of opportunity when it did appear. By the time I got back no more than 30 seconds later, the conductor was already on the front and they were starting south. Electrical line poles line the right of way here limiting the openings to shoot it. Just as they got close to the edge of the opening before ducking under the Turnpike ramps...SUN!!! Too good to be true.
The 'chase' was on as they slowly made their way down the Chemical Coast Secondary towards Port Reading. They made it end of their train and put a EOTD on and waited until OI16 was out of the way. I made sure I got to the crossing north of PD before they did. The sun was in and out as the conductor lined the switches but when it needed to be out it was...again!
While they took the east leg of the wye, I got back into the truck and headed to the stairway that leads up to the CR 604 bridges over the Port Reading Secondary (PRS) entrance to the yard and Chemical Coast Secondary (CCS). Having been removed from the bridge in a cop car once before, I prepared myself this time by bringing along a Railpace with two of my photos in it. I got into position looking down the CCS at PD (the diamond crossing of the PRS and CCS) and crossed my fingers that they would get permission across quickly. They did and the welcome sound of NS 9581's bell could be heard as they started west. The sun was muted this time but I didn't even care at this point. The only two trains (light power) that I have shot from that location have been a KCS Retro Belle and the one-of-a-kind BNSF 9647. Crazy.
I made it back down to the crossing to get a few last shots of the would-be NS leader and headed home. There was no way I could top what I just shot the passed two hours!
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