Weekly Photo Fun 12/12 - 12/19/14

[Green_Elite_Cab]

I took a ride on the Cape May Seashore Lines on Sunday, which was fun. On top of having almost every surviving PRSL RDC (except 1), they also have examples of most of the models I like to build. In fact, CNJ 1523, CNJ 100, and New York Central 37 are all models I am specifically building, (as NJ DOT 5861, 100, and 4437 respectively). They also have a few other Jersey builder coaches, an RS3M,

The GP9 on the front of the train was the PRR's first GP9. It is followed by M-410 and M-407, PRSL RDCs on their home territory. New York Central 37 is next, followed by the ex LIRR MP72 "Good vibrations" converted to a lounge car, then URHS 329, ex CNJ #100, Ex-Empire Builder. Bringing up the rear was Norfolk Southern GP38-3 # 5803, formerly Southern railway GP50 #7030.





In fact, I specifically got the opportunity to ride in New York Central 37, which was nice. The car wasn't quite in its original NYC configuration, but there is a strong probability that it IS the way it was when NJ Transit sold it to the URHS in the mid 1980s, which is pretty darn close to what it must have been like in NJ DOT commuter service only 5-6 years prior. My girlfriend and I were seated at the window beneath the "TRAL" In Central.



We also got an opportunity to go into the cab of M410, the lead PRSL RDC behind the locomotive, and ride up there for a little while. The speedometer centered on the left hand console reads 25 MPH, track speed for this stretch. Many years ago, PRR Atlantics and Reading Steamers reached 80 MPH+ on this trackage.



Out the Engineer's window-





It was a pretty cool trip, and I look forward to it next year!