December 28th, 2006
D&H 7303 led on CP Galt sub on the 27th, but we were on our way south at the time and could do nothing about it. We spent the 28th in Altoona picking up NS trains, catching 17 Conrail-painted units including one SD80MAC among many trains, stopping to see Horseshoe Curve, Cresson, and surrounding sites... More to come!
Lilly, Pennsylvania
(map) Just outside of Cresson to the west on the NS line, Lilly is a small town with a couple of good locations for railfaning.
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Helpers lead a westbound freight back up the hill to set off a car with a hotbox at Cresson.
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Two units at the head end are joined by four helpers at the rear end to deliver a loaded coal train up the hill.
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A helper set heads east up the hill.
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A second helper set in as many minutes zips by up the hill toward Cresson.
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A unit trash train heads east under its own power.
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A somewhat delayed westbound departs Cresson for the second time after setting off its bad order car.
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A Conrail-painted dash 8 leads a manifest freight over the first crossing west of Cresson while a rather retired Amtrak baggage car brings up the rear.
December 29th, 2006
We took off from Altoona northward searching for shortlines, stopping to check the NS/Nittany and Bald Eagle interchange at Tyrone and their base at Lock Haven, shot the RDCs at Bellefonte, and returned to the other side of Altoona to hunt for the Everett at Hollidaysburg, following their tracks until we found them switching at Roaring Spring before heading to Gallitzin for one coming out of the tunnel and wrapping up the day at Cresson and Lilly.
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A three-unit intermodal westbound glides down the hill by Lilly.
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Three units pull and four units push this loaded coal train upgrade.
