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During a layover
between trains at New Haven CT, we have our first sighting of an FL9. Steam
may have been long absent for pulling trains on USA railroads but it is
still in use for operating coach heating and air conditioning. October 1981. |
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The steam has been
discharged and we have a better view of a pair of FL9 locomotives. October
1981. |
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The pairing has now
been split and 5034 has been assigned a couple of MU cars. October 1981. |
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A train consist of
entirely ex New Haven equipment. Although fitted with pantographs, the MU
cars were powered by the FL9 on diesel power. October 1981. |
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The complete train
about to depart. This is possibly car numbers 4418 and 4431. The train proceeded south under diesel power
and in non revenue
service. October 1981. |
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The
following year and we are at Rensselaer NY. The eastbound Lake Shore has
arrived and is split into a Boston section and a New York section. A single
F40PH looks after the Boston section and an F40PH + FL9 will take the New
York consist to Croton Harmon. At Croton Harmon the F40PH is detached and
the FL9 continues with the train to Grand Central Terminal, New York City.
August 1982. |
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The
eastbound Lake Shore departs Rensselaer for New York. August 1982. |
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An
FL9 and Amfleet cars arrive at Rensselaer from New York with the locomotive
now resplendent in Amtrak Phase 3 colours. Number 389 was the only FL9 to
wear an Amtrak Phase 2 paint finish. August 1982. |
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On
now to 1987 and we are on the eastbound Lake Shore, passing Croton North and
approaching the next stop at Croton Harmon. Some less fortunate FL9
locomotives await an uncertain future. September 1987. |
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If it
were not for the passenger cars, this could be a scene from the 1960's. This
is Rye NY and the first of the evening New York Grand Central Terminal to
Danbury CT trains speeds north. September 1987. |
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In
1968 when the all black colours of Penn Central was introduced, it was
unimaginable that the classic colours of the New Haven would ever be seen
again except in a museum. Miracles do happen. This image is captured from
the parking lot at Rye which is on the roadbed of the extinct New York,
Westchester & Boston Railroad as can be observed by the extended catenary
gantries. September 1987. |
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On
now to 1991 and we are back at Rensselaer on the 28th of September 1991.
Train 63, the Maple Leaf for Toronto has just arrived at 11:19. The FL9 goes
no further and is detached. |
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The
FL9 move over to allow an F40PH to be attached to complete the journey to
Toronto. September 1991. |
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A
line up of the power usually seen at Rensselaer with the FL9 passing a Rohr
Turboliner and an F40PH ready to depart. September 1991. |
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The
eastbound Lake Shore (Late Shore!) eventually arrives and the New York
section is made ready to depart for New York with a single FL9 in charge.
September 1991. |
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Moving down the Hudson, we are at Poughkeepsie on the 1st of October as a
pair of Metro North FL9 terminate their journey from New York. October
1991. |
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The
eastbound Lake Shore arrives at Poughkeepsie, eventually. October 1991. |
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Very
inviting! The best seat on the train? October 1991. |
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It
would appear that the Lake Shore is too long or the station platform is too
short as a wooden extension has been added to the platform to allow the crew
a more civilised access to the platform. October 1991. |
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Further down the Hudson and we are at Croton Harmon where a short consist
awaits. October 1991. |
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Metro
North provide an hourly off peak service between New York and Poughkeepsie.
This service has just departed Croton Harmon for Poughkeepsie. October 1991. |
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The
FL9 and two passenger cars are called into service and heads towards New
York. October 1991. |
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On
now to May 1994 and we are in the depths of Grand Central Terminal, New York
City. An FL9 awaits the rush of commuters returning home in the evening. |
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A few
months later in August 1994 we are at Redding CT. This is a South Norwalk to
Danbury service. August 1994. |
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Paused at Redding station, few passengers alight or board. August 1994. |
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Departing Redding station, the off peak service only requires two passenger
cars. August 1994. |
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Having moved on to Bethel CT, the train seen previously is returning from
Danbury to South Norwalk. In the present environment it is a great pity that
the overhead wires were removed. August 1994. |
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Still
at Bethel and the train is returning to South Norwalk. August 1994. |
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This
is Danbury CT and the end of the line for the service from South Norwalk.
The original station has now been closed and temporary accommodation has
been provided awaiting the construction of a new station. August 1994. |
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At
Danbury and all along the route from South Norwalk the remains of the former
electrification may still be seen, some masts still standing and some
ignominiously disposed of in the undergrowth. August 1994. |
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Deep
in the depths of Grand Central Terminal, New York City This train is waiting
and ready to return the evening commuters home. August 1994. |
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Later
in the week we are at Garrison NY. The weather in the Hudson Valley is
not always favourable for railway photography and perfecting the skill of
balancing a camera in one hand and an umbrella in the other was essential to
capture this scene of a Poughkeepsie bound service. August 1994. |
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We
are just north of Storm King Tunnels the following day. What a change in the
weather. A single rebuilt FL9AC heads for Poughkeepsie. August 1994. |
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From
a vantage point above Storm King Tunnels we have a view of the same train as
above returning to collect more commuters from New York. August 1994. |
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On
now to 1997. We are at Beacon Falls just in time to see the Bridgeport to
Waterbury shuttle service. May 1997. |
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Bridgeport CT and the shuttle service to Waterbury is ready to depart. May
1997. |
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We
are at Cos Cob CT and the evening peak trains are returning commuters home.
This opening bridge is across the Mianus River. Not that this is a problem
to the diesels but the catenary does not cover the moveable section
resulting in that the electrics must have a reasonable turn of speed to
cover the gap. Here we see an FL9 + FP10 combination heading north. May 1997. |
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The
next day we are at Danbury CT. If you want to see the FL9 departing for New
York an early rise is required. This is around 07:00 and the locos are ready
to push commuters to New York. May 1997. |
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Moving over to Croton Harmon we see a FL9 + FP10 combination at rest. May
1997. |
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On
now to 2001 and the FL9 has become an endangered species and not that easy
to find. Our final view of the FL9 in action in the wild is at 18:50 on
Thursday the 6th September 2001 as an evening service heads for
Poughkeepsie. |
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The
next day we visit the Danbury Railroad Museum. Although originally an FL9
was demonstrated to the New York Central Railroad it resulted in no sale,
the New Haven being EMD's only customer for this model. This is what could
have happened. September 2001. |