T.G.'s Photography Blog

  With CP 291's eastbound signal bridge in the distance, I017 hustles west at Syracuse, NY.   From the New York Empire Trail bridge on the southwestern corner of Onondaga Lake I caught CSX intermodal train I017-17 (Worcester, MA., to Bedford Park, IL.). I017 is westbound on Track 1 and is passing through CP 291 (in the distance) of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. Here, the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision follows the southern end of Onondaga Lake between Interstate 81, to the east, and Interstate 690, to the west. Photograph taken on November 17, 2022, at Syracuse, New York.

  A bald eagle is on the lookout while eating a fish at Murphy's Island.   Murphy's Island at Syracuse, New York, has become a winter-feeding ground for bald eagles in recent years. The Island is on the southeastern corner of Onondaga Lake and this part of the lake doesn't freeze over in the winter because of a nearby wastewater treatment plant. Due to the lake not freezing over by Murphy's Island bald eagles, as well as other birds, can fish the lake's waters. The bald eagle tears at the fish's remains while perched in the tree at Murphy's Island.   Murphy's Island is not an actual island. At least not that I can tell from satellite imagery of it. The "island" is surrounded by Onondaga Lake, Onondaga Creek, another creek (name is unknown), and CSX's railroad tracks . The island sits across the tracks from Destiny USA Mall. Murphy's Island can be accessed by a newly opened trail extension to the Onondaga Creekwalk trail.  While still in

  CSXT 3150 and CSXT 944 lead manifest train M620-15 north at Henry Clay Road in Clay, NY.   CSXT  3150 and CSXT 944 lead manifest train M620-15 (Selkirk, New York, to Massena, New York) through the Morgan Road railroad crossing in Clay, New York. The train is northbound on CSX's St. Lawrence Subdivision . Much of the train's cargo is destined to be interchanged with Canadian National near Massena, which is near the US-Canada border. Photograph taken on November 16, 2022, at Clay, New York.

  S990-06 is westbound, passing by Murphy's Island along Onondaga Lake, just to the west of CP 291.   S990 is a special high-and-wide movement from General Electric at Schenectady, New York that is destined to the Smithboro, Illinois, (on the BNSF). This dimensionally-restricted train slowly made its way from Syracuse, New York, to Rochester, New York. Due to the size of the turbine S990 is carrying the train often has to stop and wait at places that allow other trains to safely pass. The train is also restricted to traveling at much slower speeds than a standard train.  S990 is crossing westbound over Onondaga Creek on the southern eastern edge of Onondaga Lake.   S990's consists is locomotive CSXT 4001, flatcar KRL 70863, depressed-center flat car KRL 204043, flat car KRL 600471, and caboose KRL 080. The railcars are owned by Kasgro Rail Corporation. KRL 204043's cargo is a GE Turbine destined for Smithboro, IL. Photographs taken on November 7, 2022.