T.G.'s Photography Blog

Back in early October, I was over on the eastern end of DeWitt Yard, at CP282 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. I was taking photographs from up on the "Green Bridge," a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the train tracks, between North Main Street and South Main Street. Q212-01 departing DeWitt Yard While up on the "Green Bridge" taking photographs of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision (STS) at CP282, I saw an intermodal train snaking its way east out of the intermodal yard next to CP283. Below, you can see the intermodal train making its way east, to the right of CP283. CP283 are the block signals on the signal bridge in the far distance. A westward view of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision, from CP282 to CP283, at DeWitt Yard. Only Track 1 (right track) is part of the CP. Track 2 (left) has an automatic block signal. The train turned out to be Q212-01, led by CSXT 136 and CSXT 563. Q212 is a daily intermodal and automotive train that runs from Frontier Yard,

 Yesterday, my youngest and I set out to run an errand over in East Syracuse, New York, and while out we took a quick detour over to the Minoa and Kirkville areas to see if any trains could be found either at the eastern end of DeWitt Yard, or further east along the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. I017-22 at CP280/Auto 280 on the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision While driving back west on Sainstville Road, from North Kirkville Road, I saw the automatic signals at Auto 280/CP280 (MP QC280.5) come on, lined for a westbound on Track 1. We were in luck; well, I was in luck because my youngest had fallen asleep while we drove to Kirkville. Train I017-22, led by CSXT 3042, rolls west at Auto 280.  Soon, the headlight of CSXT 3042, leading train I017-22, appeared to the east, and within minutes was rolling through Auto 280 on Track 1. Track 1 and Track 2 here are controlled by automatic signals and Track 4 is controlled by control point signals.  From Auto 280, train I017-22 stretches almost a m

While over in East Syracuse, New York, at CSX's DeWitt Yard, I heard CSX local B777-21 call the dispatcher for a track warrant, from milepost QMF23.2 on CSX's Fulton Subdivision down to milepost QMF7.2 at Woodard, NY. I was too far away from the Fulton Subdivision to catch B777-21, since I was catching a "race" between intermodal trains I009-20 and I017-21 at DeWitt Yard . But I figured that maybe I could catch B777-21 after finishing up at DeWitt and running an errand in East Syracuse. CSXT 3325 at CP291 At Woodard, the Fulton Subdivision connects with CSX's St. Lawrence Subdivision. I thought that I might be able to catch B777-21 somewhere near Woodard. As I was making my way to Woodard, along Onondaga Lake Parkway, I spotted CSXT 3325 leading a train Q621 south on the St. Lawrence Subdivision. CSX train Q621 , runs from Massena, New York, to DeWitt Yard in East Syracuse, New York. CSXT 3325 sits north of CP291, on the St. Lawrence Subdivision  I was too late to

Since the leaves have started falling from the trees, I've had a better view of the bird activity in the forest behind my house. The other day, I was looking out my dinning room window and I saw a blue jay flying from tree to tree. I quickly grabbed my camera and the blue jay perched itself long enough for me to snap a couple of quick photographs of it.  A blue jay sits perched on a tree branch in my backyard. In addition to this blue jay, I was able to capture photographs of a juvenile red tailed hawk  last week. Thanks to the lack of leaves on the trees, I had a clear view of the hawk. Photograph taken on October 18, 2021, near Syracuse, New York.

Once again, while out running errands, I made a detour to CSX's DeWitt Yard to see what was happening there. When I got to DeWitt Yard, at CP285, I saw that Track 2 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision was lined for a westbound. I also saw the headlight of a train switching in the intermodal yard beyond I-481. I decided to park and see what was coming from the east. I017-21 and I009-20 CSXT 982 leads I0117-21 west past I009-20 at CP285. The train that was switching in the intermodal yard was I009-20, led by CSXT 505. Soon I009-20 started to pull west toward CP285 on the outbound lead tracks. While it was slowly moving west, the headlight of CSXT 982 leading intermodal train I017-21 appeared on Track 2 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. It looked like the two trains were having a race. I017-21 gained quickly on I009-20, and passed it at CP285, a control point that sits on the western edge of DeWitt Yard.  CSXT 982 and CSXT 764 lead train I017-21 through CP285 at DeWitt Yard. I017

Back in September my family decided to take a drive up to Oswego, New York, to see Fort Ontario, which sits on the shore of Lake Ontario. When we arrived, the Moon was still in the sky above the lake. The Moon above Lake Ontario On this day, September 26, 2021, the Moon was in its Waning Gibbous Phase . During this phase, the amount of the Moon's visible surface from Earth decreases from 99.9% to 50.1%. The Waning Gibbous Phase occurs after a Full Moon, and before the Third Quarter Moon.  The Moon above the US Flag, at Fort Ontario.  Also, on September 26th, the Moon would be at apogee, at 5:44 p.m. EDT. According to NASA's Moon Guide this is the farthest the Moon will be from Earth during this orbit.  The Moon above Lake Ontario, from the grounds of Fort Ontario. Photographs taken on September 26, 2021, at Oswego, New York.

 The other day my oldest decided that October 19th, was Train Day, so while out running errands we made our way to the CSX Rochester Subdivision. Manifest train Q368-17 We didn't have to wait long for a train. As we got to the Pottery Road crossing, near milepost 298, we saw the headlight of eastbound train Q368-17. Q368 is a daily manifest freight train that runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Selkirk, New York.  Q368-17 approaching milepost 298. Q368-17 was being led by CSXT 952, a General Electric built ES44AC-H. CSXT 952 was built in November of 2011, per RRPicturesArchives.net. CSXT 952 was the only locomotive at the front of the train. Q368 did have a mid-train DPU, which is not shown here. The old milepost, on the bottom left of the photograph, is from the days when this line was owned by the New York Central Railroad. The milepost count up from Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Many of these milepost still stand along this rail line. Photograph taken on October 19, 202

 Back on October 10th, I headed over to Pottery Road, near Warners, New York, to see if I could catch a train or two on CSX's Rochester Subdivision. After waiting for half an hour or so, I heard a westbound train set off the defect detector at milepost (MP) 291.9, of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. The detector reported no defects, so I knew a train would be approaching from the east soon. Q003-10, led by CSXT 3448 and CSXT 3034 Soon I heard the roar of the train's locomotives in the distance, and then a short time later the crossing gates at Pottery Road came on and the gates came down. Around the curve came CSXT 3448 and CSXT 3034 leading priority intermodal train Q003-10. Q003 is a daily intermodal train that runs from South Kearny, New Jersey, to Bedford Park, Illinois (near Chicago).  Q003-10 rounds the curve, east of Pottery Road. Q003 carries priority domestic intermodal cargo. Today, Q003-10 wasn't losing any time, and was moving fast at Pottery Road (MP 297.76 o

 While looking out of my dining room window this past week, I spotted a hawk flying above the forest behind my house . It soon quickly swooped down and landed on a branch of a dying ash tree at the forest's edge.  Juvenile red-tailed hawk After researching what type of hawk this one was on Cornell University's All About Birds website , I believe this is to be a juvenile red-tailed hawk. Juvenile red-tailed hawks don't have red tails yet, but some do have dark bands across their tails like the one seen here has. I also believe this is a red-tailed hawk due to the dark patagial marks on the front edge of its wings (you can see those better in the last photograph below), as well as its other colorations.  A juvenile red-tailed hawk perched on a tree branch. The Central New York area is at the northern edge of the red-tailed hawks year-round habitat. This time of year the red-tailed hawks that spend the warmer months further north in Canada are starting to migrate a little furt

 Back on September 26th, my family took a day trip up to Oswego, New York, to see Lake Ontario and Fort Ontario. While there we were able to see the West Pierhead Lighthouse. West Pierhead Lighthouse From the bluff along the northern edge of Fort Ontario you can see the West Pierhead Lighthouse. West Pierhead Lighthouse sits at the end of  a breakwater, about a half a mile from the shore. West Pierhead Lighthouse, viewed from Fort Ontario. West Pierhead Lighthouse was built in 1934, and replaced a previous lighthouse on the harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River. The lighthouse's light is still actively used as a navigation aid, and is operated by the United States Coastguard. The structure itself is owned by the city of Oswego.   A closer view of West Pierhead Lighthouse. West Pierhead Lighthouse from the bluff at Fort Ontario. Breakwater The breakwater that West Pierhead Lighthouse sits at the end of is on the western side of the harbor. It is made up of three straight sections,

 Back on the morning of October 2, 2021, I was photographing trains on the western end of CSX's DeWitt Yard. A few hours later I wound up on the eastern end of the yard, at what is locally known as the Green Bridge. A pedestrian bridge that crosses over the tracks between North Main Street and South Main Street, in Minoa, New York. CSXT 112 and CSXT 5350 on Q560-01 Earlier in the day, I caught CSX train Q560-01, being led by CSXT 112 and CSXT 5350 coming east into DeWitt Yard at CP285, in East Syracuse, New York. Later in the day I wound up on the eastern end of the yard, at Minoa, New York. After CSXT 4089 and CSXT 4046 were done switching on the east end of DeWitt Yard and had cleared the track, Q560-01 showed up.  CSXT 112 and Q560 is stopped on the Local Yard Drill track on the east end of Dewitt Yard. The string of rail cars (right) is on the North Runner. Q560 is a daily manifest freight train that originates at Queensgate Yard, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and terminates at Selki

 Back in late September, we took a drive up to Oswego, New York, to see Fort Ontario and Lake Ontario. While there I tried to capture some of the birds flying above the lake. Most didn't turn out well, but I was able to get this one photograph of a turkey vulture that I was pretty happy with, even though it was from behind the bird. Soaring above the Oswego harbor on Lake Ontario. By using Cornell University's All About Birds website , I discovered that this is a turkey vulture. And, according to the Audubon Society , the area around Lake Ontario is part of the turkey vulture's breeding grounds. Turkey vultures are large birds. According to the All About Birds website, their length ranges from approximately 25-31 inches (64-81 centimeters), and their wingspans can range from 66.9-70.1 inches (170-178 centimeters). They are also carrion birds, meaning they prefer to eat dead animals.  Photograph taken on September 26, 2021, at Oswego, New York.

 On an overcast morning earlier this month, I my youngest and I headed out to see some fall colors , and along the way we were able to see CSX trains Q004-04 and Q017-05 meet at milepost QC299 on CSX's Rochester Subdivision. Q004-04 and Q017-05 meet Upon arriving at the Herman Road crossing in Warners, New York, I saw that the control point signals at  CP300, milepost QC300.7, were on and looked to be lined for a westbound train on Track 1.  Looking east from Herman Road toward CP300. A short time later the headlight of CSXT 3181 appeared to the west of the CP300, leading eastbound train Q004-04. As luck would have it, we were going to see two trains. Soon Q004-04, a priority intermodal train, was roaring down Track 2 of the Rochester Subdivision, at Herman Road (milepost QC299.12). Q004 runs from Bedford Park, Illinois, outside of Chicago, Illinois, to South Kearny, New Jersey. CSXT 3181 leads Q004-04 at Herman Rd. After I turned around to watch Q004 roll east past the intermediat

I first saw trees leaves changing colors in late August, but then it seemed nature hit the pause button and color change stopped. However, recently the leaves began to change again. With many of the leaves here in Central New York finally starting to change into their fall colors I have gone out a few times trying to capture some of the colors.  Thompson Road, at Camillus, NY. The below two photographs were taken near Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, along Thompson Road. These views are looking eastward as the road curves and twists its way through the fall foliage.  Colorful leaves along Thompson Rd. A twisting Thompson Road, surrounded by color. Pottery Road, at Warners, NY. While out waiting for a train to at Pottery Road, in Warners, NY., I spotted this sliver of yellow leaves being highlighted by the mid-afternoon sunlight.  A sliver of yellow among green. Fog shrouded hilltop along Warners Road While driving down Warners Road, I took a turn onto Sheets Road. When I turned around on Shee

On a partly cloudy morning in East Syracuse, New York, I was waiting at on the western end of CSX's DeWitt Yard for Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited. While waiting, I was able to catch two other trains at the yard. CSXT 112 and CSXT 5350 leading Q560-01 The first train I caught was Q560-01, a daily manifest freight train that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Selkirk, New York. Along the trains journey to Selkirk, it makes a stop at DeWitt Yard to drop off and pick up cars. Below, at Bridge Street, Q560 comes around the curve on Track 1 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision (STS) at CP285. Behind the bridge and train are the old New York Central coaling towers .  CSXT 112 leads Q560 at CP285 Below, CSXT 112 and CSXT 5350 lead train Q560-01 onto the New Lead, from Track 1 of the STS. The block signals on the cantilever signal bridge control the yard's departure lead tracks. Q560-01 eastbound on the New Lead at DeWitt Yard Q115 being switched by CSXT 3390 and CSXT 479 While train Q560