T.G.'s Photography Blog

I001 is westbound, passing through CP 291 of the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision.    I001 , the once-a-week westbound UPS priority train, came through Syracuse, New York, today. I caught the train as it came west through Control Point (CP) 291 on the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. CP 291 sits along the southeastern edge of Onondaga Lake. At 196 axles, the entire train can be seen in the photograph above. The green colored bridge behind the eastbound signal bridge is I-81. The westbound signal bridge stands on the east side of the interstate.  The slight hill the train is coming over is the bridge over Onondaga Creek . Photograph taken on November 29, 2022, at Syracuse, New York.

I004 is eastbound, rolling under the eastward signal bridge at CP 286.   CSXT 7210 is leading intermodal train I004-24 (Bedford Park, Illinois, to South Kearny, New Jersey) through Control Point (CP) 286 on CSX's Syracuse Terminal Subdivision. The train is passing under the eastbound absolute signals which control tracks 7, 2, 1, and 8 (left to right). To the left of the train is the east end of Track 7.  Photograph taken on November 25, 2022, at East Syracuse, New York.

  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.

  NYSW 3618 shoves a cut of tank cars west towards the I-690 overpass. New York Susquehanna and Western (NYSW) 3618 is switching a cut of tank cars on the NYSW track next to CSX's Syracuse Terminal Subdivision . The locomotive had pulled the cut of tank cars east under the I-690 overpass (above, in the background) to clear a switch and then began shoving the cars west. NYSW 3618 is a SD45-2. The locomotive was built as a SD45 for the Burlington Northern (BN) Railroad in 1971.  A straight-on view of NYSW 3618 as it shoves east. Photographs taken on November 3, 2022, at Syracuse, New York.

With some fall colors behind it, P284-18 rounds the curve just to the east of Bridge Street.  AMTK 711 is leading Amtrak Empire Service train 284 east at CP 285 of CSX's Syracuse Terminal Subdivision . 284, known as P284 on CSX, is coming around the curve on Track 2 between CP 286 and CP 285. P284 runs daily from Niagara Falls, New York, to New York City.  Photograph taken on October 18, 2022, at East Syracuse, New York.

CSXT 120 leads I001-25 under the westbound cantilever signal bridge at CP 286.   CSXT 120, still in CSX's YN2 paint scheme, leads last Tuesday's UPS Hotshot priority train I001-25 west at Control Point (CP) 286 . CP 286 is on the Syracuse Terminal Subdivision in East Syracuse, New York. I001  will pass under the westbound signal bridge just east of Burnet Avenue. In the background are the old New York Central (NYC) coaling towers. Photograph taken on October 25, 2022, at East Syracuse, New York.