Category: Photo Section

Photos from the Pennyrail Newsletter

Norfolk and Southern at Elkart, IN

February 14, 2014 Jim Pearson No Comments Matt Gentry, Photo Section

IMG_0436

NS #8080 (possibly #8060) heads west into Robert Young rail Yard in Elkart IN in the snow on the evening of January 18, 2014.

There is actually a small story behind this photo. While I was in Elkhart for the weekend visiting some friends, I managed to get down to the depot in downtown Elkhart to watch some trains in the 18 degree weather. (I went to college, right? I should know better, right?) Later that evening while leaving a local eating establishment I realized that we were back downtown. The horn and crossing gates lowering clued me in, and I sprinted off down the street so I could get THE shot. I have wanted a snow shot for quite some time. Luckily, my iPhone 5S takes great photos and this shot happened. It wasn’t until I looked on my computer that I even realized that the moon was in the shot. I’m pretty happy with the photo.

Back at the car, my friends thought I was in the car and were preparing to leave before realizing I was gone. I’m glad they waited. I was not dressed as warm as I was during the day…and it was now ten degrees outside!  – Matt Gentry”

The FFV by Bob McCord

January 20, 2014 Jim Pearson No Comments Photo Section
The FFV was one of three named C&O main line trains (the other two being the "George Washington" and the "Sportsman"). The FFV specialized in handling Pullman traffic from the east (in addition to Washington, a number of through cars from New York via the PRR) to the famous Greenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, WV. The late evening departure from Washington was tailored for an early AM arrival at the Greenbrier, where several sleepers were dropped. To the west, No. 3 served as a daytime train for coach traffic across WV into OH, as well as a means of moving significant amounts of head-end traffic, as evident from the baggage cars and RPO. The last two cars in the consist are from the C&O fleet of 10-6 sleepers, all named for cities and towns along the main line
The FFV was one of three named C&O main line trains (the other two being the “George Washington” and the “Sportsman”). The FFV specialized in handling Pullman traffic from the east (in addition to Washington, a number of through cars from New York via the PRR) to the famous Greenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, WV. The late evening departure from Washington was tailored for an early AM arrival at the Greenbrier, where several sleepers were dropped. To the west, No. 3 served as a daytime train for coach traffic across WV into OH, as well as a means of moving significant amounts of head-end traffic, as evident from the baggage cars and RPO. The last two cars in the consist are from the C&O fleet of 10-6 sleepers, all named for cities and towns along the main line.