I Want To Touch You With The Feather Of Forgiveness

Around Another Bend, The Giant Drivers Roll

A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity do some railfan photography; and planned to get trackside after paying a brief visit to my grandfather. He was in residence for physical therapy for two weeks at an area nursing home, and when I visited he had just come back from the gym. I didn't want to overtax him, so we chatted for a little while and I got rolling. 

My plan was to photograph some of the locations along the Bessemer & Lake Erie, especially some things that might be going away soon. I planned on making my start at the north signal protecting the siding near Ivywood. I pulled up to the spot, where there's a place to pull off of the road next to the signal. I got my camera ready, and as I was opening the door of the car, I heard a noise I didn't expect. I turned to look up the tracks and there was a southbound coming right then and there!

I grabbed the above shot and dashed to the south end of the siding. I actually had to wait for them to come in sight, briefly; and then took the next couple shots. Coming...

...and going.

After another dash south, to Culmerville, I found a decent vantage point on the bridge crossing the Bessemer line in town. This turned out to be a fantastic shot, I think.

Last but not least, I was able to get to Harmarville, and get these two photos of the train crossing the bridge over the Allegheny River. A zoom lens would have been nice here. Have to save up.

I could have used a better vantage point I found while poking around after the train disappeared, incidentally. Crossing the Gulf Lab Road bridge over the Turnpike would have given a clearer shot. Next time!

Also I was just in time to catch Norfolk Southern passing the PPG paint plant and the Cheswick power plant.

Quite a full day.

Old Man, Look At My Life

Hey, guess what? Neil Young turns 70 today! You know what that means? Neil Young is OLD.

Happy ironic birthday, Neil!

He Was Driving Down The Right Lane When Ahead He Saw A Sign

Your tax trillions, in some form or another (PennDOT, education, PennDOT education), at work.