The 0815 view from Rte. 2 on 10-01-2011 made it look like PAS was putting on a static display for the nearby annual Gardner train show. On 1 was what D-3 would later call an auto extra with NSs 8378 and 8360 a la elephant, and on 2 -- to maintain the train-show theme -- was a kit-bashed NS 8814 (the Dash-9 C-40 with the EMD cab and nose) leading an LCT. What the LCT trailers were I couldn't tell because 8378 and 8360 were too far east and I didn't want to pick up a trespass charge by leaving the friendly confines of the Jade lot. Both EBs were facing triple reds, but D-3 wasn't doing much talking, so there could either have been another EB descending Da Hill or a spurious shunt. At 0908, the LCT caught a middle green, and at 0922, D-3 called the LCT, but didn't catch a response. Having an urgent mission at Home Despot, I headed headed east on Rte. 2, just in time for D-3 to call and get a response from the LCT at 0925. The response to the question of when departure would take place was as follows: "As soon as we knock off 95 handbrakes, we'll be going." That eliminated any temptation on my part to reverse course. That also eliminated any lingering regrets about my not being part of a train crew. Gardner was doing a very good impression of the inside of a carwash.
Further down Da Hill at Wachusett was a stopped ECT on 1 with NSs 9819 and 7500.
After an inquiry from MEC407, a trip to the NS forum and some subsequent reading helped teach me the difference between D-9s and D-9Ws. In the matter of kit-bashing mentioned above, to go all Emily Litella, never mind.
Further down Da Hill at Wachusett was a stopped ECT on 1 with NSs 9819 and 7500.
After an inquiry from MEC407, a trip to the NS forum and some subsequent reading helped teach me the difference between D-9s and D-9Ws. In the matter of kit-bashing mentioned above, to go all Emily Litella, never mind.
"A gray crossover is definitely not company transportation."