PL-1 Job Central Connecticut PAS Pan Am Southern

[Otto Vondrak]

Ah the PL-1, jack of all trades. Like Christopher Columbus sailing for the New World, the PL-1 departs East Deerfield some fateful morning, it's crew and cargo never sure when they might return to see their families again. Doggedly following branch lines this way and that, the hearty PL-1 crew eventually makes their way to central Connecticut, and eventually, the territory of commuter leviathan Metro-North... who dares to operate freight on Metro-North??!! The PL-1!!

All photos April 19, 2008. At Beacon Falls, with the flatcar of cable from Kerite in Seymour, CT:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... be21ff.jpg

Pulling past block limit WATER, leaving Metro-North and entering track operated by the Naugatuck Railroad:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... d8340e.jpg

NO MNRR TRAINS PAST THIS POINT! WE MEAN IT! STAY OUT! Crossing the bridge over Freight Street in Waterbury, CT:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 4767f7.jpg

Northbound at Hancock Dam, CT:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 6f6a54.jpg

Enjoy!

[Engineer Spike]

I grew up in this area. Plainville is my home town. There are only a few units that can go there, at least as leaders. These units, 350-353 have cab signals for Amtrak. They replaced the GP39s, which were stolen (reassigned) from the D&H, in this service.

[MEC407]

Great shots and awesome narrative!

[bwparker1]

Otto:

Is there any sort of GRS crew or engine still based in Plainville, CT?

BWP

[tj48]

Love that flat car and load. It's the kind of car and load that you would think you would only find on a model railroad. How often does that customer get serviced?

[H.F.Malone]

"How often does that customer get serviced?"

Define "serviced". It seems Kerite was waiting for that car to arrive as an empty for loading out since July 2007. They were (are) not very pleased with their "service".

[tj48]

Silly me, I forgot I was asking a question about Guilford, Pan Am (whatever they call themselves).

[tj48]

Do you think there is joy in the Kerite boardroom with the new PAN AM SOUTHERN annoucement? Or will the service be the same only with a "borrowed" NS engine?

[gprimr1]

I knew I heard the Hallelujah chorus coming from somewhere yesterday.

Actually in all seriousness, NS's powerpoint does show CT tracks as part of the investment area.

[edbac333]

Chances may be pretty slim,but maybe,just maybe we can get Suburban propane in Derby returning to rail service.
Also possibly Tilcon in Waterbury will return to rail service.
(Once track is back in shape,of course)

[newpylong]

Heard there is a scrap deal down there dying for rail service but there is a small stretch of land inbetween him and the tracks that neither him nor the RR owns, and the guy won't sell. I would assume if the NS wants the business, this guy would be gobbled up.

[H.F.Malone]

Track to Tilcon in Waterbury is now ripped up, gone, removed. Looks like it was done within the last 6 months.

[Otto Vondrak]

Did they call it the PL-1 when Tom Nelligan snapped this photo at Beacon Falls in 1982?

http://railroad.net/articles/railfannin ... m_n-13.jpg

[TomNelligan]

Otto, that was train WA-1, which originated in Waterbury and covered the Naugatuck Valley trackage between Torrington and Derby. At the time the B&M also ran a night job between Waterbury and Berlin, plus the Canal Line local that originated at Plainville and ran north and south from there on now mostly abandoned trackage.

[Ale Rider]

"Define "serviced". It seems Kerite was waiting for that car to arrive as an empty for loading out since July 2007. They were (are) not very pleased with their "service"."

Is this for real? I know Guilford has issues but secen months to produce a single flat car seems outlandish. How can Kerite do business with those kinds of transportation issues. Do they ship more than a carload or two a year?