I saw the train at Jamesburg today at 3:00PM. For the most part, the rain held off so it was possible to get some pictures. Power was CSX 2721 (CR Paint) and CSX 4441 (Dark Future Paint). Like last year, there was a caboose, painted in CSX gray and yellow, but lettered for Conrail (IIRC, it was #21241).
The train came from Freehold with 2721 leading, 4441 in the middle, and the caboose at the end. How did the train run to Freehold though? Was the 4441 leading and then the power ran around the caboose there?
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Browns Yard 2004 Santa Train
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transit383 wrote:I saw the train at Jamesburg today at 3:00PM. For the most part, the rain held off so it was possible to get some pictures. Power was CSX 2721 (CR Paint) and CSX 4441 (Dark Future Paint). Like last year, there was a caboose, painted in CSX gray and yellow, but lettered for Conrail (IIRC, it was #21241).I believe and years past, they did a reverse move with the caboose.
The train came from Freehold with 2721 leading, 4441 in the middle, and the caboose at the end. How did the train run to Freehold though? Was the 4441 leading and then the power ran around the caboose there?
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I first photographed the train at Tenant enroute to Freehold. CSX GP40-2 4441 was leading the consist on the way in. I also got some photos as the train past the old Freehold Furniture caboose. It started raining at about 1:10 p.m., just after my son got his picture taken. After a quick break for lunch, I headed over to Builders General Supply on Throckmorton Street. That is where the consist was rearranged to keep the caboose last and have CSX GP38-2 2721 leading. The consist was ready to head west by the time I got there, and I did get some photos before the left.
On the westbound move, I got some photos in Englishtown as the light rain continued and then at Jamesburg. The rain had pretty much stopped as I got some photos of the train from the side of the lake, then some photos as the train started its approach with the fire engine escort.
The Freehold portion was well attended as the line for Santa stretched from the station to Broad Street.
On the westbound move, I got some photos in Englishtown as the light rain continued and then at Jamesburg. The rain had pretty much stopped as I got some photos of the train from the side of the lake, then some photos as the train started its approach with the fire engine escort.
The Freehold portion was well attended as the line for Santa stretched from the station to Broad Street.
I got the first two batches of photos scanned and loaded into my website. I still have to finish the photos from Jamesburg, but here are the photos from Tenant, Freehold and Englishtown.
http://octrainguy.com/Santa2004.html
http://octrainguy.com/Santa2004.html
The employees who volunteer and run the train and their families and Santa are the only ones who ride in the train. Santa will pose in front of one of the engines with the children as they get their photo taken.
It is actually Browns Yard (Conrail Shared Assets) employees and the Freehold Borough Police Dept. who organizes this. They will use engines that are currently assigned to the yard. A few years ago they had a PRR/NS GP38 and a CSX GP38-2 running the train.
It is actually Browns Yard (Conrail Shared Assets) employees and the Freehold Borough Police Dept. who organizes this. They will use engines that are currently assigned to the yard. A few years ago they had a PRR/NS GP38 and a CSX GP38-2 running the train.