Into the Snowbelt on the Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern

On Feb 7th, I had the opportunity to chase the MA&N as it brought a single covered hopper from Utica-Boonville, a distance of 35 miles.

The Utica-Boonville section is 35 miles long and may see a train once a week or so.

Quite a bit of snow & ice can accumulate.

The crew then proceeded north out of Boonville on the 10 mile segment to Lyons Falls, clearing the line for the eventual placement of a few hundred empty covered hoppers.

A MOW crew followed the train, carefully checking to make sure it was safe to proceed through each crossing.

I made a short video showing a colloection of photos taken that day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs6wVhfqF6U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, here are three photos:

1) Nearing Potato Hill Rd, Boonville.

2) Checking out the Potato Hill Rd crossing.

3) Spotting the hopper at Bailey's Mill.

Very nice.

I've been to Lyons Falls while working an excursion, but not during the winter. Get enough of that during Polar Express...

Wonderful photos, Mr. UT-1!

Charlie

Peer Gynt suite. Inspired. Well done.

MA&N 2042 ran Utica-Port Leyden yesterday to open the line for storage of more tank cars north of Boonville. Here are a few photos from yesterday's run:

1. Meeting snowfall from blockbuster winter storm "Stella" while approaching Dean Rd, Boonville, early afternoon, March 16th.

2. A going-away shot.

3. Having just passed by a farm crossing, northbound, Port Leyden, approx 41.5 miles north of Utica.

Cars now stored at Lyons Falls - quite the surprise when I went through there on 12 the other day.

On March 17th, the MA&N took 31 tank cars to Port Leyden where they were placed in storage (joining other tankers previously placed north of Boonville).

Here is a link to a short video made as the train passed through Remsen: https://youtu.be/lq-5CZ37HZc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, here are 3 pictures:

1. Depart Utica, 10:10 am.

2. Nearing Dean Rd, Boonville, 11:32.

3. Another view approaching Dean Rd.

MWHA took more cars north today - I heard them on the air but didn't see the train. They'll have some 700 cars in storage when they get done.

Do they ever run on Saturday?

Nice photos, thanks for sharing!

Matt Langworthy wrote:Do they ever run on Saturday?

Normally, no.

Unless they're out of room in the Utica yard and need to get more cars north in a hurry, I doubt they will.

On March 24th, the MA&N took more tank cars north of Boonville for storage.

Here's a short video showing the freight passing through Remsen:

https://youtu.be/oQO9PrpeWwQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is a very short video (86 sec) showing still photos from 2042's March 16th solo run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCF8rhqnVUY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There was an article in today's Watertown Daily Times about the car storage.

I've heard they will have around 700 on the line.

Incredible how that oil boom came and went. A year or so ago we were talking about serious capacity issues because of oil trains. Now every short line with an extra siding is packed with tank cars and we're wondering how the class 1s will fill up the extra capacity left by the collapse of coal.

Heck, it was big news out by me when a shuttered railcar factory was being reopened, just to build oil tank cars. I think it was in Milton, PA.

Been an interesting couple of years.

Sorry to stray off topic. Pictures got me thinking.