420 for many years now has been assigned to the Lakeville-Rochester run..which means its spends 50% of its time running forward,
and 50% of its time running in reverse!
Locomotives are not turned..
LAL has no turning facilities of their own..and they arent needed anyway.
There are a few wyes in Rochester if they ever did feel the need to turn a locomotive.
Here is a shot of 420 running forward back to Lakeville, (note the "F" in the front) hauling the "Traveler".. which is running backwards.
When the train came from Lakeville up to Rochester, 420 was running in the lead, backwards, (short hood forward) hauling the Traveler behind it,
which was running forwards! in the proper observation car fashion, with the observation deck at the rear of the train.
they switched the loco to the other side of the car at Genesee Junction. (or maybe Brooks ave..not sure which.)
Unfortunately that was the only good shot I got of the special "Traveler move" that day...I caught it behind Southtown Plaza
as it was heading back home to Avon...not the greatest location for photos, but I snapped a few pics anyway!
420 and 425 are the normal pair that do the run up to Rochester.
coming North from Lakeville, 420 leads with short hood forward, technically running in reverse..but its better that way for visability probably:
(the train is moving towards me here, on the run from Lakeville to Rochester...coming up from Lakeville, there would be a train behind the locos,
running with 420 in the lead..at this particular location, they have left
the train behind in Henrietta and are running light into Genesee Junction.)
Returning south from Rochester back to Lakeville, 425 leads, running cab-forward, which of course is "forward" for 425:
Scot