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427 disturbed my slumber in West Boylston this morning at a time I did not bother to look at my clock but would estimate sometime in the 5 AM hour, and by the Westfield and Chester cams in the 9 AM hour.

Somehow seems fitting, being former Pan Am territory...

Your ears did not deceive you - what "sounded like" CSXT 8833 was actually correct. M427's leader today is SD40-2 8833, as evidenced under the watchful eye of the rail cam at Westfield a few minutes prior to this posting.

Are you referring to DSRX 46? They've had that car a while. I don't know its heritage.

It's not splitting hairs. The photo you provided is from an Amtrak employee timetable, not a NORAC rule book. They are two completely separate and distinct documents. Examples of both documents are publicly accessible on the internet, so it is easy to show this - NORAC rule book: http://www.cottonva...

Another to add to the list - in December 2023, CSX donated MEC Russell snow plow #82 to Downeast Scenic Railroad. It was moved over road from Northern Maine Junction to Washington Junction for preservation.

CSRR, that's an Amtrak employee timetable, not a NORAC rulebook.

Where on the Amtrak national system outside of the NEC or other Amtrak-owned lines do trains operate at 125MPH? Nowhere that I am aware of... max passenger speeds usually top out at maybe 90mph, and in most places less than that. Freight locomotive specifications (EMD SD70 and GE Evolution Series) a...

That B&M 44-tonner sure is a long way from home!

Unless CSX thinks they are influential enough to change Maine's very strict laws regarding mining (they're not), that's 11 million tons of unobtanium in them thar hills. The mine in question is also much closer to SL&A/G&W rails than CSX.

It's recalibration time, my guess... 427 doesn't typically work Worcester or West Springfield, and while they went by the unblinking eye of the Westfield railcam this morning my blinking eyes counted 3 locos and 90 cars (378 axles). That's a ways off from 86...

Our friend in Mattawamkeag and his pup need to start taking a lot more caution when they're out there kicking cinders. I don't think even the old timers up there remember trains going that fast. Wonder if there's been any community engagement about it?

The 1991 charter I rode was one of the last private charters on 5734, and one of only a few that were not operated for or under the auspices of the BSRA (this one was arranged by a railfan from Chicago named Jack Doyle). I think BSRA may have hosted one of their own a short time afterwards. Both 329...

Might be a long wait then... there have been, what? only a few hundred new freight locomotives delivered in the last five years? I just find it intriguing that there was such a big deal made of needing a new post-merger paint scheme, complete with an employee survey to elect the winning scheme, and ...

Agreed, those cars might be better off where they are for the most part. The aftermath of prior taggings has been a good, thorough, and well needed clean and wash - something that unfortunately is otherwise not a regular occurrence. Ideally the T would run 3295 on occasion. It has a pantograph, and ...