A couple weeks ago we bought a new truck for the business up in Harrisburg. On the last trip to dispatch the old reliable Subaru, we stopped for ice cream in Duncannon (like you do), and as I was lamenting how overgrown the tree line had become that obscures the view of the main line, I heard the rumble of diesels, and through the foliage caught a glimpse of bright yellow as the westbound train gathered speed after crossing the Rockville Bridge. I declared the ice cream break was thence concluded, and made a dash for my new (to me) steed, and the race was on.
I knew Newport would be a challenge, as 322 runs away from the river there, and it's a lengthy run down to town. There was no way I'd catch a train that was by then going 70 mph.
Next was Millerstown, which I'm less familiar with, but I thought I might make it. Rho was navigating the GPS, but I was foiled by a 30 mph town street. By the time I got the bridge across the Juniata, all I could see was the tops of speeding containers flying under the overpass.
The next opportunity would be Thompsontown, but it presented both of the above obstacles, a long ride down to the river, plus a Main Street to negotiate before the river crossing. So we stayed on 322 to try to make time toward Lewistown. Then Rho pointed out a route that would bring us into Lewistown closer to the depot, since there was a dreaded red blob appearing on the GPS where a cone zone on 22 had things murderously tangled. The route included a river crossing and Mowry Street, which runs parallel to the tracks for a few blocks at Mifflin.
As luck would have it, we arrived before the train, and could see the signal bridge from the highway overpass, displaying high greens. We had beat the train! Now to find a spot to get a shot at it. Mowry is on the south side of the tracks, so the lighting was crisp and perfect, and we found a pull off that offered enough of a gap in the foliage to get the first shot. Less than ideal, it won't make it with the RailPictures crowd, but I like the drama of it. Just pay no mind to the big finger up in the left hand corner. In fact, it was my left hand!
Note that the scenery in the background was hand crafted by
@Dave V .
Knowing we were a short distance from Lewistown, I figured that would be that. But my navigator pointed out that 333 more or less parallels the tracks all the way into town, so what the heck. Maybe we catch an eastbound. For a bit we ran alongside the train, admiring its colorful double stack containers... Then inexplicably, it began to slow down. There's a steep curve in the river east of Hawstone, so perhaps there's a speed limit coming into town, or perhaps there's a speed limit for the approach to Lewistown station, but either way, by the time we got to Hawstone, we were in front of the train. There was a chance we could snap it again at the Depot.
My hope was to get across the tracks thru the subway to the eastbound platform so I could compose the shot with good lighting and the beautifully restored depot in the background. Now, bear in mind, the last time I was in Lewistown was perhaps 1987 when such a maneuver would be possible. Somewhere in the intervening years, the subway was filled with concrete, and the eastbound platform was long gone... I had to settle for the north side of the tracks, which turned out to be fine. As it was, I didn't have much time to set up the shot (i.e. get my phone out of my pocket) because the train was upon us pretty quickly.
Anyway, it was a great way to break in the new truck. It stayed right side up, and I never had to engage the 4x4 to get myself out of trouble. I have Rho to thank for that! She got this shot of me getting my shot. I think this one wins the day.
