From late fall through early spring the NYSW sends a local crew with the SU100 train as far as Deposit NY. This is the old Erie main line to New Jersey. These early movements occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, as local crews are generally not available on Sundays.
On Tuesday March 15 I followed SU100, which left Binghamton around 2:15 PM. Because of our being on Daylight Savings Time the sun was fairly high in the sky yet, and the day was practically cloudless to boot.
Here we see the train at Kirkwood NY, south of Binghamton.
Top speed is about 25 MPH along this section of the Southern Tier, so it’s easy to catch up and pass the train for other photo locations. Assuming that school buses aren’t out on the highway, that is. Here SU100 (with the BH-1 crew) passes under at Great Bend PA.
I had plenty of time to set up in Susquehanna PA, and I caught it passing the station there.
The grade stiffens at this point, and despite 25MPH vehicular speed limits through Susquehanna and Lanesboro I beat the train to the east side of Starrucca Viaduct. The SD70M’s are beginning to smoke a bit!
Hallfway between Lanesboro and Gulf Summit NY. We are back in New York State at this point.
Approaching Gulf Summit:
Finally, the train is left at Deposit for the regular SU100 crew to take it overnight to New Jersey.
