I'm starting to consider myself more than an amateur photographer. I have had my website for years now. It is time for my photos to be share with the outside world, not just to rail fans. There are a few websites out there that are viewed by other photographers. Two that come into my mind are Flicker (www.flicker.com) and PBASE (www.pbase.com). I have recently opened an account with Flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/clevelandtrains/) and soon at PBASE. I'm still trying to figure out which site to go with. Maybe for more exposer I should use both. Updates will follow about this subject.

Happy Holidays!

Once again, I'm in Philly, home to a lot of things. I will admit that I have not found any nice rail fan spots to hang out at yet. I did make one huge mistake by going on the Ben Franklin Bridge to explore New Jersey. I soon found out that I was in Camden. Man. The homes are really old, most seemed to be boarded up or gutted for anything that could bring a quick buck at the scrap yard. It kind of reminded me of the HBO TV series, The Wire. There were drug dealers on a lot of the streets, ladies of the night working during the day and crack heads looking for some dope. It was a sight to see. After driving around for about 10 minutes and looking at this sad place, I found my way back to the Ben Franklin Bridge and headed back over to Philly. I had to pay a three dollar toll to cross back over. I asked the toll collector ‘What the fuck happened over here?” He had no real answer while he passed me my change. I wonder what he thought about my statement.

I was driving back to my sister’s home on I 95. While driving, an Amtrak train came up on the left of me. I was going about 70mph or so and was able to pace the train for a few seconds. What was so cool abut this moment that this train was so quite. No GE or EMD locomotives smoking at 80 mph. Pretty cool sight.

I have found some old maps of the rail lines and yards in the metro Cleveland area. One map dates map back to 1934 http://www.railsandtrails.com/Maps/Cleveland/CleveMap-100a.jpg
No date on this map and no color http://www.railsandtrails.com/Maps/Cleveland/ClevelandRRMap-100.jpg

How do you start a locomotive with weak batteries? You jump it. Kind of like jump starting your car, but only with a lot more juice. This past Saturday, I got to help and see this happen to a Alco RS3 locomotive. This old lady did put out a lot of smoke at first. Then she started to do a slow chug. With each chug, more smoke would puff out. As the chug became quicker, more smoke came out. Soon, she was running on her own power and the smoke died down some. If you have a chance on November 25, come down and see her running. See the post below for details.

It has been some time since I have updated my blog. During this time, I have been very busy with work and volunteering. Yes volunteering. I joined the Midwest Railway Historical Society (http://www.midwestrailway.org/). It is a small group of folks with a vision to restore an old B&O roundhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. If you happen to be in interested in looking at the equipment, learning about the past, come on out to to the open house on November 25, 2007.

I will post pictures of some of the equipment. The coolest thing that I personally like is GTW 4070. 4070 is an old USRA light Mikado steam locomotive. I hope to be part of the group helps to bring life back to this unit.

I hope to see you at the open house!

Well, there was a big time train derailment in Painesville, Ohio on CSX. No on is sure what caused this derailment. I'm pretty sure that they will get down to the root cause of this one soon.

Here is a link to a thread at Trainorders - http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1509910

R.J.Corman is at the scene. I have seen these guys in action once. They will have there work this time removing the wrecked cars.

Norfolk Southern runs a coal train that comes from the Powder River Basin. This train starts somewhere on the BNSF. I'm guessing that it changes hands in Chicago. Somewhere a NS unit with cab signals gets added for the Cleveland Line. This line once belonged to the famous Pennsylvania Railroad. Some trains make there run over the Cleveland Line at track speed while others crawl. Amtrak's Capitol Limited glides along this line at a pretty good clip. There is a coal train that heads west that receives helpers on the rear end. I'm not sure where this train starts at.

Here is a picture of the coal train mentioned above. A trio of EMD SD70 series units (NS SD70M and BNSF SD70MAC) working hard to pull PRB coal upgrade near downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

I have posted questions about the GP39 at the following links:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1498636
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20158

In the April 1992 issue of Trains magazine, there is an article "Run 8 to Apex" by Kevin EuDaly. Apex was located on the Johns Creek subdivision in Kentucky. In Kevin's article, he briefly talks about the C&O locomotives assigned this coal hauling division. From his pictures, it looks like the C &O used GP7/9's, GP38's and GP39's to haul cool over the Johns Creek sub. The ride up to Apex hit 3% causing these units to run in the red zone in run 8 with wheels slipping and engines screaming off the mountains.

While out today taking pictures, I had a chance to find a GP39. It not too often that you find a GP39 on any Class 1 railroad today. EMD only produced 23 units; 20 ended up on the C&O. No long hauling coal in Kentucky, CSX 4298 (C&O 3918) is now configured as a remote control unit.
I wonder if this unit ever had to go over Apex........

I created a "pen" name, Boomer Hoghead. My favorite author inspired me, Samuel Clemens. Most boys of his era who grew up along the great Mississippi dreamed of working on a steamboat and maybe becoming a river captain. So I guess that while learning the trade and terms of being a riverboat man, he picked his pen name. Mark Twain" (meaning "Mark number two") was a Mississippi River term: the second mark on the line that measured depth signified two fathoms, or twelve feet—safe depth for the steamboat. So what that in mind, I searched for a suitable railroad name. I decided to combine two terms from the railroad. Boomer is a person who has worked for many railroads due to the lack of work on the roads. Hoghead is a old term for engineer. So I just combined the two to form Boomer Hoghead.


Over at Trainorders.com, there is a post at about the term Boomer. Check it out at http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1454469

Here is a post about a F40 being used in work train service. I never liked what Amtrak did to these locomotives to make them ready for freight service.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1454008

I am current in the state of Kentucky on I75. I must admit while riding in the car, I have been pondering the old days. Yes, them days when there was passenger trains to take you to cities far and near, big and small, rich and poor. These days are long gone. Most of us either drive or fly. We love traveling this way that Greyhound is feeling the hurt. I just heard a few stories from my mother about riding the bus down south to visit family. She makes it seem like 100 years ago but it was just the 60's. With gas prices hovering over 3 dollars and some folks saying that this might be the year of 4, something must be done. Another fuel source or a band new type of engine that will allow you to travel 200 miles on a single gallon. I don't want to tell my grand kids about the good days of driving my Chevy across country in a car powered by gas, telling them about the smell of it and the different types.

Over at Trainorders.com, there is a post about an Amtrak water rumor; http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,1415509

I have been on many Amtrak trains that have been filled at many different points while in route and never seen or heard anything like this before. By no means do I think this rumor is true.

This weekend, I am in the city of brotherly love, Philly. I have not been out taking any pictures of trains this weekend. But I did get a chance to see an Amtrak train of Amfleet cars but push by a eletric locomotive. I was really impress2d by the speed. It had to be going about a 100 miles an hour. I guessed if I blinked, I would have missed it completely. I have been to Germany and a chance to ride an ICE train. I wonder what it is like to travel at high speeds on Amtrak. Maybe it is time for an adventure.

Natef40Amtrak out

Back in 2000, there was a discussion over at Trainorders about the different models of locomotives used by Amtrak. Somehow, this discussion turned why Amtrak should rebuild it's F40 fleet. I was strongly against rebuilding these machines from a business standpoint. A lot of railfans forget that railroads are in business to move freight in a way that will make them money. One of those ways involves saving fuel. Running locomotives that sucks down thousands of extra gallons a years does not help the cause. To prove this point, the MRL was able to buy 16 new EMD SD70MACe locomotives that saved 20% in fuel over their current SD45. I bet the savings in fuel alone pays for the lease on MRL new locomotives easy.

Back to the F40. Recently, Via rebuilt F40 6400 (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=174604). I am not sure of all the upgrades involved in the rebuilding process. It will be interesting to see if Via rebuilds more.

I am still learning how to take better pictures with my camera. My new format to take pictures is RAW. I will let you know how that turns out.

It is still snowing here in Cleveland. Yes, I said snow. And once again, 48 is late. Maybe I will go try to catch him at Collinwood again today.

What in the world is going on? Why is it snowing out side on April 7. 2007? This is crazy. Never the less, it was great to get some last pictures trains in action in the snow. For some reason, the Lakeshore Limited can not get over NS for nothing. Do not place any bets on this train because you will be broke.

Pictures of the Lakeshore Limited enter Collinwood yard.









Sad news, MRL is sending some SD45 models to the junk yard. It was only a matter of time after the newer SD70MACe units arrived. CN has also retired its fleet of SD45's.

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17746

Another day spent track side waiting for a late Amtrak train. This time it is #29, The Capitol Limited running from Washington DC to Chicago. Some freight train cars are on the ground (derailed) either on NS or CSX. I bet the folks on board are not too happy right now. Them poor souls are stuck on this train until they reach their destination. For those that are transferring to another train west in Chicago will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, Amtrak has a spare set of passenger cars to put together for tonights #30. If not, another daylight Amtrak through Cleveland. As the saying goes, late trains only get later......

I was able to find CSX F40 9999 at Collinwood yard. This is ex-Amtrak unit 288, built in 6/1978, build number 777063-9. At some point this unit was retired from Amtrak, then in 2003, the Ohio Central RR purchased 288.

Enjoy the pictures from today.
http://www.clevelandtrains.net/emd710/station/33107/index.htm

Well, spring is here again. Along with spring comes more daylight hours and warmer temps. I have been track side a lot more this year already due to my new toy. So far, I have about 400 new pictures taken with the new camera. Some shots are good, some are bad. But like with anything, there is a learning curve.

Amtrak is having some problems getting train numbers 30 and 48 out of the Chicago on time and over NS. This kind of remind me of the Conrail meltdown. After NS and CSX split up Conrail, it became very common to see Amtrak trains in Cleveland at sunrise. I will have to dig those pictures up and post them......

I will be using more Adobe products to update the site. I am looking forward to the results.

Stay posted.......

My website is now up and running again. There was a small problem with the DSL router.

I have been out and about taking pictures with the new camera. I will update the site with some new photos from the soon.

After about two years of talking about purchasing a new camera, I have finally did it. I said so long to my 4 mega pixel A85 and hello to my new Canon Rebel XTi. I try to get out and take pictures after work and on the weekends. Here are two examples from the new Rebel. I must first warn you that these pictures are huge and might take a few seconds to download.



I think I will have a great time with my new camera. Look for more new pictures for Clevelandtrains.net

I am coming back. Yes indeed! New camera is on the way. That means new pictures to post!

But in the mean time, here are some videos and pictures from the KLYE Railroad. The KYLE Railroad is located in Kanasas.
http://www.dropshots.com/geoaco33
http://www.ngdiscussion.net/cgi-bin/NGDFcook.pl?noframes;read=87273

Map of the KLYE
http://www.railamerica.com/railmaps/KYLE.htm

Enjoy!

I am having some trouble posting....

One interesting post to share. The Ohio Central has sold a couple of F units to a short line. You can follow this post here, http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1320586

One of the units on the move is ex-Milwaukee Road 82C.

One interesting post to share. The Ohio Central has sold a couple of F units to a short line. You can follow this post here, http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1320586,

One of the units on the move is ex-Milwaukee Road 82C.

One interesting post to share. The Ohio Central has sold a couple of F units to a short line. You can follow this post here, http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,1320586,

One of the units on the move is ex-Milwaukee Road 82C.