Train Photos

Immediately after departing the Raleigh Amtrak Station, northbound-route (southeast-traveling) trains must cross several bridges along the straight, tree-shielded North Carolina Railroad mainline. One would not guess by appearances that these photos were taken within a quarter-mile of Raleigh’s tallest buildings.

NC State has done a good job screening and fencing the railroad running through its campus. As such, there aren’t many good vantage points for photographing. Illustrated here are northbound Amtraks on west campus.

Amtrak’s northbound Silver Star (Train 92) will stop at the Raleigh station for several minutes when it is running on time. The photos below show the train there in early June.

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley announced today an initiative to add within a year a third round trip Amtrak between Charlotte and Raleigh, citing heavy demand for service:

“Ridership is increasing significantly along this route and adding a midday train run will meet the growing demand and provide needed services to North Carolina travelers who are looking for economical alternatives to driving,” Easley said. “As fuel prices continue to climb, more and more people are turning to rail as their choice for transportation.”

From October 2007 to April 2008, ridership was up more than 22 percent with 197,126 travelers riding either the Piedmont or Carolinian trains. On the Piedmont (trains 73 and 74) ridership was up almost 26 percent from 28,309 to 35,681 passengers; the Carolinian (trains 79 and 80) was up 18 percent from 136,358 to 161,445.

The state has obtained federal funds to get the train into service:

The estimated cost to operate the additional route is $3 million a year. The money will come from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.

“Federal funds are going to cover startup and operational costs for the next three years, so it’s a win-win,” said Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. “Riding the train offers a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly way to travel.”

The press release doesn’t get into operational details, but the present Piedmont lays over in Charlotte for over 7 hours prior to returning to Raleigh, where the service is based. I would imagine the morning equipment will turn around and depart around noon, with the evening train using the equipment from a new Raleigh departure of about the same time.

May 16th featured typical morning action in Greensboro. First, shown from overhead, is Amtrak Piedmont Train 73, led by NC DOT F59PHI no. 1755. Next was a nice set of matched SD60s on a Norfolk Southern local, harkening back to the late 80s. Amtrak Carolinian Train 80 followed along soon, clearing the mainline south of Greensboro for the local.

The Norfolk Southern mainline at the GTCC campus in Jamestown, NC is classic train watching spot. This Monday morning saw first the southbound Amtrak Piedmont Train 73, led by NC DOT locomotive no. 1792. Shortly thereafter was the northbound Amtrak Carolinian Train 80, led by P42DC no. 22.

Later in the morning was the odd sight of a Railmax rig, a multi-trailer semi-tractor pulled weed clearing vehicle. Lastly was a quick-moving southbound Norfolk Southern intermodal freight train, led by a trio of GE 4,000hp road diesels.

Yesterday was Amtrak’s first “National Train Day”, so we took the occasion to catch up with three of North Carolina’s Amtrak trains. The first was Carolinian Train 80, led by P42DC no. 178, spotted in Durham County. The second was the other Carolinian, southbound Train 79, in Elon, NC. P42DC no.6 pulled this train, which included an ex-Louisville and Nashville coach on the rear. Last was the Piedmont Train 74 at Burlington’s Company Shops Station.

Two afternoon visits to Greensboro’s Pomona Yard yielded a variety of action. Forthcoming posts will cover local P30 dispatched along the K-line to Winston-Salem and the a coal train dispatched south down the CF-line. This post includes a few locomotive shots, as well as a departing mixed freight behind an ex-Conrail SD60M.

I’ve recently posted a few images of the Amtrak Carolinian from this May. All feature the standard Carolinian Amfleet consist led by a GE Genesis P42DC locomotive.

Tax day provided a good excuse to be in downtown Burlington, NC during the evening. Amtrak P42DC no. 16 led the late-as-usual Carolinian Train 79 en route from Durham.