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passing through rural farm country, com- plete with horses resting in the fields. I found a driveway that offered safe access to photograph the meet. The northbound Adirondack pulled right up to the signal and waited for its southbound counterpart. The railfan I met in Port Henry joined me and we set up for the meet. Sunset was called for 4:30, but the mountains easily rob an hour’s worth of that time or more. As the clock ticked closer to 3:00, we were dangerously close to losing the light altogether. Our ears perked up when we heard “Amtrak 68” re- port clear of Westport station (the next stop north). The sun was just tickling the tops of the trees when we finally heard air horns announcing the southbound’s arrival. The next few seconds were a blur of activity as I attempted to use both film and digital to record the event: First the two trains side by side, then the two Budd domes passing each other, and then whipping around to get the going away shot as the Evangeline Park (VIA 8704) scurried out of sight around the bend. Wow!


By now long shadows had fallen all across the North Country, but I had an idea that I could beat the train back to Saratoga Springs with enough time to set up a few ambient-light night shots while it was stopped. The chase was on! Except it wasn’t. I turned the ignition and nothing happened. Apparently I left my four-ways on too long and drained the bat- tery. Resigning myself to ending the chase a bit early, I dialed Triple-A and requested service. To my pleasant surprise, help ar- rived quickly, and I was back on the road! By


now the southbound Adirondack had a half- hour head start on me, so I just enjoyed the ride home, retracing my steps back to the Thruway. I reflected on the day’s events, and actually felt pretty good about what I had accomplished. I managed to capture the train in a variety of locations in good light, and I learned more about the D&H North End in the process. Purely by chance, just as I was passing


through Fort Edward and over Rogers Is- land, so was the Adirondack. I glanced over to see the stainless steel streamliner glide over the bridge, punctuated by the unmis- takable glow coming from the dome lounge disappearing into the woods. It was a fine way to end a good chase. Speaking with some friends at Amtrak I learned that the VIA equipment performed flawlessly, and that the on-board staff en- joyed working on it. The experience received high marks from the traveling public as well. The only drawback was that the coach- es would not clear third rail, which meant the VIA set was only operating as far south as Albany, requiring another Amtrak set to continue the journey south towards New York City. Even if the equipment could be modified for the trip down the Hudson River, the dome would still be switched off at Al- bany as it wouldn’t clear the tunnel ap- proaches to Penn Station. It was a wonderful and somewhat surreal experience chasing VIA equipment operat- ing in Amtrak service across the Lake Champlain region of New York State. Maybe it’s time to start planning that trip to Cana- da after all… — OTTOM. VONDRAK


Start


training here.


Go to www.greatesthobby.com and get links to hobby resources and reference materials, lists of train shows and events, and information about planning and building your first model railroad layout. We’ll even help you find a shop or club in your area willing to coach you one-on-one. It’s everything you need to know to start enjoying your new hobby. Getting started in the World’s Greatest Hobby has never been easier!


www.greatesthobby.com 877-426-5082


Railfan & Railroad Advertising Index for December 2012 S


A


A&R Productions .....................................................7 Amherst Railway Society.......................................15


C


Central Electric Railfan’s Association ......................8 Cole Publications...................................................14 Daylight Prints........................................................54 Dale Diacont ..........................................................53 Depot Stove Gang Model Train Show .....................7 Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad .....................21


E


Elkhorn Inn.............................................................21 Erie Lackawanna Historical Society..................49,50


G


Golden Spike Enterprises......................................48 Greenhill Station Productions ................................19


H


Herron Rail Services..............................................20 Highball Productions................................................5 Highland Publishing and Photographs...................16 Holiday Vacations..................................................21


I


Illinois Railway Museum ........................................21 Izaak Walton Inn......................................................6


R


Railcom..................................................................16 Railroad Explorer ..........................................Cover II Railroadbooks.biz ....................................................7 Revelation Video....................................................18 Rio Hondo Publishing ............................................12 Ron’s Books.................................................Cover III RonRail Pictures....................................................14


K


Kingsley Inn ...........................................................21 M


McMillan Publications ............................................12 Melvin Photos ........................................................16 Merrill Publishing Associates.................................48 Morning Sun Books ............................................7,17 Museum, Tourist Line and Dinner Train Directory.21


N


Napa Valley Wine Train.........................................21 National Railway Historical Society .........................6 Nevada Northern Railroad & Museum.........Cover IV New York Central System Historical Society...........6 New York, Susquehanna & Western Historical Society................................................48 Norfolk Southern....................................................13 North Shore Scenic Railroad .................................12


T


TRP..........................................................................9 TRRA Historical Society ........................................55 TTX Company........................................................53 Tell-Tale Productions...............................................7 Trackside Prints.....................................................17 Trainorders.com.....................................................55 TrainsShipsPlanes...................................................7 TrainWeb ...............................................................52 Transit Gloria Mundi ..............................................49


U


Union Pacific Railroad ...........................................17 W


Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway.................................6 White River Productions ........................................11


57


St. Alban Media, LLC.............................................14 Greg Scholl Video Productions..............................10 Seashore Trolley Museum.....................................49 Shore Line Interurban Historical Society ...............15 Signature Press .......................................................5 Sonrisa Publications ..............................................16 Southern Pacific Historical Society........................10 Steam Train Videos ...............................................13 Sunshine Networks................................................49


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