BY DANIEL SPITZER, M.D./PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
WHILE VERMONT’S POPULATION hovers at just over 600,000, and despite a primarily rural and mountain- ous character, the state’s position astride historic transportation corri- dors led to service by a wonderful assortment of railroads. Today, two Amtrak routes (the Ethan Allen from Rutland to New York City and the Vermonter between St. Albans and Washington, D.C.) serve the state. The Vermont Railway offers an east- west service from Whitehall, N.Y., via Rutland to Bellows Falls, as well as north-south service from Burl- ington to Manchester and south. Pan Am Southern traverses the southwest corner of the state, inter- changing with VTR at Hoosick Junc- tion, while New England Central (a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming) operates a north-south corridor from Canada and St. Albans to southern New England. Additional shortlines
round out comprehensive railroad coverage for such a small state. The images accompanying this
article were captured from an alti- tude of approximately 1,000 feet as I piloted a small two-seat airplane configured for aerial photography. I utilize medium telephoto lenses, 135mm and 250mm, mated to a full-frame digital camera, allowing a mixture of overview and close-up shots. Small aircraft are extremely unstable platforms for photography, so a very high shutter speed coupled with prime lenses and medium to high ISO combat the effects of engine vibration and low level turbulence. Additional challenges include adverse weather, unexpect- ed clouds, and the unpredictability of railroad operations. I hope you enjoy this unusual perspective on railroading in the Green Mountain State.
White River Junction
White River Junction historically served as many as 50 passenger trains a day, with service radiating in four directions. The junction remains important for New England railroading with Genesee & Wyoming’s New England Central, Vermont Rail System subsidiary Washington County Railroad, and Amtrak all present. Amtrak Train 55, the New York-bound Vermonter, makes its station stop while NECR GP38AC 3857 holds just northwest of the station. VRS GP40-2 306 (lettered for subsidiary Clarendon & Pittsford), idles northeast of the station near the bridge that crosses the eponymous White River at the confluence with the Connecticut River. The modern county courthouse occupies the area just northwest of the station. May 25, 2016.
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