I took my C&O Canal hike from Weverton to Harpers Ferry today. First time in over a year. I had planned to get into Harpers Ferry in time to see the Capitol roll in and film it using my new camera. Alas, I left home a bit late and didn't get on the trail until 10:45. The Cap is scheduled to arrive at Harpers Ferry at 11:30, but Transitdocs said it was running late and wasn't going to arrive until about 12. Thus, I had a fighting chance to make the train, except that I dawdled around on the trail (the co-located Appalachian Trail/C&O Canal Towpath) playing with my new camera, and, also, I don't walk as fast as I used to. I got to the footbridge across the Potomac at very close to 12, and I couldn't believe how crowded it was, especially with people hauling bikes up the stairs, which slowed things a bit. I crossed the bridge and was walking down to the underpass when I heard the horn of the train sound as the Cap passed the grade crossing west of the station. I did get up to the embankment where the obelisk marking the true site of John Brown's Fort stands, and I was able to see the locomotives pull in, then run past the station and finally stop on the bride. There was only one stop, I don't think any sleeper passengers disembarked. I didn't get a view of the train coming in from the station platform, but I did see it.
A few pictures, but the view from where I stood didn't give me the clearest shots. I took a movie of the train pulling out, but even with the fancy-schmatzy image stabilization built into the camera, the movie was pretty jittery, given that I was shooting with a telephoto. I should have propped the camera on the walking stick to keep it steady. Well, live and learn.
The tail end of the train. Note the two Amfleet-type cars on the tail.
A still from my video clip. The car on the tail was Beech Grove! The other Amfleet-type car was 10005, Corridor Clipper, a catenary inspection car. Not sure what that was doing on the Capitol Limited, as the only catenary they run under is at Union Station in Washington.
I did check out the station after the train left.
A shot from the station platform. Are the rails that poorly aligned, or is that just an artifact from my telephoto lens?
I walked around Harpers Ferry for a couple of hours, ate lunch, and walked up to Jefferson Rock.
Thomas Jefferson came here in 1783 and said the view was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic."
He was probably referring to this view not the previous one. I don't think the church or the bridge was there in 1783.
On the trail, heading back to the car, I got to inspect the condition of the infrastructure on one of our country's major east-west transcontinental rail lines. (CSX, former B&O main line)
Well, at least some of the 19th century construction is holding up pretty well:
To get back to the car, the Appalachian Trail crosses the CSX main:
Sometimes when I've done this hike, there's a big long CSX freight train parked on the tracks. Usually in a way that isn't blocking the crossing. But I've always been a little paranoid that one day, at the end of my hike, I'm going to come here and find a train blocking the crossing. Would calling the number shown on this sign provide any help?
It was a nice hike on an almost summer-like day. When the breeze was up, it was delightful. When the breeze died down, the bugs came out and started flying around my face, and it got a little close and sticky. The high was about 85 F. This is a nice hike, combining nature, scenery, history, and trainspotting. And the parking and entry to the National Historic Park is free.
A few pictures, but the view from where I stood didn't give me the clearest shots. I took a movie of the train pulling out, but even with the fancy-schmatzy image stabilization built into the camera, the movie was pretty jittery, given that I was shooting with a telephoto. I should have propped the camera on the walking stick to keep it steady. Well, live and learn.
The tail end of the train. Note the two Amfleet-type cars on the tail.
A still from my video clip. The car on the tail was Beech Grove! The other Amfleet-type car was 10005, Corridor Clipper, a catenary inspection car. Not sure what that was doing on the Capitol Limited, as the only catenary they run under is at Union Station in Washington.
I did check out the station after the train left.
A shot from the station platform. Are the rails that poorly aligned, or is that just an artifact from my telephoto lens?
I walked around Harpers Ferry for a couple of hours, ate lunch, and walked up to Jefferson Rock.
Thomas Jefferson came here in 1783 and said the view was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic."
He was probably referring to this view not the previous one. I don't think the church or the bridge was there in 1783.
On the trail, heading back to the car, I got to inspect the condition of the infrastructure on one of our country's major east-west transcontinental rail lines. (CSX, former B&O main line)
Well, at least some of the 19th century construction is holding up pretty well:
To get back to the car, the Appalachian Trail crosses the CSX main:
Sometimes when I've done this hike, there's a big long CSX freight train parked on the tracks. Usually in a way that isn't blocking the crossing. But I've always been a little paranoid that one day, at the end of my hike, I'm going to come here and find a train blocking the crossing. Would calling the number shown on this sign provide any help?
It was a nice hike on an almost summer-like day. When the breeze was up, it was delightful. When the breeze died down, the bugs came out and started flying around my face, and it got a little close and sticky. The high was about 85 F. This is a nice hike, combining nature, scenery, history, and trainspotting. And the parking and entry to the National Historic Park is free.
