I took a trip out into Pennsylvania today to pay a visit to the Allentown & Auburn Railroad and see their Easter Bunny Train. I got to Kutztown early enough that the consist for the train was sitting at the station without an engine. I didn't have to wait long though before SW 206 pulled into town and was coupled onto the train. 206 was wearing an M3 horn today instead of the RS3L it had sported the last time I came out this way in September. Once that was done, passengers were permitted to start boarding and the train departed shortly after 10.
After seeing the train cross East Main Street, it quickly became apparent that chasing the train would be very easy, as it was moving very slowly in order to draw out the journey and allow all the children aboard to see the Easter Bunny. This made it simple to get a shot of the train at the first Kohler Road crossing and Hinterleiter Road, skipping past the second Kohler Road crossing only because I wasn't able to find a place to comfortably pull over on the way south.
Upon arriving at Topton, the crew took their time running 206 around the train and coupling it onto the other end. During this process, I was able to see a power move on the Norfolk Southern Reading Line in the form of D9-44CWs 9521 and 9877 running east. For the return trip to Kutztown, I was able to see the train at Hinterleiter Road once again and both of the Kohler Road crossings. The train was moving very slowly for most of the run back north, only picking up speed after passing the first Kohler Road crossing.
2 окт 2024
