NYSW SU 100, running as CSX Z224-03 detour via the River Line at MP 13, Bergenfield, NJ 7/4/13 Ralph Bonnano immediately rested, so the CL-crew stayed with the train to Deposit NY where a rested crew met up with the train and continued east). This however, was the SECOND detour of the day. The first detour was a Q004 which was ahead of the Q002. The Q004 made for quite the sight south of Syracuse, as the NYS&W added 4 of their own units (and six freight cars) to the train. So, by the time the train left Syracuse, the power was: CSXT 366, 7891, 8712, 4757, followed by NYSW 3808, 3810, 3800 and 3804, followed by the Intermodal stacks and then six tank cars on the rear. They hit Binghamton at about 6:30pm, with the Q002 behind them, on its way south from Syracuse at that time... But the most interesting was yet to come… Two more eastbounds were planned to operate via the NYS&W, and on the evening of June 28th, they did just that. The first train was Q156, which had departed Syracuse at approx 8:45pm. This would be an overnight run and the Southern Division after daybreak. But the real interest was the train that followed. That was K040, a crude oil train for Philadelphia that (like the other trains), normally operates via Selkirk to NJ then through Conrail Shared Assets where it rejoins CSX at Port Reading Jct, NJ for the last 60 miles to Philadelphia. What made this train of particular interest was that it had three BNSF GE locomotives as sole power. It also had 72 loaded tank cars of crude oil. These trains normally run with 100 to 105 loads, but the trains tonnage was reduced and the train cut to 72 cars primarily for the grades on the NYS&W out of Syracuse and in New Jersey. As this train was right behind the 156, this would also see daylight east of Port Jervis, thus bringing the fans out in droves. In the midst of all of this, a westbound intermodal detour 15 was operated, departing Little Ferry. This was a rerouted Q003, with the CSX symbol R003. The plan was for him to meet the eastbound(s) at Sparta, something that hasn’t been done in years. But tonight it was done… In any event, the K040 crude oil train was now the focus of everyone’s attention, and based on the internet chatter, again, a large group would be out for it (minus those who were too busy going “where is it now?” over and over and over on the net to actually go out and catch it!) The 156 detour was thru Warwick just after 11am, and the K040 was not too far behind. The K040 however was delayed a bit at Port Jervis account NJ Transit traffic, but was eastbound once again after the arrival of train 73, and was out of town just after 1:30pm. As this train had now become the worlds worst secret, it was determined they would get recrewed at Sparta Jct with a NJ based crew. The original Q156 crew and the K040 crew both deadheaded home to Binghamton. The K040 continued east to Little Ferry, where a CSX crew boarded and took the train back onto home rails. All in all, it was a pretty hectic few days, but the NYS&W met the challenge of having the bodies to move the traffic. Thing returned to normal with the SU-99 running as usual after the weekend. But things weren’t done just yet… It was now the NYS&W’s turn to add to the “detour fever” in the northeast. SU-99/BH-1 crew heading north at about 6:30am on July 2 struck a washout near MP 209 on the Syracuse main between Itaska and Whitney Point. No injuries, no hazmat were involved. The cars that derailed were approx 35 - 40 deep in the train and were loaded grey C&D debris cars. The result was a few cars on their sides and a good chunk of track torn up, and the C&D cargo all over the place. Eventually
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