Paul D and J.David, thanks for the information, always educational!

Hi Steve,

I believe that the Valley Railroad folks prefer to have the locomotives face north because it puts the platforms at Essex and Deep River on the Engineer's side of the cab. A side benefit is that the engine runs forward uphill.

Even from the standpoint of a photographer, there are far more photo opportunities on this line with a north-facing engine. The VALE does not have a run-around track at the northernmost point on the current excursion run. The engines run forward all the way to Hadlyme Station and just beyond, then back all the way to Deep River, where the locomotive runs around the consist. The engine is only front-coupled to the consist for the short run from Deep River back to Essex. Conversely, with a south-facing engine, the only time the train looks "normal" is for that short last segment. When I'm out photographing normal operations at The Valley, give me a north-facing engine anytime.

A charter is a very different situation, because you can take the train to selected spots at the best times for optimal lighting. And yes, I am a ticket-holder on this particular one.

/Kevin

Kevin, I beg to differ with you regarding photographing VRR trains, and which way they face. With the exception of "the meadow", which is an east-west section of track, the VRR is primarily a north-south (actually a southeast-northwest) railroad. Thus, with the exception of the longest days of the year, May-June-July, at almost every spot the train is heading out of the sun, with little or no light on the engine front.

There have been a number of times over the 41 years that VRR steam locomotives have been turned to face south for optimum photography. Trust me, that worked really well (I instigated at least 3 of these "turns" in the 1980s).

Most of the VRR engineers like being alongside the platform at Essex; the phrase "Ice on 3" meant there was scenery worth viewing, especially from cab height.

In the regular operating section of VRR, the major upgrade is southbound at "Richard's Curve" and Rattling Valley Road; it's about 1 mile of 3/4%. The heaviest grade is northbound out of Old Saybrook, in two places. That section of the railroad does not see much regular service.

Howard P.

Hi Howard,

I definitely agree with you regarding photo charters, because the operator has the latitude to pick the spots....even spots outside the normal excursion route....and the times when the train will be there. There are absolutely advantages to having a south-facing engine in those situations.

My preference for a north-facing engine is when I am shooting normal operations. When the engine faces south, as it did this weekend, there are very limited opportunities to get a front-lit shot with the locomotive facing forward on the head-end of the train. Those opportunities only begin after the run-around in Deep River and exist for just the last 10-minute run back to Essex.

/Kevin

I agree with Kevin's last statement. Operationally and aesthetically, it is much more practical for the engine to be pointing north with the current operating practice.

Meanwhile, for the brief time when 3025 will be pointing south, I got this scene yesterday at Rattling Valley Road:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O578eovoRoU

Enjoy,
Lee

I passed through town over the weekend and was lucky to catch 3025 coming in and make the runaround on my way down to Saybrook. It looked great, sounded great, and judging by the smiles on their faces the "civilians" aka paying passengers on the platform had not even the slightest inkling to question its pedigree as anything but authentic American steam. And why would they? She's one heck of an actress in that get-up, and from a business perspective stabling this pony seems like a smart move to ensure a solid, reliable future for steam on the Valley. (Plus, with all those welds, less work for the rivet counters anyway ;) Congrats to the crew on a job well done.

Thanks for the great video, Lee. She looks phenomenal!

Stephen

I was lucky enough to be visiting The Valley Railroad last weekend when the 3025 was hauling the regular passenger excursions facing south. Although I've expressed my preference for a north-facing engine in previous posts, it certainly was interesting to see what I could get in this rare situation. Here are a few stills from that trip:

Running southbound at Essex Street: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=397861&nseq=5

This is about the best you can do for an action shot southbound. Note that the Valley crews fire for a clean stack...and they are very good at it.

Switching cars in the yard at Essex: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=397937&nseq=4

Meeting the northbound Essex Clipper Dinner Train at Deep River Landing: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=398038&nseq=2

Pushing the consist south at Chester Creek: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=397950&nseq=3

A lot of folks probably forget that the train backs from Hadlyme to Deep River for the run-around. The south-facing engine is front-coupled until then.

Arriving back at Essex Depot: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=398055&nseq=1

Finally, an interesting shot of the crew injecting water treatment into the boiler before putting her away for the weekend: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=398092&nseq=0

If you haven't been to Essex to see this engine, it is worth the trip. The Valley folks have really done a super job with her.

/Kevin

Kevin, you got some GREAT shots! And great congratulations to the people at the Valley, they have a beautiful locomotive there; the road looks great, and I'm a sucker for Pullman green cars with rivets. . .

But darn, I look at that jewel, and I really want another one, two or three really, with a high headlight, bald smokebox door, an extra sand dome, and big orange letters on the tender that read VIRGINIAN.