A Guilford Rail System Branchline.

[Guilford343]

I still call it Guilford Rail System. :P
Here are some pics from a couple days ago. It is VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY rare to see a train at this certain crossing, or on the branchline. My dad and I got lucky. We started at Rockingham junction. My dad and I saw the train, and I insisted on staying, but my dad said that it was going nowhere, so we headed up to a bridge. We get there, and I see the a$$ end of the train rolling down the branchline. Then the cahse was on.
First, we ended up in Newmarket some how, WAY out of our way. Yet we first sighted it up at the crossing. Man, the lights and bells went WAY to late. That car backing up wanted to try to beat the train, but changed his mind in the MIDDLE of the crossing, and backed up. So here are some shots from the train crossing. The Crew waved at me, and did a GREAT job on the horn.
Well one from Rockingham Junction.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj1.jpg

Now for the crossing shots.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj2.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj3.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj24.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj4.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj5.jpg

And the end of the train...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj6.jpg

Next, we went all the way up to Portsmouth, and we were WAY ahead of it. There was about a 1-2 mile stretch of straight track. We could hear the horn, but we could not see it. Then it finally came. This guy in the cab looked dazed. He was looking straight ahead with a dreamy look on his face. Then, he jerked forward, and the brakes went on. Then he looked back at me. I could not help but to laugh. :P

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj7.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj8.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj9.jpg

An SP boxcar!!
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj10.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj11.jpg

The Whole train.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj12.jpg

Then, the engine uncoupled from the train, and performed some switching moves.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj13.jpg

I looked over and saw a Guilford truck...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj14.jpg

Back to the switching...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj15.jpg

Then, I got distracted from the switching AGAIN by this sweet caboose. There were also some six axle flat cars. I beleive these cars belong to the Navy...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj16.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj17.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj19.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj20.jpg

I was thinking WTF, and laughing at the same time. :P

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/wtf14.jpg

The guy that waved at me at the crossing...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj18.jpg

Then, when they were done with what they were doing, they shut off the lights, and I think that they were taking a lunch brake. We left after this.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj23.jpg

My favorite Guilford engine, MEC 307, was the unit on the job. I only have one HO Scale Guilford engine, my only model Guilford train, and that model is MEC 307, so it was really neat to see the same engine that I have for my HO Scale trains. This is the last pick...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/CATMAN1_2006/jj22.jpg

Thanks for looking, and I hope that you enjoyed the shots!! :)

[CRQ5508]

nice shots. Those six-axle flats don't belong to just the Navy, but Department of Defense. They are used for whatever they need to be, weather it's Marine corps. hummers, or Army tanks. It's funny, I saw the 307s sister unit, 305 up here in Manchester NH earlier in the week.

[Guilford343]

Thanks! :)
Thanks for the correction, I had a funny feeling about what I called them. Hey, I just saw 307 up in Nashua about a week ago. I got some pictures, but I have been to lazy to post them. I also got some shots of a B&M Plow. ;)

[CSX4878]

I got shots of everything seen on the Rumford Branch. :)
380 - 307 - 379 went through last night around 9:45pm.

[Guilford343]

I am coming up to Maine some time to see some high hoods! All that I see right now in NH, are Low Hoods! :P

[CSX4878]

The Rumford Branch always has atleast one or two high hoods in a consist, and I always see Laytex tank cars, any idea if these are used in Paper Making?

[wakeboarder82]

Nice series of shots. I wish there was more action on the Portsmouth Branch these days. It seems to be one or two trains a week. That's a big change from the dedicated switcher about year ago.

Do you happen to remember what those black tank cars had in them? I noticed they were taken across the bridge to the shipyard and are spotted next to a nuclear sub. The flat cars and caboose will be used to haul the spent nuclear fuel away. That's a rare move to catch.