Switchbacks, Steep Grades, and Skilled Railroading: Vermont's AMAZING Granite Railroad!
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- Опубліковано 7 гру 2023
- Vermont Rail System's Washington County Railroad operates one of the most incredible, amazing, and downright challenging rail operations in the northeast. The "M&B" or Montpelier & Barre Division operates granite trains between the quarry in Websterville (Barre) and Montpelier Junction, VT. With overall grades exceeding 5% and a mind-blowing 8.9% grade on the railroad's mainline switchback, the M&B is railroading at its finest.
In August 2023, I spent the day on the Granite Line, watching the crew (symbol BESW) pull empties from the upper switchback, swap them for loads, and bring them to the interchange, stalling on the switchback (accessed with permission) in the process.
We also take a look at the impact of the July flooding, thanks to photos from @Island_Line_Rail_Productions.
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My blog:
northcountrytrains.wordpress.com
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Love that scene coming down the switchback. Smoke coming off the wheels of the cars, engines in full dynamic, only to have to try it again. White knuckle railroading at its best.
I would hate that piece of railroad if I worked there.
Those two units were both delivered new to the Penn Central in 1972 and undoubtedly ran together back then.
That’s something special tbh
"I paid for the whole throttle, I'm going to use the whole throttle!" Very nice production, enjoyable to watch! Can't beat these small unique shortlines!
I worked for CSF back when Bombardier was still up there. Learned from Ed Cote how to run that hill. When he retired I became engineer up there. If you used your head and didn't crowd the loco you were fine. Those Amtrak cars were good brake sleds for the trip down. Glad I got to have a small part of the history on that little RR. Also glad that VRS managed to take it over and keep the tracks polished. Excellent presentation with this video!! Thank you for sharing it!!
Thanks for your comment! Love to hear from employees!
well done video
Great coverage. I remember railfanning the Barrie & Montpelier in the 70's. They brought the granite out often one or two gondolas at a time because their motive power was smaller.
Times have changed!
Excellent video! I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. It’s cool to see some of these Shortline operations, especially ones with unique customers. They really push those GP38-2s to the limit!
Thoroughly enjoyed the video, very well done, great shots of a short line, working railroad. They must really go through the brake shoes on their rolling stock , even with dynamic brakes on the locomotives they must get a workout. I'm a former locomotive engineer with Grand Trunk/ Canadian National back in the early 1990' , Michigan based . Still enjoy the trains, glad to see so many others do as well.
Nice chase
I enjoyed the video. Wow, it is amazing what damage flooding can cause. This was interesting and informative. Thanks again.
I especially liked the death-wish motorcycle rider.
Unreal shot of the water level @ that bridge
Some of those gondolas look like they are sagging pretty bad. Great presentation, thumbs up and subscribed!
As a member of the MOW crew, I aprove! 👍
Wow! Reminds me of the old Monarch branch west of Salida, Colo. Had to get a little extra goose on that switchback, didn't he?
What a super good video and well put together. A very unique operation which rivals the Saluda Hill operation. I cant stop watching this. Thank you.
A VERY interesting look at what amounts to contemporary "backwoods railroading," for lack of a better term. Good job Harrison!
Man, some of those gondolas sound like they need to strike up a serious aquaintance with an oil can! Wow! The exteriors look pretty bad as well but if they never leave home rails I suppose it doesn't matter.
And it sure seemed the guy on the motorcycle at 11:00 didn't seem to care if he lived or died, cutting in front of the train like that!
Now if memory serves Rock of Ages Granite is up in that neck of the woods. Ay one time they had their own in-house railroad for moving granite loads, and a steam road at that using 0-6-0 tank engines.
Thanks for taking us along Harrison! Your videos are always time well-spent!
Thanks Wayne!
Excellent!🙂🙂
Super. Very interesting to see these operations. Thanks.
So great 👍 👌 👏 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
Our #53 came from them in 1973, when the burst of freight traffic hit
Wow awesome documentary and great video 😀😊
Great video
Awesome video Harrison, thanks so much! I was really looking forward to this video since you mentioned it upcoming a few videos ago, excellent filming. I really like this railroad also and want to model some sort of switchback/quarry operation eventually. It's just as exciting watching those loaded gondolas pass as much as the power.
People not stopping at the crossings, is the biggest reason I hated working the job when they stuck me up here.
Blind shove on a crossing was a nice touch.. lol
I noticed there isn’t a single protected crossing on that line… and only one with flashers?
What time in the video was the blind shove in the crossing?
@@colindemasi72279:50. Engineer was in the red unit, conductor was at the hitch, no one watching the crossing.
@@colindemasi7227 Apparently my comment was deleted. I wonder why.. but at 9:45. No one protecting the crossing, and the engineer was in the opposite engine. Therefore, unprotected.
Cool video 👍🏻
Love how that motorbike 🏍 sailed ⛵ thru @ "11:05", BTW, your maccas docket looks the same way down south in New Zealand 🇳🇿 😀 ❤
Excellent, GP38's at the max.
Be very interesting in Ho scale. great video.
Bet those gons rocked & rolled when those building blocks got dropped inside them
My local railroad, always a huge scene when a train rumbles its way straight through Montpelier. Nobody knows what to do when they're in a car, and they see a train on the road.
Still probably one of my more favorite jobs to run, lol made lots of money
So fascinating 18:54
Willing to bet no other rail photographer has ever produced anything like this in the diesel era 20:02
Island Line Rail Productions has filmed the same move, however he was (not?) fortunate enough to get them stalling.
I missed seeing the granite loading process...McDonald's indeed.
Didnt know GP 38s had 4 wheel drive. 😳 They need a plow on front end to scoop up slow motorcycle dudes.
Great video. Wonder about wear on those engines. Gnarly move.
8 wheel drive!
Train transportación
Thorough coverage of seldom witnessed action in a sparsely populated area (no crossing lights & no vehicular traffic)
From my perspective it’s HEAVILY populated, by Vermont standards, but the video doesn’t show that as when the train was crawling through the city I was stuck in traffic.
With his helmet on and probably a radio playing I bet that Harley rider never knew that train was even there. 5 seconds sooner he would have crashed into that engine. See 30;46.
Great video. Were those first several cars around the 14:00 mark closest to the engines loaded?
No, those were empties they were bringing to spot at the loading site
Happy plans to do it outside of the Northeast raining like in Chicago or Cleveland?
I’d like to get to Chicago for the Royal Hudson next year
Any idea what WCAX was doing there?
Doesn’t take long for those new CSXT gons to get their exterior surfaces ruined
That bell on 208 is absolutely terrible in my opinion. Is that a different type of E-Bell?
I think it’s time to oil the bearings
8.9%? Jeezus! I’ve operated on 2-3% and had some near runaways. I couldn’t even imagine running on 8.9%.
Accidently kick the brakes off and kiss your ass goodbye.
Did you see that stupid Harley rider about to get hit by the train
You can think President Biden For the infrastructure money
He paid for it himself???
I think we pay the bills in taxes... Congress funds the programs....Joe merely copied Don's proposal from 2018.
Actually you and I paid for it. The same program dates back to 2018.