Lilly PA 05.24.13: Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step Right Up!

'It'll clear up. It HAS to clear up.'

My thoughts tended towards optimism as I journeyed to Pennsylvania on May 24th. It was the start of Memorial Day weekend, I was off work until Wednesday, Nickel Plate 765 would be kicking off three days of excursions in less than 24 hours, and the weather forecast told of much sunshine in store. The heavy clouds that greeted me upon arrival in Cassandra had no chance at all to dampen my enthusiasm.

The time spent counting down the hours until 765 kicked off her weekend spectacle was by no means wasted, as I had the Pittsburgh Line traffic to keep me entertained. After checking in at the motel in Cassandra, I doubled back through Lilly to set up at Carneys Crossing. Perhaps I could have been a little bit faster - a heavy eastbound manifest was already stomping past the gates as I pulled off the road and began to set up the camera. 'No matter, there would be plenty of other trains to come,' I thought as I sat back to watch the freight continue to slog upgrade, eventually ending with the customary SD40E finale.

Perhaps I could have also paid a little more attention as the helpers roared away into the distance - the crossing gates stayed firmly in the down position. I rushed to finish setting up the camera as another eastbound began blowing for the crossing, hoping that he was moving just as slowly as the first. It was a close one - the head end was well in sight by the time I started rolling, so I spun around and settled for a going-away shot as SD70 2514 blew one last long chord. The big EMD had the assistance of a trio of C40-9Ws - 9857, 9755, and 9804 - as they chased after the manifest with a long train of mixed intermodal business. Bring on the choo-choos.