Winter railroading - it's always groundhog day!

"The Express" headed by two EP22's and an EP20 drifts into Cresson for a quick stop before proceeding on to Pittsburgh.

The local passenger train pulled by a K4s slides into the Cresson station for the morning run to Punxsutawney.

An ES15m works the Chrome plant.  This train brings chemicals and raw auto parts for plating, while retrieving finished goods.  

Look closely and you'll see an H10 2-8-0  collecting loaded hoppers with a pair of I1sa's hauling a coal drag toward Altoona.  

Before leaving Beech, the H10 spots a bulkhead flat for loading of pulpwood.

All Winter Railroading photos by Doug Kirkpatrick. 

Extra 8259, with classic PRR muscle in the form of an H10s, awaits access to the main while the Mountain Laurel heads west.  Passengers await their ride!

We see train 7240, the Patton Leather Turn, is ready to head north behind H10s #9915.  The yard is being worked by 2 Baldwin BS12 class locomotives.

A couple Baldwins are pulling cars from Wolfson & Son Electronics at the north end of Cresson Yard.

While a couple Baldwins skitter past Tim's Tools in North Cresson, Extra 8259 appears at the yard limits with a crew ready for beans.

While 8508 works Kirkpatrick Chrome, train #31 heads to Cresson heading east.

Extra 8259, The Wolfson Turn, is on its way back to Altoona and is working Mitchell Coal at Beech Siding.  Main Line passenger service can be seen in the background.

It looks like a busy day in Wolfson!  Although called Hastings in PA, it was renamed on my Cresson Branch after my good friend Gerry Wolfson passed away.  I think he would enjoy working this train.

While train 7270 works Thompson Brewery, we spot train 7290 on the diamond taking empty hoppers to Punxsutawney.  The EFS17m (GP9) locos can frequently be spotted working hard on the Cresson Branch!.

We see an H10s working industries in Glen Campbell.  Train 7270, the Glen Campbell Turn, stays busy working Glen Campbell and Glen Campbell Junction industries.  Yes, Glen Campbell exists, just a bit east of Punxsutawney, PA.

Extra 4336 is powered by a "Fan Favorite" I1s 2-10-0, or "Hippo," on a cold, clear, winter morning - Groundhog Day 1955.  Her job today is to work Grovel Gravel - this stone might be headed to one of the many new highways under construction.

An ES12m is working the Jiffy Steak plant in McGees Mills.  Although not visible here, the NYC enjoys an interchange with the Cresson Branch of the PRR in McGees Mills.  In fact the NYC had trackage rights all the way to Patton for many years! 

(RR at work photos by Doug Kirkpatrick)

 It’s just after 10:30 on a clear February 2nd as the northbound Train 6604 lead by K4s 5366 pulls into the Punxsutawney, PA station. The Groundhog has already had his “time in the spotlight” so to speak, and the locals are taking advantage of a rare sunny winter day.  (Photo by John Swanson)