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. Photo by Doug Kirkpatrick.

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

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

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.   Photo by Doug Kirkpatrick. 

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

Photo by Doug Kirkpatrick.

E6 #198 is prepared to depart Cresson enroute to Punxsutawney with classic Pennsy motive power awaiting assignment in the background.  It appears that the Inspection Car #120, class Z74D, is in town for some "high level action.

AS16m #8595 is servicing Jefferson Groceries in Punxsutawney.  This industry is one of a very few that actually existed.  All photos by John Swanson unless otherwise noted.

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.

H10s #7640 has just delivered 2 loads of coal to E.C. Crosby in Wolfson.  Watch MR for an upcoming article on the construction and installation of Crosby by my friend Doug Kirkpatrick!

H10s #9203 shoves grain into the Agway feed mill at Glen Campbell Jct., working as train 7270, the Glen Campbell Turn.

We see an H10s working industries in Glen Campbell as train 7270, the Glen Campbell Turn.  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.

B6sb #4136 is pulling an empty tank out of the Sinclair Oil facility in Westover.  This is the most recently improved section of the railroad, scenery wise, by my friend Cam Green.

 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.

 I1sa #4336 is working GS Coal in Sidney after spotting his cabin on the crossover as recommended by management.  GS Coal is named after my late brother.