NS 2652 and 9335 bring ore loads east! Until the mid-90s, and typical during PRR/PC/early CR days, iron ore still ran west frequently when the mills were still thriving. As many as five or six loaded trains a day headed inland from the ports of Philadelphia, Fairless or Baltimore when ships arrived; with 150-220 car empties returning to be loaded - often jenny hoppers with their machine gun-like cadence over the rail joints. Nowadays, like the economy in general, everything seems backwards. Old "naught" track doesnt seem long for existence given the accumulating rust. |