Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line continues to showcase a unique variety of trains. With the increase crude oil, automotive and freight businesses, this line has become a hotbed for activity in recent years. Because of all this new traffic, some of which originates in the western part of the country, it has become rather common to see run-through power from BNSF and Union Pacific. This was such the case one day in November, 2014, when I visited the line after an early late-autumn snowfall. On this day, roughly 14 BNSF units passed through the city of Reading, PA (not all of which are present here). This short video showcases five trains all sporting BNSF power. First, eastbound oil train 64W slows for signals ahead at Wyomissing Junction as it passes through Sinking Spring, PA with an NS SD70ACe leading an original ATSF warbonnet and a BNSF Heritage II D9. Not long after 64W clears, Allentown to Baltimore manifest 34A cruses westbound with a pair of D9s leading a former BN executive SD70MAC. The executive scheme is very unique, and a favorite of mine, and since these units may not be around much longer (some reaching the 20 year mark), I often take advantage of seeing them when I can. Outside town, we catch eastbound extra i0W with an NS SD70M-2 leading another five BNSF GEs. This train's normal symbol, 20W, originally begins in Long Beach, CA and runs the BNSF transcon to Chicago where usually, all of the BNSF units would have been removed, but for some reason, this train kept it all the way through. Old procedures occurred in this manner, but newer ones have all but eliminated run through power. Further west, we stop at a small crossing outside Womelsdorf where westbound manifest 19G is seen passing under the signal bridges with an SD70M leading another BNSF GE and a warbonnet SD75M. Finally, our last stop is a small crossing near Sheridan. I've hiked up a small dirt bluff for an elevated view of westbound stack train 211 running into the setting sun. This was the only train today to have the BNSF power leading since the route of this train takes it south from Harrisburg along the non-cab signal required Lurgan Branch. Enjoy, subscribe and thanks for watching!!

• published: 18 Jun 2015
• views: 7