A Day on the D-L

A step by step look at a day in the life...

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From beginning to end, here's a look at the average day of a DL Pocono Line crew.  The day is Tuesday April 6, 2004 and Engineer Mike Vassallo has the unusual honor of running the DL 4103 and DL 334 in tandem. The motive power for today is unusual for several reasons.  Originally the power was to be DL 310 and DL 334, a rare mating of the only two C-420's owned by GVT Rail.  This wasn't to be as the 310 became somewhat tempermental in the early morning hours (or did Mike just break it?), and so RS-3 4103 was substituted.  Now the lashup is even more signifigant, as RS-3's on road freights are rare, even for the ALCo-heavy DL.  Having these two units on the same train under clear skys proved to be enticing enough for this photographer to drag himself out of bed, early, on his day off nonetheless. The days work includes starting from the DL engine house in South Scranton, traveling over the D&H to pick up a few cars in Taylor and then making a run up the Pocono Main to service Keystone Propane and Horizon Milling, before making a late afternoon trip back to Scranton with some 40+ outbound cars.

Slowing for their stop at Keystone Propane, the DL crew waves as the 334 passes the restored Tobyhanna station.

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Power is mu'd and tested in South Scranton Yard.  DL 310 is set aside in favor of DL 4103.

DL train PO 75 with lite power arrives Taylor Yard office to arrange pick up of 3 cars bound for customer's on the DL's Pocono Main.

After completing their work at Keystone, the DL crew departs Tobyhanna, passing a former DL&W concrete switch tower, one of many on the line.

DL 334 departs the former DL&W Taylor station (now the yard office)  for the North End of Taylor Yard.

With a considerably longer consist, DL train PO 75 passes through Pocono Summit, PA.

DL 334 is shown passing the derelict Pocono Summit station, once the destination of Steamtown Excursions in the 1980's.

DL crew waits in the clear on the siding at CPF 672 for this southbound CP freight with NS power on the head end.

DL 334 is given a clear signal and enters the former D&H main heading north towards Bridge 60.

After arriving at Horizon Milling, the crew has run  around it's train and DL 4103 is now in the lead as the crew switches the mill.

The crew of DL PO 75 has assembled their train of some 35 empty grain cars, plus several empty tank cars.  The long train is show working upgrade towards Pocono Summit.

Our subject is shown approaching the beginning of DL trackage at Bridge 60.

After sorting some cars, the DL 334 and train begin the run up the Pocono Main and are seen here in Scranton at "Ridge Row".

Still working upgrade, the 4103 is seen with it's charge approaching the Pocono Summit station.

With it's short train well in hand, the DL power passes the Moscow passenger station, shuttered since the cancellation of Steamtown excursions in 2003.

Having conqured the grade, the 4103 is working  level track now as the train passes the Tobyhanna station once again.

DL 334 passes the recently restored Gouldsboro station.

Now into the downgrade run into Scranton, the 4103 puts it's dynamic brakes to use passing through Moscow.

The well maintained former DL&W right of way is evidenced in this angle, as the DL passes over the entrance to the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Passing through Dunmore.   The train will continue back to Taylor, but for now, the photographer is tired, and hungry and so ends the chase.

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