A Great Day Trip on the CSAO Lehigh Line (11/22/2014)

Another weekend, another day trip trackside. I am joined by Mike (6000csx, who hasn't been to the Lehigh Line for quite some time) & Josh (CSXYN4, his first time). The weather was great despite being a bit on the cold and windy side. For the entire video, we stayed at the grade crossing in South Plainfield, NJ. This stretch is known as the Conrail Shared Asset Lehigh Line, and it is used by trains from both Norfolk Southern and CSX. After the diverging paths at Port Reading Junction in Manville, NJ (west of where were are), the Lehigh Line continues as Norfolk Southern territory towards Allentown, PA, while CSX uses the Trenton Subdivision towards Philly.
Our first train of the day was eastbound mixed freight NS 18G led by a Canadian National SD70M-2. That was a great way to start off the day. Minutes later, loaded oil CSX K138 went by with two BNSF & two CSX's. Notice the snow on the plow of the BNSF? It had to come from Buffalo, NY, as the area was pounded by a lake effect snowstorm which dumped a significant amount of snow totaled several feet. Both CSX and NS traffic in that area was affected. As a result, a few of the CSX trains we saw that day were diverted (through Baltimore & Huntington Divisions), including empty trash CSX Q711 and mixed freight CSX X641 (I filmed the train during lunch in Sherban's Diner next to the crossing). Back to the morning action, an hour following the K138 was empty autorack 11J with two SD70M's leading the way then immediately by intermodal NS 21M, which overtook 11J on NS territory at CP-Sully. Another hour later was eastbound mixed freight Q410-18 giving us a Shave and a haircut. Then were greeted with a fleet of eastbound NS trains, including intermodal NS 212 with UP's behind NS, along with intermodal/autorack NS 290 with a UP leader and empty baretable NS 20A with a single engine. Intermodal NS 211 headed west with the Erie heritage unit on the point. We ended the day with with a couple of CSX trains including mixed freight CSX Q300, which just completed its yard work at nearby Manville, NJ led by a CSX GP38-2 along with HLCX SD40-2 and CSX standard cab dash 8.
After 4:30 PM, we packed up and headed to Union, NJ for a bit. However, aside from the New Jersey Transit trains, the freight action was completely dead for I don't know how long.
Anyway, all in all it was a fun day trip!
*Note: I'm really really NOT GOOD w/ train symbols. I try to get as many as I can through my scanner or asking other railfans around me (if any).*

[@iusetano]

Excellent video Allen. Great catch of the Erie locomotive.

[@alcheng1000]

***** Thanks, Hans! Yeah, the Erie was certainly a good one that day.

[@tom-and-mom]

Correction at the end of the description: We ended the day with a couple of CSX trains including mixed freight CSX Q300, which just completed its yard work at nearby Manville, NJ led by a CSX GP38-2 along with HLCX SD40-2 and CSX AC44CW.

[@yourock4132]

Now that is nice day for railfan. it look like my railfan day form black Friday!

[@alcheng1000]

***** It was a bit on the cold side that day, but that day was definitely a hit!

[@yourock4132]

same thing here

[@tom-and-mom]

Q300 did complete it's mixed freight. (CSX GP38-2, HLCX SD40-2, CSX SD50-2)

[@Conrailfan2323]

Still jealous I couldn't get out to railfan that day. Great stuff.

[@alcheng1000]

Conrailfan2323 Thanks!

[@DoubleGG5666]

Wow, I can't believe there were more friendly engineers on CSX than NS, maybe some of them were from another line but had to control the reroutes?

[@collegefootballfan7909]

Cool video I messed the Erie heritage unit where I railfan but I have seen it 2 times where I railfan one leading and one tailing.

[@alcheng1000]

Ns man Thanks!