Rails Along the Mohawk Photography

Rails Along the Mohawk Photography High quality railroad photography and videography from the Mohawk Valley in New York State and around the Continental United States.

Note:
This page is not affiliated with ALCO Historical & Technical Society’s “Rails Along the Mohawk” show.

On June 12, 2026, history was made on the former Erie main line between Waverly, NY, and the City of Binghamton, now ope...
06/15/2026

On June 12, 2026, history was made on the former Erie main line between Waverly, NY, and the City of Binghamton, now operated by Class I Norfolk Southern. At approximately 0900hrs, Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy #4014 and its consist shoved out of the ex-Lehigh Valley Yard in Sayre, PA out onto the mainline for its run to Binghamton. The historic train would pass through several small Southern New York towns along the way, most notably Barton, Nichols, Owego, Campville, Endicott, Endwell, and Johnson City. We were on site at Ayers Road in Nichols and the Chenango River Bridge in Binghamton to witness this amazing piece of history roll by. While not the 4014's time in the Empire State (it was built in Schenectady in 1941 by the American Locomotive Company), this was the first time it had ever operated this far east under its own power. The Big Boy is currently the World's largest operating steam locomotive, and one of the largest ever built. The cross-country excursion that this was just a small portion of is part of the 250th Anniversary of the United States celebration. Thank you, UP and NS, for making this historic event possible!

On the night of January 11, Norfolk Southern train 264-11 departed Chicago bound for Ayer, MA. While seemingly typical, ...
01/14/2026

On the night of January 11, Norfolk Southern train 264-11 departed Chicago bound for Ayer, MA. While seemingly typical, this train was more than just that. Upon are in Binghamton, NY, the power was swapped out so that heritage units NS 1080 (Delaware & Hudson) and NS 8098 (Conrail) could take the train the remainder of the trip. This train would become the first to operate over the Voorheesville Runner from COF-499 in Delanson to the CSX VO in nearby Voorheesville, where it would roll onto CSX rails for the remainder of the run. The trackage rights agreement allows operation of double stack intermodal trains instead of the single stack trains that were all too familiar on the original route over Pan Am Southern.

This image, taken on January 13 around 0300hrs, shows the historic train as it passes through Altamont, NY. To the left is the historic D&H passenger depot. The building saw its last passenger train in 1963, and only saw occasional freight trains from SMS after CP discontinued operations on the line in the 1990’s. This is part of what was originally the D&H Albany Main Line. 264 with its beautiful heritage fuo is the first regularly scheduled daily train to operate through the area in almost three decades.

Note: Originally the 1080 was set to lead the train, but due to electrical issues with the onboard cab signal system the power needed to be turned around. This made 8098 the new leader, though still a very appropriate locomotive to lead this train.

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