  | 
    During a layover 
    between trains at New Haven CT, we have our first sighting of an FL9. Steam 
    may have been long absent for pulling trains on USA railroads but it is 
    still in use for operating coach heating and air conditioning. October 1981. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The steam has been 
    discharged and we have a better view of a pair of FL9 locomotives. October 
    1981. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The pairing has now 
    been split and 5034 has been assigned a couple of MU cars. October 1981. | 
  
  
    
    
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    A train consist of 
    entirely ex New Haven equipment. Although fitted with pantographs, the MU 
    cars were powered by the FL9 on diesel power. October 1981. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The complete train 
    about to depart. This is possibly car numbers 4418 and 4431. The train proceeded south under diesel power 
    and in non revenue 
    service. October 1981. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    following year and we are at Rensselaer NY. The eastbound Lake Shore has 
    arrived and is split into a Boston section and a New York section. A single 
    F40PH looks after the Boston section and an F40PH + FL9 will take the New 
    York consist to Croton Harmon. At Croton Harmon the F40PH is detached and 
    the FL9 continues with the train to Grand Central Terminal, New York City. 
    August 1982.  | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    eastbound Lake Shore departs Rensselaer for New York. August 1982. | 
  
  
    
    
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    An 
    FL9 and Amfleet cars arrive at Rensselaer from New York with the locomotive 
    now resplendent in Amtrak Phase 3 colours. Number 389 was the only FL9 to 
    wear an Amtrak Phase 2 paint finish. August 1982. | 
  
  
    
    
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    On 
    now to 1987 and we are on the eastbound Lake Shore, passing Croton North and 
    approaching the next stop at Croton Harmon. Some less fortunate FL9 
    locomotives await an uncertain future. September 1987. | 
  
  
    
    
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    If it 
    were not for the passenger cars, this could be a scene from the 1960's. This 
    is Rye NY and the first of the evening New York Grand Central Terminal to 
    Danbury CT trains speeds north. September 1987. | 
  
  
    
    
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    In 
    1968 when the all black colours of Penn Central was introduced, it was 
    unimaginable that the classic colours of the New Haven would ever be seen 
    again except in a museum. Miracles do happen. This image is captured from 
    the parking lot at Rye which is on the roadbed of the extinct New York, 
    Westchester & Boston Railroad as can be observed by the extended catenary 
    gantries. September 1987. | 
  
  
    
    
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    On 
    now to 1991 and we are back at Rensselaer on the 28th of September 1991. 
    Train 63, the Maple Leaf for Toronto has just arrived at 11:19. The FL9 goes 
    no further and is detached. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    FL9 move over to allow an F40PH to be attached to complete the journey to 
    Toronto. September 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    A 
    line up of the power usually seen at Rensselaer with the FL9 passing a Rohr 
    Turboliner and an F40PH ready to depart. September 1991.  | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    eastbound Lake Shore (Late Shore!) eventually arrives and the New York 
    section is made ready to depart for New York with a single FL9 in charge. 
    September 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Moving down the Hudson, we are at Poughkeepsie on the 1st of October as a 
    pair of Metro North FL9 terminate their journey from New York. October 
    1991.  | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    eastbound Lake Shore arrives at Poughkeepsie, eventually. October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Very 
    inviting! The best seat on the train? October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    It 
    would appear that the Lake Shore is too long or the station platform is too 
    short as a wooden extension has been added to the platform to allow the crew 
    a more civilised access to the platform. October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Further down the Hudson and we are at Croton Harmon where a short consist 
    awaits. October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Metro 
    North provide an hourly off peak service between New York and Poughkeepsie. 
    This service has just departed Croton Harmon for Poughkeepsie. October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    FL9 and two passenger cars are called into service and heads towards New 
    York. October 1991. | 
  
  
    
    
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    On 
    now to May 1994 and we are in the depths of Grand Central Terminal, New York 
    City. An FL9 awaits the rush of commuters returning home in the evening. | 
  
  
    
    
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    A few 
    months later in August 1994 we are at Redding CT. This is a South Norwalk to 
    Danbury service. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Paused at Redding station, few passengers alight or board. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Departing Redding station, the off peak service only requires two passenger 
    cars. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Having moved on to Bethel CT, the train seen previously is returning from 
    Danbury to South Norwalk. In the present environment it is a great pity that 
    the overhead wires were removed. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Still 
    at Bethel and the train is returning to South Norwalk. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    This 
    is Danbury CT and the end of the line for the service from South Norwalk. 
    The original station has now been closed and temporary accommodation has 
    been provided awaiting the construction of a new station. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    At 
    Danbury and all along the route from South Norwalk the remains of the former 
    electrification may still be seen, some masts still standing and some 
    ignominiously disposed of in the undergrowth. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Deep 
    in the depths of Grand Central Terminal, New York City This train is waiting 
    and ready to return the evening commuters home. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Later 
    in the week we are at Garrison NY. The weather in the Hudson Valley is 
    not always favourable for railway photography and perfecting the skill of 
    balancing a camera in one hand and an umbrella in the other was essential to 
    capture this scene of a Poughkeepsie bound service. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    We 
    are just north of Storm King Tunnels the following day. What a change in the 
    weather. A single rebuilt FL9AC heads for Poughkeepsie. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    From 
    a vantage point above Storm King Tunnels we have a view of the same train as 
    above returning to collect more commuters from New York. August 1994. | 
  
  
    
    
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    On 
    now to 1997. We are at Beacon Falls just in time to see the Bridgeport to 
    Waterbury shuttle service. May 1997. | 
  
  
    
    
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    Bridgeport CT and the shuttle service to Waterbury is ready to depart. May 
    1997. | 
  
  
    
    
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    We 
    are at Cos Cob CT and the evening peak trains are returning commuters home. 
    This opening bridge is across the Mianus River. Not that this is a problem 
    to the diesels but the catenary does not cover the moveable section 
    resulting in that the electrics must have a reasonable turn of speed to 
    cover the gap. Here we see an FL9 + FP10 combination heading north. May 1997. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    next day we are at Danbury CT. If you want to see the FL9 departing for New 
    York an early rise is required. This is around 07:00 and the locos are ready 
    to push commuters to New York. May 1997.   | 
  
  
    
    
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    Moving over to Croton Harmon we see a FL9 + FP10 combination at rest. May 
    1997. | 
  
  
    
    
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    On 
    now to 2001 and the FL9 has become an endangered species and not that easy 
    to find. Our final view of the FL9 in action in the wild is at 18:50 on 
    Thursday the 6th September 2001 as an evening service heads for 
    Poughkeepsie. | 
  
  
    
    
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    The 
    next day we visit the Danbury Railroad Museum. Although originally an FL9 
    was demonstrated to the New York Central Railroad it resulted in no sale, 
    the New Haven being EMD's only customer for this model. This is what could 
    have happened. September 2001. |