2019 Empire Corridor Trip Report

I have once again completed my annual trek to the heart of New York Central territory via Amtrak's Empire service.  The good news is that between the division post at CP-75 and the start of Rule 562 at the new CP-138 south of Albany, no additional re-signaling has taken place.  The double track project is complete to Schenectady and the new station there ha been completed along with the re-signaling of CP-159 and CP-160 which I reported in 2018.

While non-Darth Vader target signals with 'C' boards are a positive, the whole setup still feels a bit off with blinding LED signals and OSHA approved aluminum masts.  One addition is the brand new CP-149 that provides a mid-point crossover between CP-157 and CP-145.  ACSES transponders are also in place.

I also noticed that the CPO-1 on the old D&H Colonie Sub had been removed which is about time seeing as according to Google Street View that happened sometime around 2016.  For those of you who don't know this was the interlocking in the middle of I-787 in downtown Albany.  It was replaced by a new CPO-2 about a mile to the north.

Even the gantry was cut down.

I visited CP-SK at the east end of Selkirk yard and was able to confirm that it was still in it's late Conrail configuration with no signs of any impending re-signaling.  Some Conrail target masts have been replaced by CSX Darth Vader signals, but a slim majority are still of the classic touch.  A new CP-12 had been constructed immediately to the west of CP-SK since my last visit a good 10 years ago, but in an interesting twist Conrail signal rules appeared to still be in effect throughout with Seaboard rules starting at the west end of the yard complex.

R/R/Y is still Restricting at CP-SK

I might have issues getting back to the Capitol Region in the future, but I'm pretty satisfied with the coverage I was able to get over the last 14 or so years with the multiple re-signaling efforts.