Chasing Vermont Rail System's Green Mountain Flyer, Fall 2018
Chasing trains thru Fall Foliage
(DISCLAIMER: my phone died in the second clip so that's why its short)
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AAPRCO Green Mountain Flyer Enters the Burlington Yard!!!
Every year, the American Association of Private Railcar Operators runs a special excursion train across parts of the United States! The AAPRCO chose the Vermont Railway for its route and Burlington as its destination! The train was composed of two engines Amtrak 111 and 822, the phase III heritage unit, along with a beautiful consist of passenger cars from the 1940's, 50's, and 60's from various railroads! Here it is making its approach to its destination at VTR's Burlington Yard. Also caught my first heritage unit. Blessed...
Green Mountain Railroad: Fall 2018
Some railroad action recorded on the GMRC during September and October of 2018. Alco 405 was sidelined early again this year on the foliage excursions out of Chester, VT. The roster would get reworked and GMRC 804 would finish out the season leading the foliage trains westbound from Chester Depot. Nice weather, but not a lot of fall color in the lower Williams River valley in 2018.
GMRR: Fall Foliage Train Rides Weekend Finale 2019
This video was recorded on the final weekend of the 2019 Fall Foliage Train Rides out of Chester, VT. (For the Alco fans) two nice signature accelerations, one starting at 01:53, and a quality show at 04:57. (with help from the Engineer)
I was able to wax nostalgia when a local farmer dropped off a New Holland Model 472 Haybine near the crossing, just before the train arrived on the first run of the day through Bartonsville. Nothing like reliving fond memories of your past with both a train, and a 472 Haybine in the same scene. 00:32.
GMRC 263 was in between passenger runs at 03:04 with six units on the head end.
The Machanical Department in North Walpole deserves much credit. The 405 Alco hasn't looked this good, (or ran as consistent) in a long time. The last two seasons, (2017-2018) 405 was sidelined early for mechanical problems, but in 2019 she didn't miss a beat. For a quirky old machine, that says a lot.
It was a great day to be outside, and a good way to end the season..As luck would have it, I ran into a local man I haven't seen in awhile. Paul was friends with the late Bob Adams, (the former President of the Green Mountain Railroad) and worked at Steam Town when it was located in Bellows Falls, VT. Paul has incredible stories of patching roofs on passenger coaches and cutting brush around the original Bartonsville bridge with a gas powered trimmer that took three men and a boy to handle.
Green Mountain Flyer w/ VTR 311 - Glory Days Festival I
GMRC 405 (ALCO RS-1) leads the Green Mountain Flyer out of White River Junction, Vermont, amidst the hustle and bustle of the Glory Days of the Railroad Festival. Filling out the consist are GMRC 280 (ex-CNJ), GMRC 3074 (Budd Company, ex-AT&SF), GMRC 3101 (Budd Company, ex-AT&SF), GMRC 3075 (Budd Company, ex-AT&SF), GMRC 3089 (Budd Company, ex-AT&SF), and GMRC 1323 (ex-CNJ), and bringing up the rear is the beautiful VTR 311 (EMD GP40-2LW). VTR 311 was repainted in 2012 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vermont Rail System; its vibrant red paint, white chevrons, and golden trucks make it a breathtaking sight to behold. Written on the cab is Joan Wulfson: the wife of the company's founder, to whom this unit was dedicated.
Visible at 3:25 are NECR 3105 (EMD GP40-2LW) and NECR 3845 (EMD GP38); the former wears RailTex blue and gold while the latter wears the corporate colors of Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.
White River Junction is an unincorporated village within the town of Hartford, Vermont. Its location at the confluence of the White River with the Connecticut River played a key role in its becoming the most important railroad community in the state. By the 1860s, White River Junction was serviced by no less than five railroad lines: the Vermont Central Railway (1847), the Connecticut River Railroad (1847), the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad (1848), the Northern New Hampshire Railroad (1849), and the Woodstock Railroad (1863). The eight-track crossing saw upwards of 50 passenger trains per day. White River Junction's significance as a railroad town dwindled in the 1960s due to the arrival of the Interstate Highway System; however, it is still sees regular action from the New England Central Railroad, Pan Am Railways, the Green Mountain Railroad, and the Amtrak Vermonter.
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Filmed with a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V and a Canon PowerShot SX230 HS in beautiful Windsor County, Vermont. Edited with Apple iMovie.
© 2014 Signal Hill Productions
The Vermont Rail System: Chasing the GMRC 264 Through the Green Mountain Gateway
On May 8, 2011, after spending 5 hours chasing an eastbound ethanol train, powered by 6 locomotives, through the Green Mountain Gateway from Rutland to Bellows Falls, we follow the returning freight GMRC 264 on its way back to Rutland at a few locations before nightfall. Needless to say, it's not high speed railroading (ethanol trains are limited to 10 MPH). It's nice to see such an interesting array of power on the train: CLP GP38 204, GMRC GP40 304, GMTX GP38-2 2663, VTR GP40-2LW 310, CLP GP38 203, and VTR GP40-3 312. Starting first at Ludlow at the Okemo Ridge Resort, then again at Healdville, then, the train has crested the summit and starts its way downhill at Mt. Holly, next we see the train lean into the curve at Bowlsville, and finally, darkness has arrived as it leans into the curve at East Wallingford. The next day, before heading out to CP, the Florence Switcher FLSW returns to Rutland in the morning, powered by the UGLY VTR GP40-2LW 311 and CLP GP40-2 306. The train is first seen at Proctor and then entering Rutland. Special thanks to K. Burkholder user FlightMedic11, check out his channel!
Green Mountain State Road Trip - Vermont
A lot of folks think of Spring's maple syrup, Fall's changing leaves or Winter's snow and skiing when they think of Vermont. But Summer is also a fine time to visit the Green Mountain State. Even if you are just passing through, there are plenty of places worth stopping at. And that's what I did when crossing the state one summer. I made more than two dozen stops during my drive across the state, some of which are featured here.
The Photos (in order)
M12A1531 - President Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch, and it was here where he was sworn in as president after President Warren G. Harding died; much of the town has been preserved as the Calvin Coolidge Homestead District; Coolidge and seven generations of his family are buried in the local cemetery
M12A1547 - Stephen A. Douglas, famous for his role in the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, was born in Brandon; his birthplace is now a museum
M12A1573 - Burlington is the largest city in Vermont; it is located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain
M12A1602 - The 16-sided Round Church in Richmond is a well-preserved meetinghouse
M12A1610 - President Chester A. Arthur was born near Fairfield; the site is marked by a replica of the old family home
M12A1614 - The Trapp Family Lodge, near Stowe, is famous for its skiing as well as for the family that established it; the Trapp Family, headed by Georg Johannes von Trapp and his wife Maria von Trapp, were the inspiration for The Sound of Music
M12A1636 - The Vermont State Capitol in Montpelier
M12A1654 - Vermont granite is famous around the world, and the locals who quarry it are also experts at sculpting it; that creativity is apparent in headstones found in a number of central Vermont cemeteries; Barre's Hope Cemetery has a number of interesting granite headstones
Vermont Rail System: The Return of 2684
As many of you may remember, GMTX 2684 was wrecked in January when VTR 431 hit a truck, the truck flipped, then landed on the back of the 2684 putting a huge hole in in it, and damaging the frame. On October 19, 2019, we see her return to action on 263, with the rear end of MKCX 4304
GMRC 40 YEARS
Green Mountain Railroad-A slideshow covering 40 years by Tom Hildreth
The Green Mountain Flyer 2018 804 Returns to the Mountains! And GMRC 263/4 chase
I did have a little glitch in the editing but the video didn’t come out too too bad. Enjoy!!
Sam Creigh Green Mountain Flyer (Official Video)
A Fall ride on a Vermont Tourist Train
Vermont Railway Photos Burlington, Vermont August 13, 2013 By Jim Gray
Photos of the Vermont Railway at Burlington, VT on 8/13/13 by Jim Gray.
Train Close Up in Chester Depot, Vermont
Some footage I took today of the Green Mountain Railroad. This is right across the street from my woodshop.
Vermont Railway - GMRC263 - Rod's final run
Today marks the final day before Rod will retire, seen here, he is playing the roll of Conductor, with Engineer Bill, and Student Conductor Chris. Three Scenes, first is in Rutland Yard, second is Gaynor's Crossing, and third is just before coming into Smithville.
I greatly apologize for the quality, it comes to my attention that my camera records only in 720p, and that is now outdated, I knew I should have recorded with my phone instead.. as it records in full 1080 HD.
Vermont Railway Train Chase Through the Green Mountains Spring 2011
Follow a Vermont Rail System freight and ethanol train through the Green Mountain Gateway passing scenic and historic locations amidst the spring bloom. This train, complied of 6 locomotives representing almost all schemes and locomotive types on the VRS at the time, makes the 40 mile, 4+ hour journey restricted to 10 MPH on jointed rail from the yard in Rutland, VT to the interchange with New England Central Railroad in Bellows Falls, VT. Power for the train is:
VTR GP40-3 312
CLP GP38 203
VTR GP40-2LW 310
GMTX GP38-2 2663
GMRC GP40 304
CLP GP38 204
May 8, 2011
The forecast was for sun, but unfortunately a large band of clouds made for a relatively dreary day. Despite that fact, the chase is full of a lot of excitement, mainly because of a the rare, six locomotive consist leading a train through blooming flowers and budding trees as Spring starts to take hold in Vermont. There are also scenes that will never be repeated, such as the train passing the Bartonsville Covered Bridge, which was tragically wiped out 3 months later in the high, fast flowing waters from Hurricane Irene.
The train is ready to go at Rutland, having just left the yard. The conductor had to step out and activate the gates for the busy US Highway 7.
Just out of town, the train is starting up the grade into the Green Mountains, crossing Vermont State Route 103, which follows the tracks for most of the journey. The Appalachian Trail also crosses the tracks here. We are not the only ones chasing the train, as VRS requires personnel to follow the train by road and high rail vehicle. This would prove to be an annoyance beyond anything else, but VRS takes their ethanol business very seriously. Track speed for freight is 25 MPH; 10 for ethanol.
After winding through the hills, the train crosses the Cuttingsville Trestle, which carries the train over Route 103 and Mill Stream. This would be the only location where the sun would break through the clouds.
At Mt. Holly, the change in grade and the jointed rail are noticeable as the train slowly moves toward my position near the summit. The line of sun would unfortunately cut off here as the clouds were moving slower than the 10 MPH train.
A short distance later, the train starts downhill at Healdville with air brakes applied. This is one of the many steeply-banked super-elevated curves found along this route, which in the past decades, would have accommodated fast-moving freight and passenger trains.
The train rounds the mountain as it approaches Ludlow, seen here passing through the property of the Okemo Mountain Ski Resort. Then, we just beat the train in town by the freight depot—some of the ski slopes are somewhat visible in the background.
The next few scenes take us away from Route 103 and into the woods near Cavendish and Gassetts. The train is just over half way on its journey at Milepost 22 as it leans into the curve with the Black River in the background. A short drive down the road allows us the catch the train at another Ye Olde Vermonte dirt private crossing, with the typical house and mountainscape as a backdrop.
Back on the path of Route 103, the scenery of the Green Mountains unfolds itself along the Williams River. The next location at Baileys Mill Road is another typical rural Vermont setting. Spring is coming alive here, and scenes like this is one of the many reasons why I love Vermont.
Chester is up next, with the station and town typical small town Vermont hardware store making up scene.
The following scene is one that made the entire chase worth its weight, despite not having sun or a nice red or green locomotive in the lead. The Bartonsville Covered Bridge was built in 1870 and spans 151 feet across the Williams River. No one knew that three months later the bridge would be destroyed by Hurricane Irene. A few flowers in the foreground also make this place a nice scene. From what I was told, they grow in that spot every year.
The train is now close to Bellows Falls, entering a causeway where the Williams River joins the Connecticut River. There was just enough view between the trees for this shot.
Finally, arriving in Bellows Falls, the conductor aligns the switches for the train to enter NECR trackage. The train has dropped off its freight in the siding before proceeding to the diamond. This was a long process that I have distilled down into a couple minutes. The train then backs north to park the ethanol cars on North Walpole siding, where an NECR crew will pick up the train and take it south later that evening. After uncoupling, it was worth seeing the power one more time on the New Hampshire side of the river.
9.10.16 - 9.11.16 Following The Railroad Glory Days 2016 Excursion.
White River Junction, Vermont hosts an annual event which has been an interest of mine for a few years. This year we finally made it up to the Green Mountain State for some railfanning. This video shows the excursion runs between White River and Norwich, and White River to Fairlee. I have compiled video footage from 4 different excursions (3 to Norwich 1 to Fairlee) to make it appear as one big chase to Fairlee. Aside from the excursion, there was also a night photo shoot which you can see my photos from at
As always thank you for watching, and if you want to see more do subscribe!
Missisquoi River Flooding in Swanton, Vermont USA on 2-21-18
4K Drone footage of high water and flooding on the Missisquoi river in Swanton, Vermont, USA. This footage was taken on 2-21-18 around 4 PM. A previous flood occurred in January of 2018. I am a FAA licensed Part 107 Remote Pilot. northernvermontaerial.com
New Agencies: DO NOT USE WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING FOR PERMISSION.
Music: Aurora Currents by Asher Fulero
© 2018 by Green Mountain DIY Guy. All rights reserved.
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These videos are for entertainment purposes only. I assert all copyrights claims for any content, media, comments, subject to the publishing date of this video. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Do not use any part of this video without my expressed written permission. As always, please consult professional advice before attempting any project, activity, or event. I will not be responsible for any injury, loss of life, or damage to any property or equipment using any information referenced in this video or any video on my YouTube. Always follow codes and any requirements as set forth by best practice or law. There may affiliate/associate links contained in this video and/or description. Buying through these links helps out my channel a lot and adds no additional costs to the price of parts. Lastly, be nice and play nice. Trolling and other attacks on my channel will not be tolerated.
Green Mountain NRHS Photo Freight 6/14/15
Photo Freight on the first day of the NRHS 2015 Convention in Vermont pulled by Green Mountain RR ex-Rutland ALCO RS1 #405. Several runbys as well as static shots were set up for NRHS members. Train operated on the ex-Rutland line to Bellows Falls. Train operated from Rutland to as far as Ludlow/Smithville VT. Filmed 6/14/2015.
Vermont Rail System 50th Anniversary Excursion 8-23-14
And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for that I was referring to in my post Labor Day update video... and it's set in an all-new state never seen in my videos before, Vermont! I got off Amtrak's Vermonter in Brattleboro, VT the day before this video and then went up to Bellows Falls, VT the next day to ride on a special excursion. This was the highlight of my train adventure over my summer vacation. I went for a ride on a special excursion hosted by the Vermont Rail System for their 50th anniversary from Bellows Falls, VT to Chester, VT pushed and pulled by Green Mountain Railway RS1 #405 the F. Nelson Blount. From the start of the video to about 10:10, that's the north and westbound part from Bellows Falls to Chester. From about 10:10 to the end of the video, that's the return trip from Chester to Bellows Falls after having a half hour sightseeing stop in Chester.
Green Mountain RailRoad Crossing Track Repair Brandon VT Oct 7th -9th 2015