The Strates Carnival Train is heading westbound over the former Erie Starrucca Viaduct, which has been in continual use since 1848.

This is the second year that the train has used a NYSW routing coming west from Middletown, NY, whereas for 5 years from 2007-2011, the train ran east on an all NS routing from Middletown to Croxton, NJ.

Last year however, the train waited for a NYSW crew at Sparrowbush for hours, and did not make it to Starrucca in daylight.

Thanks to a well executed plan, the NYSW crew had this train moving right away across The Southern Tier in daylight, albeit with a battered rare leader C40-8 8734, and 9760 (C40-9W) trailing.

Wednesday, July 31, 1749hrs.