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In the article you followed a train from Fonda up through Johnstown to Gloversville. The train consisted of Engine #21, a Ma&Pa box car, a Santa Fe boxcar, a Union Pacific boxcar, a CB&Q boxcar, a Union Tank Line tank car and three all door boxcars. Last night, after a long day working at the new house, I made up a consist of similar pieces of rolling stock (#20 instead of #21), a Ma&Pa car, a Santa Fe car, a UP car, a CB&Q car, a tank car and three all door box cars and while I didn't have time to set up the proper scenario, I ran a train between Fonda and Gloversville. The following are shots from that trip.
It was a warm early Summer's morning and the fog hung low in the Mohawk River valley as the FJ&G freight swapped out cars with Conrail.
Meanwhile up at Gloversville engine #21 was idling by the freight house with the mornings fog thick there as well. The line was in bad need of maintenance with earth showing through the ballast everywhere, here in the Gloversville yard and everywhere else as well. The new owners had plans for extensive rebuilding to handle increased freight from a number of large customers they had been able to get to sign up with promises of dependable and customized service.
It took took some time to sift through the 25 cars Conrail had left during the night and it was after 7:30 by the time the train headed back toward FJ&G rails for the trip up out of the valley. The sun was just coming up out of the east by the time the train was headed the short distance westbound.
It was a long grueling climb up the 2.8% grade that limited the trains length to 8 cars, so several trips would be needed before all 25 cars were taken up the hill.
After what seemed like forever the train finally crossed High Bridge.
From High Bridge the grade continued on unabated till the train reached Sammonsville Road. From there it was a bit easier to Johnstown.
From Johnstown it was just over a mile to the yard at Gloversville but the switching needed between Fonda and customers at Johnstown and Gloversville saw our crew use up their entire 12 hour shift, and that still left the 3 all door boxcars left to be delivered at the end of the line at Broadalbin.
