Heavy Switching and EMD End Cab Power on the LVRM

Lehigh Valley Rail Management is a shortline railroad operation which is headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, with operations in Bethlehem, Steelton and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The LVRM operates over former PBNE turf around Bethlehem, PA, interchanging with NS as well as servicing several businesses, including JB Hunt as well as Lehigh Heavy Forge Corp, with a few others, and like the PBNE of the past, exclusively uses EMD end cab units to get the job done. My friend James gave me the introduction to their operations and I have shot them several times since then..

My first visit was September 15, 2018, where we stumbled upon the LVRM 130 crew, which handles afternoon work as they shuffle intermodal around Lower Saucon Yard with a nice quartet of switchers, including leased LTEX SW1500s 1517 and 1508, former CSX MP15DC 1146 and former PBNE MP15DC 19 for power. After shuffling their cars around, we catch them as they arrive at NS River Yard in Bethlehem under the watch of Bethlehem Steel with the intermodal cars for one of the evening trains outta North Jersey to grab. We then catch the 130 shuffling some lumber and covered hoppers around before working one of their lumber customers in Hellertown.

September 19, 2018 and I'm back with Kyle for more LVRM action on a much sunnier and hotter day. 130 makes their presence known with the same set of switchers sans LTEX 1508 as they bring back a pair of reefers from US Cold Storage before shuffling their inbound cars off NS. The trio then bring intermodal into River Yard at dusk with the former CSX MP15DC leading.

September 29, 2018 and I'm back again! Same trio of switchers on LVRM 130 as they shuffle intermodal around, bring it down into River Yard and then shove their cars from NS 20K in to Beth Intermodal, a lighter evening for them.

Now a few months have passed and its January 2, 2019, and after chasing East Penn around, we found LVRM 130 shuffling a covered hopper from their massive supply of stored cars around Iron Hill Yard with LTEX 1508 and former CSX 1115 and 1146 at dusk, They are then seen working Faulk in Hellertown before it became too dark..

Now the grand finale, January 18, 2019, James and I were informed of two hot ingot cars for Lehigh Heavy Forge were en-route on NS 22V, warranting a trip to catch the interchange and the delivery of these cars in the freshly fallen snow. NS 22V is seen pulling into River Yard with SD60E 6982 ahead of two D9s as they have a perfect meet with LVRM 120, the morning crew as they arrive. 120 sports the two LTEX units and LVRM 1146. We capture 120 as they arrive with cars for one of the NS locals out of Allentown before they shove the intermodal into Beth and then grab the ingot cars to spot at LHFC.

Thanks for watching!