Shell Interlocking, at New Rochelle, N.Y., is where westward Amtrak trains leave Metro-North territory and get back on "Big A" iron. John Springer was now at the helm. He took over in New Haven. That trackwork is unusual. Not only do Amtrak trains make a left turn to head west on "the branch," as Mets people call it, they also travel over crossovers and diamonds with movable frogs. There is little chance of derailment with iron like that. It is a four-track speedway between New Haven and New Rochelle.
Top speed permitted on the line was 90 mph on a short segment near the west end, and the rest is mostly 65 mph track. Most of track 2 was out of service as the "Mets" upgraded its catenary and other facilities. Track 1 already has concrete ties inserted, but the rest still had wooden ties.

Photographed by Leo King, December 4, 2001.
Added to the photo archive by Leo King, May 8, 2004.
Railroad: Amtrak/Northeast Corridor.

Leo King's awards: