Winter of 1999 was approaching fast, and CSX ownership of Conrail's Boston Line had already reached six months. One could still set their watch to the parade of trains through the area of Palmer, MA in that era. Following the day's earlier rush of morning intermodal and auto-rack traffic on December 18th, manifests would take over for a spell before the afternoon quiet time began. Soon enough, the distant Wilbraham Detector would read off an eastbound in this order--"CONRAIL...WILBRAHAM, MASSACHUSETTS...NO DEFECTS...TOTAL AXLE COUNT 3-6-0...TRAIN SPEED 3-4...OVER". Within minutes, the sound of distant dynamics could be heard from my location behind Howlett's at MP 83. Moments later, SEFR(Q422 early in CSX) would bang across the NECR diamond and through CP83. The sight of an SD40-2 foursome was only made better by the two BN visitors in the middle! I wasn't sure at the time if the engineer was trying to mess up my shot or just add his own Holiday Spirit to it! Either way, I found it hilarious! If only he had a Rudolph nose! I certainly miss those days
