Uploaded November 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Through the beginnings of fall foliage, across jointed rail and trestles, past covered bridges and freight depots, and over dirt roads with mechanical bells at every crossing—these are a few things that spell railfanning in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
On September 27, 2013: With the weather report signaling nothing but sun, and the possibility that there would be a huge train pulled by many locomotives, I set out to Rutland that Friday morning. However, a sudden change of wind along the Atlantic Coast brought the clouds back west, and apparently two near-70 car trains earlier in the week drained the traffic remaining in Rutland for Bellows Falls, leaving only 9 cars for this days 263, which was pulled by CLP GP38 204 and GP38-2 2663. Oh well, that's railroading for you. Either way, it made the chase easier and allowed for a full train shot at each location.
Listed below are the events and their corresponding start times.
0:00 -- GMRC 263 is ready to depart Rutland. Before proceeding across Route 7—Vermont's busiest highway—the crew must manually turn on the warning devices.
3:15 -- Throttling on its climb out of Rutland up into the Green Mountains, GMRC crosses VT Route 103, which also crosses the Appalachian Trail at this precise location. The parking lot to the left just out of view is for trail goers and hikers.
4:25 -- The water in Mill Creek is awfully low this year—as the train crosses Cuttingsville Trestle.
5:45 -- With some fall colors in the background, 263 pops out of the tree tunnel at Mt. Holly.
7:10 -- Running alongside of VT Route 103, this view near the summit of the line is one of the most open you will find. CLP 204 exchanges some toots with a truck that barrels past on the highway.
8:30 -- GMRC 263 is now on its downhill trek to Bellows Falls after cresting the summit between here and Mt. Holly. The train casually crosses one of Vermont's many rural dirt roads while rocking its way along the jointed rails.
10:10 -- 263 glides downhill through the woods near Okemo Ski Resort. Notice that there is one less car in the consist; this was set off at Smithville while I had gone to get lunch.
11:45 -- Fall color and livestock greet the slow moving GMRC 263 as it passes several farmer's lanes south of Gassetts.
13:35 -- After the crew grabs its lunch from the local deli, the train is underway in downtown Chester by the rail depot.
15:00 -- With some fall colors peeking through, GMRC 263 passes the fairly new Bartonsville Covered Bridge that was rebuilt in 2012 after the original 1870's covered bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
16:30 -- On the approach to Bellows Falls, the train crosses a causeway at the confluence of the Williams River and the Connecticut River, which divides Vermont from New Hampshire. The trees have grown a lot since I was here two years ago, almost blocking the shot. The video ends here because the train cannot be seen working the yard which is secluded from view, so the chase will continue with GMRC 264 returning to Rutland.
Through the beginnings of fall foliage, across jointed rail and trestles, past covered bridges and freight depots, and over dirt roads with mechanical bells at every crossing—these are a few things that spell railfanning in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
On September 27, 2013: With the weather report signaling nothing but sun, and the possibility that there would be a huge train pulled by many locomotives, I set out to Rutland that Friday morning. However, a sudden change of wind along the Atlantic Coast brought the clouds back west, and apparently two near-70 car trains earlier in the week drained the traffic remaining in Rutland for Bellows Falls, leaving only 9 cars for this days 263, which was pulled by CLP GP38 204 and GP38-2 2663. Oh well, that's railroading for you. Either way, it made the chase easier and allowed for a full train shot at each location.
Listed below are the events and their corresponding start times.
0:00 -- GMRC 263 is ready to depart Rutland. Before proceeding across Route 7—Vermont's busiest highway—the crew must manually turn on the warning devices.
3:15 -- Throttling on its climb out of Rutland up into the Green Mountains, GMRC crosses VT Route 103, which also crosses the Appalachian Trail at this precise location. The parking lot to the left just out of view is for trail goers and hikers.
4:25 -- The water in Mill Creek is awfully low this year—as the train crosses Cuttingsville Trestle.
5:45 -- With some fall colors in the background, 263 pops out of the tree tunnel at Mt. Holly.
7:10 -- Running alongside of VT Route 103, this view near the summit of the line is one of the most open you will find. CLP 204 exchanges some toots with a truck that barrels past on the highway.
8:30 -- GMRC 263 is now on its downhill trek to Bellows Falls after cresting the summit between here and Mt. Holly. The train casually crosses one of Vermont's many rural dirt roads while rocking its way along the jointed rails.
10:10 -- 263 glides downhill through the woods near Okemo Ski Resort. Notice that there is one less car in the consist; this was set off at Smithville while I had gone to get lunch.
11:45 -- Fall color and livestock greet the slow moving GMRC 263 as it passes several farmer's lanes south of Gassetts.
13:35 -- After the crew grabs its lunch from the local deli, the train is underway in downtown Chester by the rail depot.
15:00 -- With some fall colors peeking through, GMRC 263 passes the fairly new Bartonsville Covered Bridge that was rebuilt in 2012 after the original 1870's covered bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
16:30 -- On the approach to Bellows Falls, the train crosses a causeway at the confluence of the Williams River and the Connecticut River, which divides Vermont from New Hampshire. The trees have grown a lot since I was here two years ago, almost blocking the shot. The video ends here because the train cannot be seen working the yard which is secluded from view, so the chase will continue with GMRC 264 returning to Rutland.
