NYSW SU99 - An Ungodly Amount of Trains (2020-2026)

Why would anyone watch this? Historical reference? White noise for sleeping? Figured I'd do something with this footage, so here you go I guess. Most days, the train would come through right on my route home from work, so I could just pull over and watch it. The result is a lot of SU99s in the same few spots. COMMENTARY 1:21- First 99 with a SD70M-2. One of the few times you'll see them mixed with an SD60. Man, I miss when 3012 and 3016 had unique horns. 3:35- First M-2 leader on 99 5:28- Some well cars in tow. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think these were shuttling bridge parts for Sparta. 22:18- First repainted M-2 in tow. 51:45- ROW! ROW! ROW! Slick track means helpers on the end of most runs up to Stockholm or Sparta to get over the grade, and high hood geep 5212 was frequently in rotation around this time. 1:12:40- Wheelslip not seen since the steam era. 2:05:00- With NJ Transit requiring PTC and cab signals on any leaders on their trackage, the power pool was extremely limited for the front of road trains (4060, 4064, 4066, 3012, 3016). This is a rare occasion where a different engine led. Normally, engines that are dropped at Sparta are put at the rear of the consist so they can be set off like any other car. For whatever reason, 3024 was put at the front of the consist and led to Sparta before being dropped. 2:17:56- I will not elaborate. 3:23:50- The intended leader had some kind of issue (PTC, if I remember correctly), and the crew didn't have time to spin the new leader. The result? Tomfoolery. 3:34:15- Trains aren't supposed to be on fire. They stopped shortly after in Newfoundland to extinguish it. 3:34:20- With excursions over Amtrak suspended because of East River tunnel work, URHS loaned some of its cars to the Finger Lakes Railway for use on their trains. 3:44:00- A rare solo leader. 3:49:30- The railroad briefly leased some ex-Pan Am SD40-2s. They didn't last long, both were returned for being in poor mechanical shape. 3:51:33- Stalled train and no helpers available in WS? SJ1 to the rescue! 3022 LHF wasn't on my bingo card. 3:56:34- Some conveniently placed snow drifts made for a cool sight. 4:01:45- More cars for Finger Lakes