"Undulating profiles"

[E.M. Bell]

undulating profile, Rip-Rap, Saw-tooth, hogback...all names for the kind of track profile that train crews hate. It takes a sure hand on the throttle and brake to keep a mile of train in one piece when half your train is going up, half down, slack in, slack out. Here in KY, we seem to have a lot of places to find this kind of profile.  Not so good for a greenhorn at the throttle perhaps, but great for the photographer.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from this type of territory. Seeing as how I tend to favor a big lens, this kind of stuff always works well.  Everyone feel free to post your own "Undulating profiles" shots!

Westbound NS 375 works through the dips near Convoy Ky, on the Louisville district.



A loaded coal train is about to top over the hill at Watkins Va, on the Appalachia district.



NS 123 at Gradison Ky, on the Second distirct of the CNO&TP



A BN SD60M on NS 143 at Gradison KY

[cmherndon]

Here are a few of mine, although not nearly as impressive since I don't have a big lens.

223 Leaves the east end of Coal Chute in the snow.  It's not as pronounced, but there's a little big of a sag here.



I-64 working through the rain at Waynesburg, KY.

[ns conductor]

No photos...but I do have many memory's of the Peavine out of Portsmouth to Cincy...talk about being a greenhorn and train handling...this was a place the made you or could break you as an Engineer.  If I recall and I might be wrong...Peebles "hill" coming eastward was the steepest mainline grade on the entire OLD N&W proper as well...can't remember the % though.

Dave

[stillbre]

Mr Bell,
I'd have to agree.  I really like the look of trains draped over hills.  A lot of really good spots up your way.  Enjoyed watching you shoot them.  Here's some of my own.
NS 750 waiting for a new crew in Salisbury, just a little bit of a sag here.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=136223

NS 338 coming up off the R-Line out of Columbia.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=124149

While not NS (they do run the SOU Taylorsville Branch though).
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=118897

NS 173 just across the Mecklenburg Co line.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=118290

NS P83 local out of Rock Hill SC to Charlotte.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=118181

NS 212 over the sag at Charlotte Jct.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=118180

Another non-NS...Lancaster & Chester at the Circle S grain elevator.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=115566

NS P61 crests the hill off the Yadkin River.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=102444

NS 118 at Summit Ave in Charlotte.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=100369

RBB&B Circus train through the sag at Connelly Springs NC
http://stillbre.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=311687