The last searchlights and more new double track on the CNO&TP

[E.M. Bell]

Over the last year or so, NS has been working on a project to extend double track at Rogers Gap, Ky on the 1st District of the CNO&TP.  The Rogers Gap Extension will hopefully alleviate another bottleneck and keep traffic moving,  This project is just One of several that the RR has undertaken over the past few years to add capacity to the busy CNO&TP. 

The current CP at Rogers Gap is located less than a 1/2 mile North of the of North end of the Toyota Yard at Delaplain .  Northbound trains that have to pick up and set off in the yard (and there are several a day)  often need to go out onto to single track to have enough headroom to work, and this tends to cause massive delays to other trains.  NS is extending the #2 track North about 2 miles, allowing trains to have enough room to work without fouling the other track.   The project is expected to be complete by the end of this year.   

The project also meant a stay of execution  for the last set of GRS model SC searchlight signals on the CNO&TP.  The CP at Delaplain  is still protected by the old SC signals mounted on the Southerns homebuilt signal bridges, but not for much longer.  The CP will be moved North about a half mile, and once that is done, the old signals will come down....bringing  to a close another era on the CNO&TP.  The new crossovers and signals are already in place, and expected to be cut in by the end of October. 

Back in September, I was able to join a couple of friends to check out the Rogers Gap project and get a few pics.  The new CP is not located near any public crossings, but with permission of  the land owner,  we were able to drive back a farm lane and spend an hour or so shooting.  You can check out the whole set at this link >>>>    http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/nscs12015

Northbound 170 comes North on what was the single main (now #1 track) as 94W dumps ballast on the new #2 track.  This was the first train movement over the newly installed track, and we just happen to be in place to shoot it!  The NEW CP at Rogers Gap is just behind me. 


A Southbound Manifest passes the new CP at Rogers Gap and eases through the work zone.  The ballast train has not made it this far North yet, leaving the new mainline sitting on the sub-grade.


A Northbound comes under the GRS Model SC signals at Delaplain as a Southbound on #1 track works the South end of the Toyota yard.   By the end of October the old signals will be gone...


A favorite shot from Delaplain .  Southern 630 comes South under the classic old signals in May of 2014....