12/29/07 on the CNOTP, Rockwood,TN to Somerset,KY

[joeshaw]

With the promise of UP/Katy 1988 leading train 223 down the Rathole on the 29th of December, Robb Fisher and I left Dublin, VA at about 3am and headed south down I81. From there to Bristol, no trains at all were moving. Passing Bristol, 236 was in the yard and M11 was just arriving. Passing Knoxville, we heard talk of 23G, 111 and some 700 series train. Since it was dark and we had a goal in mind, we stayed on the big road and didn't try to get consists for those further east.

Arrived at Emory Gap, TN at about 7am, and waited for the sun to rise. Before we had enough light for decent photography, train 161 ran south, 42T left Oakdale heading north, and northbound trains 124 (NS 7663, NS 8359, NS 6700) and 264 (NS 9958, UP 4593, roadrailers) came through. A call from Jeff Algood let us know the UP 1988 was still in Danville as of 8am, so we decided to work the area while we waited for it to leave.

Next was 098 at Emory Gap with NS 7689, NS 8895 and MTTX/CW 89' rail flats. Presumably new rail headed to the NS welding plant in Atlanta.


Next was train 177 at Rockwood, TN with NS 9266, NS 6751. Mixed frieght with plenty of ethanol tanks.

098 and 177 were both put into sidings to meet a fleet of four northbounds. First was M24 with NS 6132 (RCO equipped) leading NS 6683. Right behind it was 224, the northbound counterpart of the train we were waiting on, with NS 8401, NS 7569, and a short train of double stacks. Next train was a very long 230, with NS 8965, NS 8919 and a mix of double stacks and TOFC.

Fourth train of the northbound fleet was 174, with NS 9085, NS 9479, and TFM 1663. Seen here just south of Emory Gap, TN:


Next in line was a 890 (recrewed by the T36 local), coming out of the Kingston Steam Plant and crossing over the Emory River on the Tennessee Central bridge with NS 7587, NS 7565, NS 6744 and a train of empty aluminum coal hoppers with a mix of reporting marks (CEFX/GEAX/JTLX/JTSX/MBKX/SAVX/SCSX/TVAX - and one BNSF!)


After Jeff Algood informed us that 'Miss Katy' was still in Danville, we started heading north, missing a new more southbounds arriving at Oakdale, including 54A, I85 and 175. We tried to catch 167 with a side trip over to Lancing, but just saw the last half of the train. Back to US 27 to continue the search north.

We paused at Glen Mary, TN to catch three trains. First up was M24 again, then southbound 143, with NS 7543, NS 9710, NS 6613:


Third was northbound 55A wth NS 7505, NS 9662, and CITX/STLX/NAHX emptygrain hoppers. With the promise of several more southbounds coming, we headed north into Kentuky.

We paused near Flat Rock, KY to catch 123 with NS 7613, NS 9693:


After catching train 174 again near Parkers Lake, KY, we paused at the Route 927 overpass with good lighting for the promised parade of
southbounds. The first southbound was 179, with NS 2639, NS 8464:
[imgl]http://www.krunk.org/~joeshaw/pics/cnotpkaty/ns2639-1.jpg[/img]

Next was M43, with NS 6762, NS 3242, HLCX 5961 (ex-UP SD60):


Trains 215 (NS 7633, NS 9403) and 52A (NS 9502 leader) followed next, as the sun moved further down in the west. Still no word from 223 on
the radio.  Just as we were about to concede defeat, another call from Jeff Algood told us the 223 was finally leaving Danville at about 4pm.
With renewed hope of catching 223 in sunlight, we hightailed it north on US 27 to Somerset, missing 283 and 111 while we searched for someplace with sunlight on the tracks as the sun creaped further toward the hilltops.

We finally found a grade crossing basked in a narrow strip of sunlight as we finally heard from 223 on the radio. While trying to find a spot
to keep a lengthy left-light shadow off the rails, I neglected to consider an appropriate angle to prevent a big reflection of the setting
sun on the side of locomotive. The crap-tacular result:
http://www.krunk.org/~joeshaw/pics/cnotpkaty/up1988mkt-1.jpg

Once the moment passed, we followed 223 south toward home, but had no other chances of getting another shot before darkness.
We finally arrived back in Dublin just before midnight. 21 hours round trip time.

Thanks to E. M. Bell for the Danville sightings, and to Jeff Algood for forwarding them on to us in the field.

Joe Shaw
Blacksburg, VA
http://www.krunk.org/

[Michael Knight]

Those are very nice pictures, Joe! I look forward to seeing pictures from your future trips.

[Backyard]

  Gosh, you sure saved me a lot of gas this weekend!

Thanks for the TC Harriman bridge pic. NS ought to quit stealing coal cars!

[TRNBUF]

Great Shots...Thanks for sharing!!! 

~Mike