I spent last weekend (March 9th and 10th) shooting the 630's trips out of Bristol Va, and have to say it was by far the best steam trips I have chased since the "old" program went away in 94. The 630 and crew had a seemingly perfect trip both days with no engine problems (although the passenger cars had some issues)...Great scenery, great weather, and some good folks to share it with made for a awesome weekend.
I spent Friday with Jim Wrinn, showing him a little of the CNO&TP, and then we made a stop in Stearns KY to get some shots of the 0-6-0 steamer the K&T is restoring. What was supposed to be a brief visit turned into a full blown tour of the shops, and then a (very) unexpected ride over the entire K&T mainline on a Fairmont motor car. Mr. Johnson even took us out to the end of track on the long out of service portion of track towards Yamacraw KY. Those are some mighty friendly folks to say the least! We didnt get out of there and headed East until dark, but neither one of us could complain after getting the royal treatment. I will share some videos and pics from all of that later on, if yall want to see them.
Saturday dawned cold and clear in Bristol, and after meeting up with Ron Flanary and Jacob Qwinn at the hotel, we all loaded up in my Explorer and headed for the train station. The crowds had already gotten thick before the train was even on the mainline, but given the conditions, it was to be expected. With Rons expert knowledge of the NS Pulaski District, we set off following the train East to Radford, and bagged some great shots at several locations. We also managed to work in a lot of shots of the train with what remains of the old N&W CPL signals, which was on my "do soon" list. A lot of those old signals have already been replaced, and what is left wont be around much longer. It was a great day, followed that evening with a good dinner with the whole gang.
Sunday, I struck out by myself with the intentions of following the train to Bulls Gap TN, and then heading home from there. I had not had anytime to scout the line from Bristol to Bulls Gap, but thanks to Mr. Starnes and Sam Phillips, was able to find some great locations. The weather was not as good, but I seem to find a sucker hole in the clouds every time the train showed up for the most part. After 1 parting shot of the train as they departed Bulls Gap, I jumped on the interstate and headed for the Bluegrass state. While the steam is great, it was even better to get to hang out with some friends that I don't get to see that often and enjoy the show with them.
Here are a few teasers...Check the link for my results.. Almost 40 new images >>> http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/steam2013emb (http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/steam2013emb)
Saturday 03/09/13
Close to 500 passengers bound for Radford VA enjoy the show as Southern 630 brings the train up to the platform at Bristol. The train had to back out of the yard and cross over to the main just West of the depot, and then came pounding East across the state line with the shotgun exhaust and whistle echoing off the hills.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2FSR630_Bristol_030913_2.sized.jpg&hash=fe2c0c807f8a429f0e6e9f1cd7da7e3d6aed5364)
630 makes a smokey departure from Bristol Va
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The N&W CPL's at Abington Va get dusted with cinders once again as SR 630 comes charging into town
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Ron F. Says howdy at Abington
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630 hammers through the historic district in Glade Springs, Va
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2FSR630_GladeSpringva_030913.sized.jpg&hash=e8226888415b9ae1a9e13d7d66fff70de88d507f)
Southern 630 simmers in the low evening light after a flawless trip to Radford and back.
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The smiles tell the story of the day, as we wait for 630 at Abington VA. Good railroading and a few friends to share it with..cant get much better than that! L-R, Jacob Qwinn, Ron Flanary, Jim Wrinn and Samuel Phillips.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fabingtongroup_030913.sized.jpg&hash=3d98bd8a695eceb72a1b72158c722731662174d7)
Sunday March 10th
The first shot of the day, and also my favorite. The pastor of the Lick Creek church near Piney Flats TN stepped out to watch the SR 630 come charging past, just before his congregation started to arrive for the morning service.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2FSR630_Pineyflatstn_031013_w.sized.jpg&hash=1c32dccb3e7c4b62c2dcd7893f2883b3f1d74db0)
Westbound at Sand Valley TN.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fsr630_sandvalleytn_030913_1.sized.jpg&hash=4c2c55a69a553c8669d1de1a52844e2cbe61aeaf)
"Steam and the Dynamite Factory" Southern 630 wheels a trainload of happy folks right through the middle of The Austin Powder Company at Greenville Tn. Austin produces several products, all of which would not take kindly to the external combustion source roaring by outside.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fsr630_greenvilletn_030913_2.sized.jpg&hash=801b02c9f8c6f62d23776507ef609926aa7799cc)
Dang. EM, this might be the most successful day of railfanning I've ever seen documented- truly. I think this would make an awesome article in Trains Magazine... ;)
-Chip :)
Thanks for allowing me to relive a wonderful weekend. Some of your shots look almost identical to mine (really??!!), but many of them are alternate angles (maybe the other side of the track, for instance) that really look great. Of course there were many ways to shoot this baby, but you brought back some solid winners.
Thanks again for allowing me to tag along. I had a ball with you and Jacob.
RF
Thanks Chip..I might send a few shots in to them, once I get caught up.
Ron, I have said it before...I think we could have any other hobby you can think of, and if you had such a good group of folks to share it with, it would be fun. I enjoy the steam, but its really just an excuse to get out and see folks you dont get to see often. We saw some pretty neat stuff, and it would not have been near as much fun alone.
Case in point, let me tell a little story here that I had left out of my trip report..
While my comment about Ron having expert knowledge of the line is spot on, late in the day the issue of shadows was becoming an issue as the sun sank lower. Getting to a spot we wanted to get to was no problem, but knowing what the light would be like (and having no time to make changes to the plan) WAS a problem, and getting worse by the minute.
Somewhere just East of Abington, we where talking about a spot we wanted to go to, but had no idea where the sun would be in relation to the tracks (the Pulaski district winds around the hills like a drunk mule in places) . Jacob and I both went to our smart phones, getting into maps and sun angle calculators..all the good modern techy stuff we seem to rely on nowdays. Sadly, neither of us was able to say for SURE the light would be good at this certain location.
After I gave up, put the phone up and got back to driving, I look over and Ron has his ragged edged Delorme map book laid out on the dash for the sun would hit it...he had his index finger on the spot we wanted to go to, and was moving the map around to get it lined up just right to the angle we wold shoot from. He kept adjusting, moving, all the time mumbling and chanting in some language only known to him. I made the comment "hey, Jacob...looks at this crazy Indian S*&T up here"...... And when we got to where we wanted to go, the sun was as perfect as anyone could want.
Moral to this rambling....Crazy Indian navigating is cheaper, more effective, and much more entertaining than cussing at your smartphone. Being able to poke fun at the one doing it for years to come is simply priceless..
Another good one from the trip, that I still don't think anyone believes except for me.. On the Eastbound leg of the trip, our Navigator headed us out into the country in search of a set of CPL's at a location called Gunton Park. We jumped of the 4 lane, and soon found ourselves zigging and zagging on back roads that got worse and worse. Now, this did not bother me in the least..the good places on the CNO&TP are found on roads like that. After what seemed like an hour, we arrived at Gunton Park about 10 minutes ahead of the train. Now, we where in the middle of nowhere..up a hollar in the hills with almost no signs of human existence other than the road and the railroad.
We jumped out of the truck and spread out looking for that perfect angle and held our ground should the pack of other chasers find us (which they didnt).. I was standing there by the edge of the road, listening to the bird singing and the sound of a steam whistle way off in the distance, just enjoying the peace for a moment when I heard...a banjo playing. Off and on, softly, but the unmistakable sound of a banjo playing. I hollared down to see if the other guys heard it...they did not. My mind raced to a certain movie..and how far away I was from the "protection" I had in the Explorer. Nobody else claims to have heard it....but I sure did..
That was followed by Ron telling me to stay on the same road "over the mountain" instead of going back to the interstate. We had already discussed that option, but decided against it because of the road condition. I locked in the 4 wheel drive and got us over that mountain on a gravel road and kept pace with the train for the most part...I think that was the least amount of conversation I heard all day.... :)
EM, really great set of successful photos!Quote from: E.M. Bell on March 17, 2013, 01:26:03 PMRon, I have said it before...I think we could have any other hobby you can think of, and if you had such a good group of folks to share it with, it would be fun. I enjoy the steam, but its really just an excuse to get out and see folks you dont get to see often. We saw some pretty neat stuff, and it would not have been near as much fun alone.
That's the first thing that popped in to my mind when I saw the picture of Jacob, Ron, Jim, & Sam. During a lull in traffic or while waiting, I've always tried to get a shot of my friends I'm out chasing with. Years later, these are more special to me than the perfect shot of the weekend. It's always good to look back on these years later & see how we've all changed (gotten older!) and inevitably brings up a round of stories associated with the trip. Those memories are "what makes it" fun for me.Quote from: E.M. Bell on March 17, 2013, 01:26:03 PMAfter I gave up, put the phone up and got back to driving, I look over and Ron has his ragged edged Delorme map book laid out on the dash for the sun would hit it...he had his index finger on the spot we wanted to go to, and was moving the map around to get it lined up just right to the angle we wold shoot from. He kept adjusting, moving, all the time mumbling and chanting in some language only known to him. I made the comment "hey, Jacob...looks at this crazy Indian S*&T up here"...... And when we got to where we wanted to go, the sun was as perfect as anyone could want.
Moral to this rambling....Crazy Indian navigating is cheaper, more effective, and much more entertaining than cussing at your smartphone. Being able to poke fun at the one doing it for years to come is simply priceless..
Good story about "Indian Ron." I'm with him. The GPS stuff can fall out the window, I'll not go chasing without my Delorme Map books. Guess I'm old school like that, but I like using them & their simplicity. (Helps to have a good navigator on board too!)
Quote from: E.M. Bell on March 16, 2013, 07:18:00 PM
"Steam and the Dynamite Factory" Southern 630 wheels a trainload of happy folks right through the middle of The Austin Powder Company at Greenville Tn. Austin produces several products, all of which would not take kindly to the external combustion source roaring by outside.
Nice shots!
But I have one quibble. The Austin company in Greeneville TN that was in those trackside brick warehouses was in the tobacco business, not the explosives business. Those are former tobacco warehouses. This Austin company no longer has a presence in Greeneville, AFAIK.
There is a "new" Austin presence in the Greeneville area. That Austin Company has a subsidiary, US Nitrogen, that is building a plant alongside the RR to the west of Greeneville, approximately where the Walmart distribution center is located. This plant will make nitrogen-based components of explosives, but those components will be transported elsewhere to become actual explosives. Reportedly, this plant will get a siding on the NS, but I have not seen it to verify its presence.
I'm confident there is no connection between the different Austin companies, over different eras, in the Greeneville area.
Some history of the tobacco Austin:
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...n-inc-history/
Some info on US Nitrogen/Austin Company in the explosives business:
http://www.usnitrogen.com/
Wow... you grabbed some classic shots, E.M.