After waiting till the last minute Sunday morning to decide to go back and chase, I got on the road even though under normal conditions I would not have ever raised a camera. We were originally planning on heading straight to the top of Blue Ridge but before I got there one of my partners found a nice set of S-curves at the N252 near Bonsack so plans changed. After that we raced to the top at Blue Ridge and had to step out of the vehicles shooting to catch 630 polishing the rails of the Hallowed Blue Ridge grade for only the second time in 18 years. Then it was on to Bedford to catch them eastbound in the long straight stretch.
Paul
We then chased on the Lynchburg and caught them coming by the CPL as the ran onto the west leg of the Wye at Kinney. After a quick pit stop we headed back to Bedford and caught them coming under the stone arch bridge with the Big Otter CPLs in the background. Shot Irving Road one more time in about the same spot, this time steam was rolling as 630 pounded west.
Paul
Next we went back to the top of the grade at Blue Ridge as 630 worked hard to get the train up the hill. Then I went back into Roanoke and got a few shots. This one of 630 shoving back past VMT as they headed for 57/Old Mainline to park the train.
Over all we had a great weekend with 630. The old girl ran flawlessly and gave us a run for our money on all 3 trips. 40MPH was a lot harder to chase than last years 30. 630 really worked this year with the 2 extra cars and one of those having a generator.
Paul