I was sitting around the house this afternoon watching the cold rain fall and enjoying a NCIS marathon (not my ideal way to spend a Saturday, but it happens) when I heard the NS Louisville dispatcher talking to a 944 which was leaving Danville, KY. When I heard that 944 (with NS 5148 leading) get a TA to go West, and quickly decided I was going to have to get wet. A High Hood GP38-2 leading seemed to be worthy..
With very little time to spare, I grabbed the camera and ran down the road to the NS bridge over the creek near our house. I could hear 944 blowing for the crossing just around the curve as soon as I got there, and was soon treated to one of the best EMD shows I have seen in a long time. That poor little 5148 was coming at me in #8 throttle (only power on the train) giving everything she had to drag a 30+ car work train through the dip over the creek and back up the other side. That sweet music of a 645 prime mover wound up tight was filling the valley with sweet EMD music, only broken by the occasional wheel slip as she struggled to keep her feet on the wet rail.... A show like that is well worth a wet head!
Full sized images at the link >>> http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/ns_ls_2014_eb (http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/ns_ls_2014_eb)
NS 944 at Salvisa, KY on the NS Louisville District 03/29/14
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fns944_salvisa_032930_1.sized.jpg&hash=dfa8694be66dcac43f48f774062b87e2e375baa8)
Ballast cleaner tucked in behind the power
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fns944_salvisa_032930_2.sized.jpg&hash=5e6e6c2b5ea758b14089fc98e4a2c8ce6c07daeb)
Camp cars ride West...looks like someone is going to have a wet bunk with that open window.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fns944_salvisa_032930_3.sized.jpg&hash=5948791c749890cf10a0d071f8e63c0e26917a6f)
Tampers and regulators and other assorted stuff that a surfacing gang needs to work bring up the rear.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjreb.org%2Fv-web%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2FBellpost13%2Fns944_salvisa_032930_4.sized.jpg&hash=29e6b9608dcce880742dc6ece2f1d13c8a6434bc)
Very cool! I bet the sound was just amazing and a treat for the soul!
PA Dan
I am 63 and remember well just about all EMD's that ever ran the road. I rode behind many of PRR E, F's and other assigned for passenger duty.
They are indeed a superior engine. I don't know how the new 70's are doing but they still have that sound!