In an earlier post I indicated there were three curves in about an 800 yard distance on the East End mainline West Douglasville Ga. Let me correct that. Make it four curves.
The photo below is looking at what we will call the west end of the curves looking northwest.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1175.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr630%2FNSSpike%2FRails62914WestDVilleCurves_zps9e8a431a.jpg&hash=aa892dbe22bede171dd0bf9d0c9ffee6844a0e9e)
This photo is looking at what we will call the east end of the curves looking northeast. The train in this photo is NS 733. That is correct. A Powder River BNFS MT RWSX train set from plant Scherer. West bound to Birmingham then north to Sheffield Yard.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1175.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr630%2FNSSpike%2FRails6114733_zps848a70f8.jpg&hash=931e66eeb5ec6eb5aad2d3f5fce6f8ebfea5b80b)
Shown below is the Track Chart for this segment of the East End mainline.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1175.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr630%2FNSSpike%2FWestDouglasvilleCurves2014_zps7df813e7.png&hash=0a292baf401036cfae55c161e48b45115dd3ca20)
Back on March 2nd of this year in the early morning hours a single Dash-9 NS9661 operating as NS932 with MOW cars including camp cars in toe tackled the curves eastbound and at best was doing all of 15-20 miles an hour through the curves.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1175.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr630%2FNSSpike%2FRails32914932_zps7a883aec.jpg&hash=dccfa5852162de35a1cbb33c0114aac4c7f7ce13)
On that same day a trio of UP units on 226's train (LOS ANGELES, CA (UP ZLCAI) - ATLANTA, GA)take on the curves. This train also included a UP unit in DPU. This train will be taken back north to Whitaker Yard in Austell Ga.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1175.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr630%2FNSSpike%2FRails32914226_zps49fbe59d.jpg&hash=7c32f7bb32f74fc8cf10da53192ed38a81237a2c)
As previously noted US 78 is just a short distance from these main line curves and although there is some area between the shoulder of the road and the track, I prefer locating on the other side of the road and using the zoom. Timing is everything and the challenge is no vehicles in the picture. Since most of the east bounders run in the mornings 7am to 11am the sun is in your favor at this location. As you would expected, Sunday mornings offer the best opportunity to capture NS / UP / KCS and BNSF power.