The past two times I have been out shooting, I've found myself on the Kenova District. On April 24, I was able to escape from my in-laws' house for a few hours and ventured across the Big Sandy River into West Virginia. The weather forecast wasn't promising, but I didn't care. I don't get many chances to go out anymore so even getting out for a few hours was nice.
After filling up with gas in Ft. Gay, WV (it was actually cheaper there! :o ), I headed north on US 52 to check out the shot at Prichard with the coal tower. Upon finding the tower, it appeared to me that the shot I was looking for was inaccessible without trespassing. A few NS trucks over by the tower deterred me from checking it out, so I went north. I didn't find much in the way of photo locations or trains between there and Huntington. After ending up in Huntington, I headed back south again.
After what seemed like an eternity driving south on 52, I found a decent location to shoot at Tunnel 3 at Grey Eagle, WV. However, still no trains were found. I drove north again.
Heading north towards Prichard again, I intercepted train 40A unexpectedly. This was the moment I realized I had my radio on the wrong channel. D'oh! The SD60 leading 40A would look great coming out of Tunnel 3, despite the cloudy weather. I wanted at least two shots of the train and figured I could beat it to Ft. Gay. I got back to Ft. Gay a few minutes before the train did.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmherndon.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Frail2010%2F20100424ns40ans6580ftgaywv.thumb.jpg&hash=2d9b026b097fe96c1f1a86d43e3da14aa7a4761d) (http://www.cmherndon.com/gallery/rail2010/20100424ns40ans6580ftgaywv)
Being used to railfanning on the Second District and having many a train leave me in the dust, I hurried south to Grey Eagle. I arrived at Grey Eagle, and waited. Five minutes go by and still no train. Fifteen minutes go by and it still hasn't come. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity (actually about 30 minutes), 40A arrives. There's nothing quite like the sound of a pair of 710G engines echoing off a tunnel wall.
(https://www.jreb.org/ns/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cmherndon.com%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Frail2010%2F20100424ns40ans6580greyeaglewv.thumb.jpg&hash=51fa832b84696a18cbcda590d178a7c9e1c660ce) (http://www.cmherndon.com/gallery/rail2010/20100424ns40ans6580greyeaglewv)
After that, I headed back to my in-laws' house.
The next weekend found me doing unexpected tunnel exploration. Those photos may be viewed in the "Vintage Rails" forum.