Got trackside pretty early today after hearing 23G get the clear to "pull 'em around" on the scanner.
First up was T79 running out to the mixing center.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/15007550368_0ef2c89ab7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSaBSq)T79 (https://flic.kr/p/oSaBSq) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
I headed over to Whitner to get 23G before they started the long process of building their train in Buechel.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/15007431757_68bbb4fc3f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSa1Bp)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/oSa1Bp) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
A couple shots of them starting to build the train.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/15190953551_8fac9e270d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p9nBfg)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/p9nBfg) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/15007293659_3ea65b35b5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oS9iyp)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/oS9iyp) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
After about an hour 23G clears Buechel.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/15007251529_de5387e7af_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oS9632)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/oS9632) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
Heading back home I actually caught back up to 23G. That itself is so rare I decided to try and get back in front of them for another shot. I heard on the scanner that 375 and 168 were headed West. So I knew I'd catch 23G again at the Tucker Siding.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/15007677238_631a34cc1b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSbgzQ)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/oSbgzQ) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
Sun on the wrong side of the engine made me decided to catch it further East. I caught 375 coming West then left. Of course after I left I was informed a photo session broke out with people getting their photos taken in front of the heritage unit. I'm not even mad. I want to see the trains and take photos of trains. I've seen myself in the mirror enough times I don't need no photo to know what I look like.
375 comes around the curve at Tucker.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/15171210036_481880d79d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p7CqbQ)NS 375 (https://flic.kr/p/p7CqbQ) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
I'd barely made it back out on the road before I heard 168 calling signals. I knew I had to get back to the track fast or I'd miss that train. So I turned behind a church and caught them rolling by.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3836/15007559240_391a418f3f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSaEvo)NS 168 (https://flic.kr/p/oSaEvo) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/15171193246_f009b5abbf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p7Ckcm)NS 168 (https://flic.kr/p/p7Ckcm) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
After 168 went by I stopped at the McDonald's for lunch and took off for Fisherville just East of the Pope Lick Trestle.
By the time I parked the car and opened the door I heard the mp 293 defect detector go off. That meant another Westbound train. T79 returned from the mixing center with a long train. Really long for a mixing center run. There were tanks cars, hoppers, and a very long section of autoracks. Of course I could barely get my lens cap off and shoot across the street and guardrail.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3910/15007648427_15b8f1dd89_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSb826)T79 (https://flic.kr/p/oSb826) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
Figuring 23G would be along shortly I was once again caught off guard by the 293 detector and the scanner went off saying 27A clear Fisherville.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/15171176546_a949c6b06b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p7Cfeq)NS 27A (https://flic.kr/p/p7Cfeq) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
I realized I could barely fit an engine and a half in a frame with that lens. Time to go wide angle when I heard NS 112 get a track warrant from mp 308 to Tucker. Making the 5th westbound train.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/15007524890_c6f6fd6b2b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oSaui9)NS 112 (https://flic.kr/p/oSaui9) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
I thought I had also heard an i17 (eye) called West. And wouldn't you know it. 23G comes from behind headed East. Just when you think you've gotten smart to their ways. The RR says not so fast sucker. We have another curve ball to throw your way.
23G at Fisherville. Just got my lens changed in time.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15193818282_5c3d82fc99_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p9ChQb)NS 23G (https://flic.kr/p/p9ChQb) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
This is why I had to shoot for the third time a 3/4th wedge shot of 23G. Frustrating. But you work with what you got.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/15171150096_6da9e26f58_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p7C7no)NS 23G dpu (https://flic.kr/p/p7C7no) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
And with the dpu going by I decided I'd had enough and went back home.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/15193801242_c71da35cf1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/p9CcLo)NS 23G dpu (https://flic.kr/p/p9CcLo) by vampirolepis (https://www.flickr.com/people/43841481@N03/), on Flickr
Pulled in to my driveway and heard NS 285 get a warrant with a BNSF leader. By the time I was on the couch I heard the horn blast for the crossing up there street. There's always tomorrow.
An excellent series of photos, Ed! Thanks for sharing.