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Last Friday 10/26/12, Carmon and myself joined a few friends for a day long trip to follow NS 055 with EMDX 1201 leading, from Louisville KY to Oakdale TN. It would be the 2nd of 4 days on the road for us as we made our way South to shoot Southern 630 in GA, and to shoot some more of the soon to be gone signals on the 2nd and 3rd districts of the CNO&TP.

For a little background, EMDX 1201 is a pretty much run of the mill SD70Ace, except for the paint job. The unit is painted in a One of a kind CAT (Caterpillar) paint job. wearing CAT yellow accented with chrome, the 1201 was used to promote CAT and EMD products at a mining trade show in Las Vegas earlier this year, and after that moved to Peoria Illinois to participate in the opening of the new CAT museum near the main plant. After the festivities in Peoria, it was put in postilion to lead the weekly High/Wide train over the NS.

While Caterpillar has long been the industry leader in heavy equipment, they also own a controlling interest in EMD, so it was a handy promotional tool to have the 1201 lead a solid train of dozers, backhoes, excavators and dump trucks destined for export.  

The day started out early with a drive towards Louisville. By the time we got to our first location at Pope Lick, the clouds had rolled in and the wind and rain started. That would pretty much be the way it was for a good part of the day. 055 got a late start from Louisville due to the ever present "to many trains not enough track" problem NS has on the Central Div, but once they got moving it was a non-stop day for us.  By the time we got to Danville, the sun had started to show itself once again, and we took full advantage of it.  

Late in the day, 055 once again got some delay around Gradison, and the crew wold go on the law and tie the train down there.  After spending a hour or so shooting there at Gradison, we took the chance to grab a quick bite to eat in Somerset before starting the long drive on South.

After securing a hotel room about 2200 and letting Carmon have a break, we headed over to Oakdale TN to meet up with Chris Starnes and set up for a night shot of 055 under the signal bridge at Tunnel 25, while Casey made his way back to the tunnel at Nemo for a night shot there.   After waiting in the cold wind for a hour or so, the last shot of 055 was in the bag, it was off to grab 4 hours of sleep (after being on the road for 20 hours) before we headed to GA to shoot the SR 630.

I am slowly working through 500+ images from this 4 day deathmarch, and have some of my favorites of the 055 up on Pbase. Look for more new stuff, including SR 630, fall color on the CNO&TP and a ton of signal shots (night and day) in the next couple of weeks.  You can check out the full set of EMDX shots on Pbase at this link  >>>> http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/emdx1201

As always, here are a few teasers..

EMDX 1201 leads NS 055 up the hill at West Waddy, KY


055 tops over at Waddy and is starting to get back to track speed as they start around the famous "Turtle Tree curve"


A yellow EMD and the orange in the tree's brighten up a gloomy day, as 055 passes the block at East Harrodsburg, Ky


The sun is out and the sky is clearing as 055 starts down the CNO&TP at Bowen KY


Easing up to a stop signal at Gradison KY.


Southbound 215 passes our train at Gradison as the sun starts to set.


After a long day following the big yellow thing in the background, it was time for a group shot..Casey, Chris and Steve take aim at me while I take aim at them...it was about supper time by this point. 12 hours of inspired driving had us all a little stir crazy I think  ;D

One of the sharpest paint jobs ever, especially in the sun, I wish it hadn't been more to go around that day, looks like you guys found some sun south of here. Good looking shots!