CNO&TP Inspection Train, July 25 2008

[tq-07fan]

I just joined jreb.org so this is from last week, a little late but you still might enjoy some pictures.  This is my first jreb post.

The city of Cincinnati built and still owns the Rathole but leased it to CNO&TP, then Southern and now NS. From what I have learned this is an annual train. I found out about this inspection train and then posted the pictures with the story on trainorders.com but thought you might enjoy a few scenes as well.  The inspection train ran as number 951 and was pulled by 5645 and 5646 and left Gest Street yard at 9:00 am sharp on Friday July 25 2008.

I merely guessed at what time it would leave Gest Street and expected to chase it down to the signal bridge at Adams. I found it and I ended up chasing all the way to Chattanooga where the train tied up for the night. This was my first time farther south than Lexington on the Rathole (other then Danville on an excursion) and my first time into the state of Tennessee since 1986. I went home that night so I don't know when the train returned.

1) Adams, KY 9:38 am (MP 24.5)  I like the signal bridge here.

2) Junction City, KY 12:05 pm (MP 120.8 )  A northbound cleared Bowen for a southbound to continue. Another southbound pulled up on the same track opposing it. The NS 951 here passed both in a three way meet.

3) Stearns, KY 1:40 pm (MP 192.5)  Just enough time to turn the car around and shoot through the rolled down window.

4) Spring City, TN 4:00 pm (MP 283.2)  On the left a pagoda  that would work for railfanning, I wanted to include it in the shot. To the right is a dwarf signal with a target around the searchlight and a small permanently red light above it.

Rathole review, what I saw, I liked. Even if I was blasting past at a high rate of speed.

[Michael Knight]

Welcome to JREB! Thanks for sharing your pics!