Southern Steam and Highhood EMD's on the K&A

[E.M. Bell]

It been a heck of a year so far to say the least, with NS putting on a show the likes of which we may never see again.  It seems like the heritage program has really overshadowed the new steam program, and those 20 engines are awesome, but for me the big show has been the steam trips. I honestly never thought I would have the chance again to shoot as much mainline steam again as I did when I was younger, and its been well worth the time on the road to do so.

On Saturday July 14th, Southern 630 pulled 3 Central Division employee appreciation trips from Knoxville to Aloca TN on the K&A branch. These had originally been scheduled to run as short hops in Knoxville, but the decision was made to use the K&A line. This meant longer trips for the riders, and MUCH better scenery for the rest of us, and we took full advantage of it.  Butch and myself headed South early that morning and spent the rest of the day running around with a few other Jreb members shooting the 630 in the fog, rain, sun and then thunderstorms. The 630 was the star of the show, but the diesel power on the North end was pretty good to...you cant go wrong with Steam on one end and a highhood SD40-2 on the other...the best of both worlds!

I added 30 new images of the K&A trips to my 2012 steam gallery, if you care to look. Below are a few teasers..

Pbase link to the whole set>>>>>  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/nssteam12

The first trip of the day crosses the TN river in Knoxville after most of the fog had burnt off...a situation that called for B&W to me.


Working hard up the grade between the river bridge and Vestal.


With the diesels on the bottom in dynamic brake, 630 was giving all she could give on one of the steeper grades on the line at MP 6. This was one of the best shows of the day, with lots of whistle and stack talk. If you want to hear it for yourself, try this link>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94cd9BimzKk&list=UUfJySmvV32UizN5Yn1wgEpw&index=3&feature=plcp


Rolling through downtown Rockford TN


Former Southern 3295 brings the train back North across the Little River bridge at Rockford.. If there has to be a diesel, it might as well be something cool!


The Noon trip crosses the TN River Bridge. This is a rather unusual view of this bridge, taken from the South Knoxville side of the river, but about the best we could come up with given the high sun. I would almost bet that Butch and myself where the only ones to get this shot..


Another B&W moment near Rockford..


NS 3295 again, bringing the Noon trip back North through the cut at Mount Olive TN. I have spent a lot of time trying to shoot on curves to hide the diesels, but this is the first time I had tried it the other way
around!


Crossing the TN river bridge again, framed with the concrete arch of the Henley street bridge which is still being rebuilt.


The last trip of the day crosses the river, with a rather nasty thunder storm turning the sky dark over downtown Knoxville.

[butch]

I rode shotgun with Emmett so many of my photos are the same angle as his.  But he was gracious enough to do some Photoshop mojo on some of them so here are a few that are different than what he posted:

MP 6 on the first run

Approaching MP 9 through the "tunnel"

[butch]

The crossing at Vestal

[butch]

Crossing the Holston River on run two

Crossing the river on the return from run three

[E.M. Bell]

I dont see how I missed that tele shot at MP 9...makes me half sick to look at that now  ;D That is one stellar shot, and about the closest thing to a tunnel we had all day!