The deathmarch begins

Started by E.M. Bell, September 28, 2007, 11:26:36 PM

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E.M. BellTopic starter

It has all started so innocently enough. I have my first weekend off in over two months, and was planning to go out Tommrow (saturday 09/29) to shoot some trains...its been awhile. I get home from a hard days work (been up since 0500) and soon receive a call from JR and he wants to know what I have planned...uh oh...

After several hours of phone calls I have been convinced that it was going to be a pretty weekend, and we need to go shoot trains...duh, that was the plan. BUT not around our old stomping grounds of the cno&tp...somewhere different. Many destinations have been discussed, but as of 1132pm we are heading Southeast to VA to shoot the NS appy district between Andover and Bulls Gap. Pretty country, usually lots of trains, and I know the area fairly well..

No sleep for either of us, cameras are packed, coolers are loaded, Johnny Cash, Rev Horton Heat and other inspirational tunes on CD have been collected, estimated departure from JREB world HQ is around midnight...

This sure to be epic thread will be continued from the mobile command center as the death march progresses, wish us luck....

E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY

      

JCagle

Well it's now about time for the death march to start. If Jr is driving his usual  (as shown in another thread) you guys should be there in plenty of time to get some sleep.
Alpha Phi Psi - Tarheel Chapter

E.M. BellTopic starter

0142 in the am...

depart world hq at 2350, encountered first train, ns 112 at harrodsburg ky 0020, stopped at wally world for needed supplies, quick stop at DV for more supplies and off we go. destination set as andover va before sunup. Shacks talking navigating thingy is already on my last nerve and I forsee it having a horrible accident before long...

live from the jreb mobile command center, 82 mph southbound interstate 75, london ky..

and may god have mercy on us....
E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY

      

E.M. BellTopic starter

0652 in the am,

new fangled electronic navigating device choose a route that was less than perfect from London KY to our destination . I knew how to get there but the shack wanted to let the little glowing genius on the dashboard call the shots... Dab blamed thing took us through hyden and harlen (KY) over pine mountain on some of the worst roads one could imagine. Of course, I knew the good old mostly 4 lane flat and kinda straight US 23 was just over the mountain. After three hours of pure riding in a ford from hell kinda night, we crossed over in to VA at 0401 in the am and arrived at Big stone gap a little after 0500.

Just awoke from a small nap to a beautiful sunrise over the wal mart parking lot at big stone, and getting ready to head out in search of a J80 mine run headed for St Charles...its got a 7500 leading so of course JR is already walking crooked....

bagged one csx train at Loyal KY on the CV sub...but grey and yellow dont count on this trip...

Live from the Jreb MCC, Big stone gap va....
E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY

      

E.M. BellTopic starter

1530 from natural tunnel va....

just got back into a place where we could get a wireless signal..  decent day so far, loaded NS and CSX hopper trains, tons of N&W cabs, and a groovy chase of the frisco local with a pair of SD40-2's...we are still after that one. gonna shoot till dark, pitch the dashboard genius out and find the best route home..

3 hours or so of daylight left...here we go...

E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY

      

Michael Knight

Take the long way home and stop by Knoxville to have a beer! ;D

Junior

1900 been on the road for 45 minutes headed home. 
Has been a successful day. 
Mr. Bell had a slow start today but ended with success.  Two perfectly lit trains with EMD would bring the day to a close.  I was happy with all the GE power early in the day.  I guess a EMD hugger needs his power fix to get things going.

Pics to follow soon

Later
Junior

E.M. BellTopic starter

Hope nobody has minded us having a little fun on here, because thats what this hobby is all about...

JR and myself are safely back home after 600 miles, 22 straight hours on the road and almost 37 hours without sleep...fun..heck yea. I used to be able to do this stuff all the time, but this weekend has proven one thing, I am getting old... BTW, Paul, we didnt get your phone message untill it was much to late to change direction...maybe next time!!

Look for a slew of pics in a day or two when I am not suffering from fatigue induced stupidity :) Here are a couple of quickies...



E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY

      

JCagle

Definitely some nice stuff there. If you aren't having fun then it's time to find something else to do after all.

Glad to hear the two of you had a nice day out. We are all getting older than we used to be. It's nice to see that jreb can set up a mobile command center when needed. How many other communities can say that?
Alpha Phi Psi - Tarheel Chapter

tarnett

Fellas,

It was good to meet you guys and glad you safely returned home. I pulled in the driveway here in Charlotte @ 11:50 PM. I'll try to post a few photos this week.

Give me a shout if you ever decide to visit the Piedmont division. Take it easy.

Todd Arnett

E.M. BellTopic starter

It was great meeting yall as well Todd.  Its funny where you run into folks at :)
E.M. Bell, KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY