Remarks: Nothing like a cab ride to help brighten up a dreary day like that one. The power for this day was CSX GP38-2 #2615, still in it's rusty L&N paint scheme, and CSX GP40-2 #6390, still in it's Georgia RR paint scheme. First thing needing to be done was to go work the NS interchange. But, there was a surprise as we rounded the corner in the interchange yard. The NS crew had arrived at the same time to switch the interchange as well. Then we worked out way back to the north end of the old Clinchfield yard (Beaumont yard). While there we met the Forrester local coming back in the yard down track 1. As the local was still going by, a northbound empty hopper train headed out of the yard on the mainline after a crew change. The brakeman in his rain suit was exchanging greetings with the outbound crew. Then we drag a cut of cars from Beaumont yard to the yard office and start down the hill towards the tunnel under NS. It was starting to get dark at that point, sorry but my old camera didn't handle darkness very well. As we approached the tunnel, one of the older crew members explains occasional problems with the tunnel during extremely heavy periods of rain to the younger engineer. Next, we headed down the old P&N line to set off some cars in the old P&N yard. While backing to our train in the tunnel, you get to hear the conversation between Smitty, the foreman on the yard job, and a coal train ready to depart southbound after a crew change. The next scene shows two drivers that came quickly down the hill towards a road crossing, causing the engineer, Bobby, to make a heavy brake application. After getting smashed when the slack runs in on us, we get started back up only to have the brakeman give a fast countdown to a stop. Bobby was surprised by the brakeman's sudden jump from "2 cars" to "Good, Bobby". Then we headed down to the lower yard (old ACL yard) to do some more switching, once again with more drivers running in front of us at a crossing south of the yard. We backed into the clear and allowed the coal train to slip by on the main. Finally, we headed back through the tunnel towards the yard office, finishing an interesting afternoon with the yard job. The brakeman called out 30 cars to the top of the hill and Bobby open up the throttle, filling the tunnel with a good dose of smoke.
An amazing video, Greg. I was shocked when you rounded the curve in the yard to find the track fouled directly ahead of your locomotive. I've spent hundreds of hours in the locomotive cab in both yard and road service and that is one of the most dangerous looking yard layouts I've ever seen.
I too have had chances to ride in cabs, but it was always so last minute that I forgot the video camera. You have captured some real unique sights and sounds that many may not have heard and that many of us fondly remember from our time on the railroad. Great stuff as always-thanks for sharing!
Posted by chris mccarthy on August 2, 2010
Good video Greg. I like it.
Posted by John on December 9, 2011
Few people get to go for a ride like this.
It was exciting. Thanks.
- Post a Comment - (Registration is not required to post photo comments, but is encouraged.)
