SOU 630 on the Rathole

[PGupton]

This is actually a harder chase than you'd probably normally think.

But yes, I was out and about like many today. Started in Evensville, along with Jacob Gwinn, at the wide-open field there. After a couple NS trains (123 SB, 224 NB) and about 5 minutes and 10 more cars (including Emmett and company--good to see you as always!) showing up later, 630 arrived.

Last year's trip's troubles didn't quite prepare me for just how fast this engine can move up the CNOTP--they were HAULING!!

Caught them in Spring City, Roddy, and Rockwood before heading north to Oakdale. As luck would have it, right as I'm pulling off 328 into Oakdale I hear them clear 25 tunnel. Oh well, it was back-lit anyways.

Caught them at Lancing after they stopped at CW Tower (did anyone go into Nemo?). Then the real "fun" began.
By "fun" I mean the mini-van barely making the speed limit for the whole way up to Oneida.
It looked like some people had a killer shot set up north of Sunbright at the trestle over the highway with a classic car, but the group of us held up by the mini-van may have killed that. Terribly sorry if we did! If it was up to me I would've been far enough ahead to have gotten that shot myself anyways...

The festival in Oneida was nice--looked to be a resounding success.

After the heinous chase north from Lancing, I decided to cut the quantity and go for the quality at New River. We went 4WD up that old fire road, but ran into "No Trespassing" signs at the top, and decided to not challenge them and go back down and see what could be had from the ground level.
Actually lined up what I think is a good shot of the trestle--at least one where I'm not looking straight up or the engine isn't obstructed by trees.
From there we were going great until around Glenmary...when somebody decided they wanted to stop in the road to watch the train go past, and then proceeded to go 10 under the speed limit until Sunbright. At that point I just gave up and went for Oakdale.

They had to stop just north of Camp Austin due to something smoking(?) (brakes?). By the time they came through 'twas all in shadow and I called it quits.

Hope everyone else had a good day! Despite the irksome nature of the drivers between Oakdale-Oneida, I'm quite happy with my results (some are attached---others can be seen on my Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peytongupton/sets/72157637532822926/

[PGupton]

Attached is my shot from New River