Chasing the NS Show Horses across KY & TN

E.M. Bell · July 31, 2011, 02:31:41 PM

The OCS trip across the LS, CNO&TP & K&O this past Thursday has already been covered fairly extensively here by several of our faithful members over the past few days, and I guess I will be the last to post my results from another fine day shooting the train.

We had heard about the trip a few months ago, and it had originally been scheduled to run through our area on Friday the 29th, but some last minute changes saw it get bumped up one day to Thursday the 28th. Carmon & myself had both made plans to be off work to shoot it, but when the date changed, she could not be off, so it looked like I would be going it alone. John Owens stepped up and offered to keep me company on the trip...(and little did he know how much work that would mean for him). John served well as my fill in communications officer, answering phone calls and texts, and keeping Jreb up to date on the trains location (usually at high speed)..I think for most of the trip he was so busy he had no idea where we where until I stopped at each location

We started off on the Louisville District with shots at Veechdale, Waddy, Talmage & Harrodsburg. On the CNO&TP we shot at my favorite curve at Norwood, the new yard at Burnside, and Sunbright TN. Jacob Gwinn was kind enough to lead us to a couple of outstanding locations on the K&O between Oakdale and Knoxville TN, where we ended the day.

Having shot the OCS on the CNO&TP a few times before, I knew the speed they would be moving, and spent about a week planning out what shots I wanted, and how to manage to get ahead of the train for them. That planning paid off well, and we even managed to get them at a couple of "extra" spots I hadn't counted on. I must say it was great to see so many of our group members out there..Butch, Jacob, John & John, Ron, Brent, Joe, Ed, Gauge, Grady, Charlie, Bruce and probably a few more I am sure I missed. Everyone had the places they wanted to shoot, and for the most part we did a good job of staying out of each others way AND almost constantly keeping in touch. The amount of information flowing over the phone was mind boggling to say the least..I am just glad I have unlimited minutes and text! Being able to run around and hang out with such a awesome group of folks is about the best part of the hobby for me, so let me say thanks to all!

When it was all over and done with, we had spent 14 hours on the road, 460+ miles on the hottest day of the year, and it was all well worth it.

I have all of my images from the trip finished, and uploaded to Pbase with a lot higher resolution than are posted here...feel free to check them out! http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/ocs11

Here are a few samples..

About an hour after leaving Louisville, NS 952 winds around the big S-curve at Veechdale KY, on the Louisville District.

Passing through the tight confines of Harrodsburg Kentucky.

Southbound 952 rolls around the big curve at Norwood Ky in a haze of brake smoke, as they start down the hill into Somerset.

After a brief stop tp inspect the new crew change facility, the F units are in #8 throttle as they pass by the new yard at Burnside KY.

The OCS is less than 20 miles out of Knoxville, as they pass the small yard at Clinton TN, on the K&O district.

Wick and the NS Big-wigs take in the view at Harrodsburg

Ed Fury · July 31, 2011, 05:05:00 PM

For some reason those Burnside pictures are sticking with me. That heat distortion blurring the train, the nose in focus, and the signal towers in the background. The photos are all great but the burnside ones are my picks as favs.

etalcos · July 31, 2011, 05:22:03 PM

Carmon, I asked about you! I figured the big guy wasn't suicidal this early in the marriage, going railfanning without you and all ;D. Anyway, my wife decided that she wanted to get out and try to photograph the special so we caught up with it at Devonia St. in Harriman. She's still getting used to photographing a moving target, but I thought she had some very respectable shots:

etalcos · July 31, 2011, 05:32:07 PM

Here's one more I kind of liked:

E.M. Bell · July 31, 2011, 05:49:01 PM

Charlie, it was great seeing yall again there on Copper Ridge, even if it was just for a few seconds! I told Carm she had folks asking about her...I don't think she believed me! Tell your better half she did right well..I really like that second shot you posted..that is just downright pretty. Is that on the K&O??

Ed, with all the heat distortion, I was fearful those shots at Burnside would not turn out well, but that one came out alright. I love that type of "big glass" shot, and was tickled to get it! Jacob and Ron where right there with me, but somehow we all seemed to have gotten something different from the same place!

bierbass · July 31, 2011, 06:26:16 PM

Great pictures Emmett! Thanks for being a great and generous source of information.

Dan

butch · July 31, 2011, 09:48:14 PM

I agree with Ed on your Burnside pic and the etalcos Harriman shots are good to. But I think you and Dan touched on the best part of the day which was seeing folks and working together to "work" the train. The day was a blast!

etalcos · July 31, 2011, 11:14:21 PM

Both are on the K&O. That first one was at the last public crossing North of the Little Emory River bridge just outside Harriman. The second one is out south of Oliver Springs right near the stand alone detector. Here is one more from East Siding.

etalcos · July 31, 2011, 11:20:16 PM

This one was our last stop off Love's Creek Road in Knoxville.