The NS Derby Train Jinx strikes again

[E.M. Bell]

During the week before, and the Sunday after the run for the roses, you can always count on being able to shoot the NS Derby train as they move over the Louisville District headed to and from Louisville. What you can also count on is what seems to be the "jinx" for this train, which seems to strike about every other year.

This year, it almost seemed to be a double whammy. The Inbound train ran way ahead of the usual time, and was almost into Louisville before the sun even came up on May 1st (that's not bad for the RR, just for those trying to photograph the dang thing!) We managed to get a few night shots at the wye in Danville, and that was that (Those pics can be found a few threads down)

The real treat is always the outbound trip, usually in good light, on the Sunday after the race. Even this has been a challenge a couple of times. Three years or so ago, they had to hold the train in Louisville for a day and half account there not being enough crews. Last year, we had a monsoon for the outbound trip which had it running late (but made for some pretty good shooting if you didnt mind getting wet)

This year, the Outbound trip was delayed by a "minor" derailment, and more so by the extensive track damage that lead up to it.  A train running in the early morning hours of the 8th had a loaded coil steel car break a wheel. The train traveled from around MP 316W (Waddy KY) to Shelbyville KY before it hit the dirt. Before the car derailed, the tremendous impact of the broken wheel at speed resulted in numerous broken rails and damaged a detector. By the time the sun came up Sunday morning, the Louisville District was a 90 mile long parking lot, with nothing moving at all.

Carmon and myself had already headed out and made it most of the way to Louisville before we learned of the problems. We had learned the NS still planned to run the OCS out of Louisville, but it would just be a lot later than figured. We where joined by Butch Adkins, John Owens and Ed as we sat and waited at Pope Lick..and waited...and waited...  From reports from a friend in Louisville we knew the train was ready to leave, and then after a long wait, it HAD left. Shortly before it got to  our location, it became appearant that it would only go as far as the Ford Mixing Center in Shelbyville KY, where they would have to tie it down for the night to let MofW finish making repairs to all the broken rails.

While the delay was not so good for us, it seemed to have worked out for the folks up North, as they where able to shoot the train on Monday in the daylight. Our group did manage a couple of shots...not exactly what I had planned, but better than nothing I guess!

My Three shots from the day can be found at this link.   http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/ocs11

And while your at it, feel free to check out all of my stuff from the OTHER Derby trains on Saturday, from those Two other RR's we wont name in the forum    Here is the link for that.   http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/otherocs11

[butch]

And a good time was had by all!

[steveiez]

Question, Does the Derby OCS have people on board when arriving or leaving the Derby?

I remember seeing a picture in the days of steam of the PRR supplying a K4 to make steam for the many business and private cars at the Derby.

[E.M. Bell]

Steve, the NS train dead heas in and out. The only ones on board are the operating crew and a fellow who stays with the train to oversee the passenger cars.

In Louisville, it is used as a "hotel" to entertain guest of the RR