Pope Lick Trestle and a 5 way meet at Tucker.

[Ed Fury]

I was recently looking through my photos and noticed a large hole in my collection concerning the Pope Lick Trestle on the NS Lou. district. I decided to try and get ahead of an eastbound train a few days ago and with the grey ohio valley haze they turned out pretty bad.

Thursday I had a free day and waited for 23G to head East so I could catch them in early afternoon light when the nose would still be somewhat pointed into the sunlight.

The signal light at the West end of the Tucker siding went red so I knew 23G was headed my way and I took off for Pope Lick. After waiting 2 and then 3 hours 22A and an eastbound autorack came in.

[Ed Fury]

I need to scout this area more often and get some pictures after they mow that field.

So while I was waiting for hours in the field I called a friend who I knew was working outside in Jeffersontown and he said he had heard two trains come through headed East. After seeing the two going West across the trestle I knew something was really wrong.

As soon as I crossed the tracks at the far East end of Tucker siding I saw this (photo #1) ... and the auto rack with NS 7612 was just past the switch point (east).

I followed the engines back to the West end of tucker and saw (photo #2) the MoW train on the main at the opposite end of the siding on the main.

23G and 22a were on the main and in the siding and they (NS) swapped the DPUs off each train and added them to the head end so that each train had 3 engines up front.

23G cleared the main and went east I am guessing 4 hours after I saw the signal go red earlier in the day. The MoW train then cleared east. And finally 60A cleared East. 60A and the MoW train were the two my friend had heard go by him. After the 3 trains cleared East 22A came in and unloaded at Whitner while the autorack waited another hour or so in the Tucker siding for them to clear the main.

I think in all my time watching action on the NS line this was the most FUBAR type situation I have seen. Yes it was interesting for a railfan. As an employee I imagine it was pretty frustrating. But they do get paid by the hour.

So if any of you saw 23G Friday with 3 up front and no DPU you now know why.

[memphis2857]

23g was having trouble with the dp.  Then they tried to put an EOT on and it wouldnt link up either. That is why you saw them take 22a's power off the rear and use it.  Something was bad wrong with the lead motor on 23g.  It was a long day on the LS to say the least.