A shot on the K&O I had always wanted...and EB goes outside the box

[E.M. Bell]

A few years ago, NS built a brand new siding on the K&O district, just outside Clinton TN. I had been by there a time or Two, but never when there was any traffic, or if there was a train, the light was all wrong. Jacob (NSrailfan) had showed this spot to me again back in the summer while chasing the OCS to Knoxville, but again, the light was all wrong. I had been itching to shoot something there, and finally got my wish this past Saturday.

Carmon and myself where on the way to Knoxville, and decided to take the scenic route, as we had all day to kill, and the though of getting that one shot was in my mind. Keeping touch with a friend in Knoxville, we knew that the 112 was headed our way, with the T12 local right behind them. We found a spot with good light and waited. There are TONS of good angles all through the siding, but the light was best here....a fellow could spend all day shooting in this one area if there was enough trains.

As usual, the "big" pictures can be found at this link.  http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/gallery/cs3rd11eb

NS 112 at Laurel TN 11/19/11



After letting the 112 go, we made the quick trip down the hill to Clinton, and where treated to the All EMD T12 switching in town.





Now..just to prove that I like to think outside the box every now and then, we did waste a little time shooting that "other" RR...I know I know, what was I thinking, right?? Let the jokes fly...I can take it.

A CSX Northbound at Habbersham TN on the KD sub.



And a lucky ( I guess) encounter while waiting on the 112. Another CSX train at the North end of the Dosset TN tunnel.





I know I am teasing Adam and a few others with this stuff....look for the stuff from the Southern SW1 photo trip to be finished and up later tonight..

[Kentucky & Indiana Terminal RR]

Youre killing me, all those killer switchers and youre shooting ge's  ;D all jokes aside it looks like the 112 is on a nice grade, and the good thing about the csx, they're usually good for some odd power.

[Michael Knight]

Great stuff, as always, Emmett.  I remember when we shot at the bridge in Clinton several years ago. The power you caught most recently was a much better catch.

As for the siding between Mullen Ridge and Laurel, I remember when it was being built. The then DS, Marsha Mitchell, was eagerly awaiting its completion.

NS touted an addition of eight trains per day on the lines radiating through Knoxville after the CR split. At that time, the K&O route was bursting at its seems with trains going to and from the CNO&TP at Harriman Jct. Had NS been more mindful of its future routing options post-Conrail, it would have likely averted the investment in the siding. Very little traffic moves over the K&O today; after the Conrail split, the Knoxville area saw trains eliminated and rerouted through other terminals, and it actually lost trains--not gained them.

Those CSX shots are stellar! It's glad to see that you capture that "other" line in addition to a real freight-hauling transportation company.

How big was your focal length when shooting the train popping out of the tunnel?

[E.M. Bell]

Thanks Mike... and the first tunnel shot was around 220mm according to the exif info..

The K&O has some awesome scenery, but as you said, could use a few more trains in the daylight.

[Michael Knight]

Thanks Mike... and the first tunnel shot was around 220mm according to the exif info..

The K&O has some awesome scenery, but as you said, could use a few more trains in the daylight.

You're quite welcome, E.M. The K&O sure is nice; even a few more trains at night would be good. Since the Burnside deal, Loudon grain trains have increasingly been routed via Chattanooga; add to this the loss of 236 and the fact that 167 & 168 are Chattanooga trains now, and any traffic to add importance to the line would be a good thing.

[billworsham]

I stepped out of the box too, EM.  Steve and I went to shoot the CSX Henderson Sub (Nashville, TN to Henderson, KY) yesterday.  We went all the way to Evansville, IN.  It was not as busy as usual.  We only netted 5 trains in video or photography.  Being the holiday weekend, we figure that the crews marked off for the most part, but we have been told that this line is comparable to the CNO&TP in terms of traffic.  We have decided that we will probably go back and shoot the sub again in January, on non-holiday terms.

[Ponce de Leon]

Thanks Mike... and the first tunnel shot was around 220mm according to the exif info..

The K&O has some awesome scenery, but as you said, could use a few more trains in the daylight.

...I have no particular bias in favor of either NS or CSX---both are my "favorites"---but the first tunnel shot at Dossett is stunning. Naturally, I would have preferred an L&N Alco FA2 (wouldn't we all?!), but the older GE ain't too bad. Of course all the shots are excellent, but that one was my favorite of the group.

[Michael Knight]

Thanks Mike... and the first tunnel shot was around 220mm according to the exif info..

The K&O has some awesome scenery, but as you said, could use a few more trains in the daylight.

...I have no particular bias in favor of either NS or CSX---both are my "favorites"---but the first tunnel shot at Dossett is stunning. Naturally, I would have preferred an L&N Alco FA2 (wouldn't we all?!), but the older GE ain't too bad. Of course all the shots are excellent, but that one was my favorite of the group.

Well said, Ron! The 7616 was my favorite of the group too! It's looking good for its age in those pictures!

[mbgphoto79]

Nice work, EB!  Anyone else notice how crooked the logo is on the nose of that GE?  I guess it didn't get painted in Chattanooga!

[etalcos]

I'm not so sure about the light traffic on the K&O.  Looks like there is steady grain traffic to Tate & Lyle (sometimes multiple trains daily), 111 and 112, stacks/pigs both ways, Auto Racks on a semi regular basis, the occasional coal train, unit grain to the Carolina's (non Tate & Lyle), occasional CSX coal, T34, and TK0 whoever moves and T-12 Tuesday thru Saturday.  CNO&TP its not, but far from light traffic.  You probably miss a lot of it since much of it happens after dark.  

ETAlcos

Live from the home office, MP 10 K&O.....  

[Michael Knight]

I'm not so sure about the light traffic on the K&O.  Looks like there is steady grain traffic to Tate & Lyle (sometimes multiple trains daily), 111 and 112, stacks/pigs both ways, Auto Racks on a semi regular basis, the occasional coal train, unit grain to the Carolina's (non Tate & Lyle), occasional CSX coal, T34, and TK0 whoever moves and T-12 Tuesday thru Saturday.  CNO&TP its not, but far from light traffic.  You probably miss a lot of it since much of it happens after dark.  

ETAlcos

Live from the home office, MP 10 K&O.....  

From the high of the mid- to late-90s, when the siding mentioned was being constructed, traffic today is pale in comparison.

More recently, the losses of 167 & 168, the latter of which was often ran as a "combo" with 112 in recent years, and the loss of 236 have all taken their toll on the K&O's traffic levels as well.

As noted, routing Loudon grain trains via Chattanooga is becoming an attractive option since the Burnside project was completed. Managing crews on the Knoxville-Burnside pool is a challenge for the cheif's office while Burnside to Chattanooga is an easier task; not to mention the fact the crews are having trouble making the run to Knoxville without having to be recrewed. Add the delays of having to double the hill over Copper Ridge and the issue of loaded trains often having to be tied down on the West End (by the K&O inbound crew) and the routing of Loudon grain via the K&O becomes an even less feasible task. The loaded grain trains do not require a push going south to Chattanooga or up to Loudon on the West End either.

Depending on what TVA does concerning fuel sourcing for Kingston--and its generating capacity since TVA is aiming for significant reductions in fossil fuel energy production, through coal traffic on the K&O could be in jeopardy at some point in the future. Interestingly, coal trains destined to Kingston--and received from CSXT--have been running north from Chattanooga recently.