Appalachia District photos from the 09/29/07 Deathmarch

[E.M. Bell]

You have read the book, now here is the movie...or at least the pictures. Shack may have some movies for us, you just never know about that boy....


IF you dont know the whole story, read this first..  http://jreb.org/ns/index.php?topic=4088.0


After the exciting and fun filled trip through outer neverletacomputercalltheshotsastan in the middle of the night, JR and myself arrived at our destination of Big Stone Gap VA well before daylight. Seeing as how both of us had been up for almost 24 hours already, we decided to catch a couple of hours of sleep  Shack seemed to sleep well, while I listen to the RR on the radio and him snore..good lord...  (off topic here, but Important.. Feel free to send Juniors wife a card of condolence if you get the chance. That poor women couldnt have had one minute of sleep in the entire time they have been married with noise that is produced by a sleeping shack)...  Anyway, The radio got busy with trains and we got ready to move on, and where treated to a great mountain sunrise over the Big Stone Walmart...



First stop was downtown Appalachia Va. We had been hearing a pair of mine runs getting ready to head out on the branches around there. We found power for Two trains tied up and took the first pics of the day, even before the sun had popped up over the ridges..





Wanting to do a little exploring, we wandered into Norton VA, where the yard was packed with trains but nothing was moving. Did manage one shot at Norton, you dont see stuff like this in KY much anymore..



Wile we where checking out the scene in Norton, a 706 loaded coal train was heard on the radio getting his pushers at Andover. We did a little inspired driving and got back towards the T line and caught his pushers shoving hard near Orten Va.



We followed the 706 and got him in a few places. The sun was hard to get right as it was still failry early and the shadows where long. Here is 706's head end at Sunbright Va.



With Three big motors on the head, and Three more on the bottom, 706 is down to a walk at Speers Ferry.




The 706 one last time, getting back moving again at Boone Va, after cutting off his pushers.



Letting the 706 go, we started back towards Big Stone Gap again, seacrhing out some photo locations along the way. A Early lunch was soon interrupted by a CSX loaded train entering the NS mainline at Big Stone. CSX uses NS trackage rights through here, so dont get your drawers in a wad about grey and yellow here on the NS board...this is all the NS...

CSX 101 leads a loaded train on the NS near Jone's Cut Va.





Just out of Narural Tunnel, rolling through Glenita VA.



CSX pushers along Stock Creek at Glenita.



Passing the NS T74 local at Watkins Va.



We let the CSX man go at Watkins, after seeing the Frico Local T74 and what he had for power. We decided to shoot him a few places, which took most of the afternoon.  The CSX pushers went back down the hill first, allowing for a few shots at Watkins.







NS T74 crosses the Clinch river at Clinchport VA. I had a perfect shot lined up here with a awesome reflection in the still water, that is until a heard of ducks stirred the water up right before the train got there.



We waited around until the local ran to Big stone, dropped his train off and then headed back for Frisco with lite engines.  T74 is seen here crossing bootleg trestle with the former N&W SD40-2 leading.



T74 crossing the Clinch River again at Speers Ferry, with the CSX bridge in the background



A loaded McCloud (TN) turn was right behind the local, and we stuck around to make him the last shot of the day.



The day started out all GE, but finished with a good dose of EMD...all in all not bad for a deathmarch..

[Michael Knight]

Nice shots Emmett! Let me know when you're going there again.

[Backyard]

  ...Thanks Bell, the NS train #706, last I heard, was a train that would proceed with only the head end power south from Cleavland, TN, receive train orders for the pusher siding in Cedartown, GA at Pinson, North of Rome, GA, go in the siding at  Brice, just south of Rome, and take the Green cutoff (Central of Georgia main) to Cedartown, where a pusher is attached for the Dugdown Mt.

The customer, is Georgia Power, Yates, GA.

[butch]

Hey Roadtrip,

Did you get any tunnel pix?

[E.M. Bell]

Hey Roadtrip,

Did you get any tunnel pix?

Well..no tunnel pics, as we seen no tunnels with trains, but JR does have a little tunnel video he might share..

[butch]

I thought you might have picked something up since there are several tunnels close to Copper Creek.  Anyway, I'm jealous of your trip and the video sounds interesting.

[Backyard]

  Ah hell, I've seen some of the pics, five million times, just knowing that train(NS #706), and seeing the northern aspect, was the thrill of my week!

Thank You, Mr Bell,

Easily Amused.