VALLEY DOWN POUR -GET THE SHOT !!

CR augmented the battered ALCO fleet of the component roads with former EL SD45-2s and and SDP45's and by 1977 it was much much harder to find "pure" ALCO lash-ups working the mineral traffic on the Valley Division . (of course lets not talk about how happy we'd be NOW to see an SDP45 )

 

Returning from Mingo Jct. we stumbled upon this train on our way from a stop at Midland Ohio near Yellow Creek .

 

Ignoring the threatening green-black thunder heads that practically screamed "TORNADO" we got ahead of the train ,found this overpass and waited.

 

Moments later the train and the thunderstorm arrived, with the rain falling in huge cold drops that were being blown sideways in the gathering gloom. (it was only 230pm) while lightning struck the hills directly in front of us.

 

Imperfect as it is the photo remains some 46 years later ,as tribute to that moment that every railfan photographer can relate to :

 

"get the shot '

 

Yellow Creek OH Yellow Creek Branch Valley Division Central Region CR 1977

 

 

Done