The Constant
Growing up, the Georgia Northeastern was a haven for 567-powered EMD’s, even with the acquisition of 3 newer 645-powered motors 20 some-odd years ago. Even after being acquired by Patriot Rail in 2015, the 567 power continued to live along side the increasing number of 645-powered EMD’s that were now being introduced, that is until “The Purge of 2017,” when the 567 motors were either sold or scrapped. The only engine to be spared was 8705, a GP18 that was originally built in 1960 for the Nickel Plate Road as their 708. This now made it the most unique engine they had, despite having become one of the more-hated engines on the roster by railfans in 2014 after GNRR chop-nosed it.
After 2017, the engine was sent to the companies subsidiary, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, where it was assumed that it would likely live out the remainder of its days on the northern end of the line. To our surprise though, the engine was seen in Elizabeth yard at the southern terminus of the line in March of 2020 & later seen in revenue freight service a few days later. On March 26th, it was reported that it would be leading a SB run of 9 marble cars from Tate late in the afternoon, marking the first chance I’d have to shoot it leading since the purge. Here, we see the train pulling up to Pilgrims Pride Grain Elevator just north of Holly Springs, where it will pick up 8 empties as they continue south.
While the return of 8705 is a welcomed surprise, the GNRR is getting ready to go through a rough patch due to slow traffic & the impending closure of Pilgrim as they get ready to move a new site south of Ranger, GA. At said, at least 8705 has return (temporary, at least) & they still have the marble mine in Tate & with UAC in Canton beginning to ship products again, that’ll at least help carry some of the lost grain traffic. 3-26-20
The Constant
Growing up, the Georgia Northeastern was a haven for 567-powered EMD’s, even with the acquisition of 3 newer 645-powered motors 20 some-odd years ago. Even after being acquired by Patriot Rail in 2015, the 567 power continued to live along side the increasing number of 645-powered EMD’s that were now being introduced, that is until “The Purge of 2017,” when the 567 motors were either sold or scrapped. The only engine to be spared was 8705, a GP18 that was originally built in 1960 for the Nickel Plate Road as their 708. This now made it the most unique engine they had, despite having become one of the more-hated engines on the roster by railfans in 2014 after GNRR chop-nosed it.
After 2017, the engine was sent to the companies subsidiary, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, where it was assumed that it would likely live out the remainder of its days on the northern end of the line. To our surprise though, the engine was seen in Elizabeth yard at the southern terminus of the line in March of 2020 & later seen in revenue freight service a few days later. On March 26th, it was reported that it would be leading a SB run of 9 marble cars from Tate late in the afternoon, marking the first chance I’d have to shoot it leading since the purge. Here, we see the train pulling up to Pilgrims Pride Grain Elevator just north of Holly Springs, where it will pick up 8 empties as they continue south.
While the return of 8705 is a welcomed surprise, the GNRR is getting ready to go through a rough patch due to slow traffic & the impending closure of Pilgrim as they get ready to move a new site south of Ranger, GA. At said, at least 8705 has return (temporary, at least) & they still have the marble mine in Tate & with UAC in Canton beginning to ship products again, that’ll at least help carry some of the lost grain traffic. 3-26-20