sdozier636
NS A32 - NS 9797 NS 9565 NS 9725 - Calvert, AL - 7/31/21
Remember when Thoroughbred Dash 9s used to be common as dirt? Slater does. Here we see a trio of them passing the MP 115 MB in Calvert, AL under the ID of NS A32. This would have become NS 182 and would have begun its trip to Birmingham later that day. Nothing special for the time because the AC44C6M rebuild program (which consisted of rebuilding DC powered D9-44CWs, nicknamed Dash 9s, into AC powered AC44C6Ms) was still about 5 years old (if my memory serves me correctly), and had not progressed nearly to the point it had today. But even the most common things become antiquated over time.
A little history about this spot. Decades ago, the Frisco had a branch line going to the Tombigbee River near where the AM/NS Calvert steel mill (which the train in the photo and video originated from) is currently located, and that branch line crossed over the Southern main line at this spot. One wouldn't guess it if they rode through the area today since the Frisco branch is long gone. I remember my dad telling me about it years ago and I didn't believe him until I looked at a map because it wasn't at all obvious that there was once a railroad that crossed Highway 43 and NS (formerly Southern) at this location. Also, the Tombigbee River joins the Alabama River to form the Mobile River just South of AM/NS.
NS A32 - NS 9797 NS 9565 NS 9725 - Calvert, AL - 7/31/21
Remember when Thoroughbred Dash 9s used to be common as dirt? Slater does. Here we see a trio of them passing the MP 115 MB in Calvert, AL under the ID of NS A32. This would have become NS 182 and would have begun its trip to Birmingham later that day. Nothing special for the time because the AC44C6M rebuild program (which consisted of rebuilding DC powered D9-44CWs, nicknamed Dash 9s, into AC powered AC44C6Ms) was still about 5 years old (if my memory serves me correctly), and had not progressed nearly to the point it had today. But even the most common things become antiquated over time.
A little history about this spot. Decades ago, the Frisco had a branch line going to the Tombigbee River near where the AM/NS Calvert steel mill (which the train in the photo and video originated from) is currently located, and that branch line crossed over the Southern main line at this spot. One wouldn't guess it if they rode through the area today since the Frisco branch is long gone. I remember my dad telling me about it years ago and I didn't believe him until I looked at a map because it wasn't at all obvious that there was once a railroad that crossed Highway 43 and NS (formerly Southern) at this location. Also, the Tombigbee River joins the Alabama River to form the Mobile River just South of AM/NS.