Three_Step_Culpep
Odd Couple
Bringing up the head end of Charlotte-Hayne turn P09 is an unusual pairing of an NS SD40E and a BNSF C44-9W crossing the Catawba River and heading into Gaston County on their southbound leg on a hazy summer evening. P09 is a fairly recent addition to Charlotte’s roster of local jobs, only having been added in late 2022 to help alleviate the congestion created by mainline freights having to stop and work Charlotte Yard and Spartanburg’s Hayne Yard. 09 quickly became a favorite photo subject amongst my friends and I due to its tendency to use older local power instead of less-interesting road units (although road power has gradually become more common on this job because Charlotte area rail buffs aren’t allowed to have nice things anymore.) Speaking of not being able to have nice things, this view is no longer shootable due to the foreground vegetation having grown high enough to obstruct the view of the tracks. “Landscaping” this view isn’t even an option due to said vegetation being on private property. E.T.T.S., as the kids say. Charlotte, NC, 7/17/2023.
Odd Couple
Bringing up the head end of Charlotte-Hayne turn P09 is an unusual pairing of an NS SD40E and a BNSF C44-9W crossing the Catawba River and heading into Gaston County on their southbound leg on a hazy summer evening. P09 is a fairly recent addition to Charlotte’s roster of local jobs, only having been added in late 2022 to help alleviate the congestion created by mainline freights having to stop and work Charlotte Yard and Spartanburg’s Hayne Yard. 09 quickly became a favorite photo subject amongst my friends and I due to its tendency to use older local power instead of less-interesting road units (although road power has gradually become more common on this job because Charlotte area rail buffs aren’t allowed to have nice things anymore.) Speaking of not being able to have nice things, this view is no longer shootable due to the foreground vegetation having grown high enough to obstruct the view of the tracks. “Landscaping” this view isn’t even an option due to said vegetation being on private property. E.T.T.S., as the kids say. Charlotte, NC, 7/17/2023.