shaun_sager4
Patrick Henry Homage
With news that Patrick Henry has replacements in position, I thought I'd pay homage by sharing one of my best of the last remaining double-bracket pair. Nestled alongside the Staunton River in a remote, relatively flat region of Virginia about 90 minutes south of the Shenandoah Valley, Brookneal hosts the intersection of the ex-N&W Durham & Altavista Districts. The grade-separated crossing and connection as well as the east end of the siding are guarded by two N&W bracket posts on the Altavista side, the last arrangement of its kind. Acquired when the Virginian was bought out by N&W on the latter side of the 50s, the N&W quickly re-engineered the entire line with its standard US&S position lights. Entering 2024, the roughly 60-y/o installation is joined by the much older Shenandoah Valley Line as the final mainline hold-outs of the once vast N&W signalling empire
In late Spring 2023, the C of G heritage unit splits the signals on its eastward journey with export coal loads for the Port of Norfolk. It was my first attempt at shooting the Altavista, but careful planning and custom maps made the chase a tad more familiar than a blind run into a dark cavern. After nabbing it at Dogwood, I managed to best 8101 to Brookneal (the control point) by a narrow margin, where I soon discovered that the double-bracket signal did not reside. By fate or by fortune, 8101 would make an unexplained stop shortly thereafter, giving me enough time to make the long drive and walk to Patrick Henry for a 3rd shot. In the end, a real winner
Brookneal, VA
April 23rd, 2023
Patrick Henry Homage
With news that Patrick Henry has replacements in position, I thought I'd pay homage by sharing one of my best of the last remaining double-bracket pair. Nestled alongside the Staunton River in a remote, relatively flat region of Virginia about 90 minutes south of the Shenandoah Valley, Brookneal hosts the intersection of the ex-N&W Durham & Altavista Districts. The grade-separated crossing and connection as well as the east end of the siding are guarded by two N&W bracket posts on the Altavista side, the last arrangement of its kind. Acquired when the Virginian was bought out by N&W on the latter side of the 50s, the N&W quickly re-engineered the entire line with its standard US&S position lights. Entering 2024, the roughly 60-y/o installation is joined by the much older Shenandoah Valley Line as the final mainline hold-outs of the once vast N&W signalling empire
In late Spring 2023, the C of G heritage unit splits the signals on its eastward journey with export coal loads for the Port of Norfolk. It was my first attempt at shooting the Altavista, but careful planning and custom maps made the chase a tad more familiar than a blind run into a dark cavern. After nabbing it at Dogwood, I managed to best 8101 to Brookneal (the control point) by a narrow margin, where I soon discovered that the double-bracket signal did not reside. By fate or by fortune, 8101 would make an unexplained stop shortly thereafter, giving me enough time to make the long drive and walk to Patrick Henry for a 3rd shot. In the end, a real winner
Brookneal, VA
April 23rd, 2023