OlingerWebCSX449-3-24-15
I haven't shot more than five or six train images in the last several months. But, my wife and I were returning from Duffield and I saw a westbound CSX train dropping downgrade through East Stone Gap. When we got to the house, I grabbed my camera and decided to make a beeline to a spot where I could get a decent shot in the nice spring weather. West of Big Stone Gap I jumped over to the community of Olinger. This spot is milepost CV 270.6 (Big Stone Gap is CV 276), and it's on an 8 degree curve. The Olinger depot sat off to right, and a water tank would have been behind me (the concrete foundation is still there). Olinger had a very short passing track and also a house track in front of the depot. That's all been gone for years, of course. And---it wasn't long at all before I could hear the distinctive sound of GE motive power approaching at a good clip. The train was an empty scrubber stone movement most likely headed to Mt. Vernon, KY for loading. Some 66 years earlier on a similar spring day, L&N train Second 64 was pounding along at 40 MPH into this curve when its locomotive--J4A-class heavy Mike number 1899--climbed the high side (outside) rail, derailing all the drivers. The pilot wheels (pony truck) and trailing truck stayed on, however, so the engine remained in line with the rails. My uncle, Rex Yonce, was the head brakeman that day. When the engine derailed the engineer applied the train brake in emergency, then he and fireman "joined the birds" (jumped off). But--he left the 1899's throttle wide open! Rather than jump, Rex kept his nerve, closed the throttle and rode her out. The derailment was not nearly as bad as it could have been, but after the 2-8-2 was re-railed, the section gang had nearly a half mile of chewed up ties and damaged track to deal with. Thankfully CSX 449 made it around the curve in good shape this day!
OlingerWebCSX449-3-24-15
I haven't shot more than five or six train images in the last several months. But, my wife and I were returning from Duffield and I saw a westbound CSX train dropping downgrade through East Stone Gap. When we got to the house, I grabbed my camera and decided to make a beeline to a spot where I could get a decent shot in the nice spring weather. West of Big Stone Gap I jumped over to the community of Olinger. This spot is milepost CV 270.6 (Big Stone Gap is CV 276), and it's on an 8 degree curve. The Olinger depot sat off to right, and a water tank would have been behind me (the concrete foundation is still there). Olinger had a very short passing track and also a house track in front of the depot. That's all been gone for years, of course. And---it wasn't long at all before I could hear the distinctive sound of GE motive power approaching at a good clip. The train was an empty scrubber stone movement most likely headed to Mt. Vernon, KY for loading. Some 66 years earlier on a similar spring day, L&N train Second 64 was pounding along at 40 MPH into this curve when its locomotive--J4A-class heavy Mike number 1899--climbed the high side (outside) rail, derailing all the drivers. The pilot wheels (pony truck) and trailing truck stayed on, however, so the engine remained in line with the rails. My uncle, Rex Yonce, was the head brakeman that day. When the engine derailed the engineer applied the train brake in emergency, then he and fireman "joined the birds" (jumped off). But--he left the 1899's throttle wide open! Rather than jump, Rex kept his nerve, closed the throttle and rode her out. The derailment was not nearly as bad as it could have been, but after the 2-8-2 was re-railed, the section gang had nearly a half mile of chewed up ties and damaged track to deal with. Thankfully CSX 449 made it around the curve in good shape this day!