Appalachian Spring
There are few places as magical as Springtime in the mountains of Appalachia, such was the case this past Friday when Norfolk Southern saw fit to operate train 188 over "the Pokey" with a strange visitor on the point. UP 1995 is one of six Heritage paint SD70ACes, paying homage to the late, great Chicago & Northwestern Railway. I've caught all twenty of Norfolk Southern's heritage units in the wild, but heretofore I'd only caught one of UP's; the Southern Pacific. Thanks to the birdies for digging up the necessary Intel to go after the CNW heritage unit, as cell service is minimal at best once you get west of Bluefield on the former N&W Pocahontas Division mainline. This would be my second photo location, as I started in Iaeger where they acquired a rear-end pusher, of train 188 and at this point the massive twenty-thousand ton train has dropped speed substantially as it does battle with the famed Elkhorn Grade. The twin bores at Huger are personal favorites of mine and the colors of Spring did not disappoint in the evening after the area was pounded with rain for much of the afternoon.
Appalachian Spring
There are few places as magical as Springtime in the mountains of Appalachia, such was the case this past Friday when Norfolk Southern saw fit to operate train 188 over "the Pokey" with a strange visitor on the point. UP 1995 is one of six Heritage paint SD70ACes, paying homage to the late, great Chicago & Northwestern Railway. I've caught all twenty of Norfolk Southern's heritage units in the wild, but heretofore I'd only caught one of UP's; the Southern Pacific. Thanks to the birdies for digging up the necessary Intel to go after the CNW heritage unit, as cell service is minimal at best once you get west of Bluefield on the former N&W Pocahontas Division mainline. This would be my second photo location, as I started in Iaeger where they acquired a rear-end pusher, of train 188 and at this point the massive twenty-thousand ton train has dropped speed substantially as it does battle with the famed Elkhorn Grade. The twin bores at Huger are personal favorites of mine and the colors of Spring did not disappoint in the evening after the area was pounded with rain for much of the afternoon.