Nostalgia & History > St Patty’s Day Outing at Salisbury NC with Bill Russell 1973

Photos were taken with Kodacolor X negative film.
On Saturday, March 17, 1973 my good friend, William “Bill” Russell (d), and I made an outing to Salisbury NC to see the northbound Piedmont #6 and any other happenings of significance. Actually that was not a good location for afternoon photography of northbound trains due to backlighting conditions. #6 was due in Salisbury around 1:50PM and was on time that day as I recall.
The most interesting thing we saw was #6707, an F3A, in the engine consist of #6. Anything other than an FP7 in the regular engine consist was very unusual at this time.
The only difference between Photos 12 & 13 is editing.
Enjoy this outing from forty-five years ago with Bill and I.
ALLEN

Photo 1 - Depot exterior streetside view
Photo 2 - Depot interior view, you can probably spot the five man oncoming crew for #6
Photo 3 - Northbound manifest freight powered by three SD45’s rolling through



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/22 11:32 by krm152.

Photo 4 - Northbound Piedmont #6 arriving at the depot
Photo 5 - Northbound Piedmont #6 standing at the depot
Photo 6 - #6136 EMD FP7 the lead unit on #6

Photo 7 - #6137 EMD FP7 the second unit on #6
Photo 8 - #6141 EMD FP7 the third unit on #6
Photo 9 - #6707 EMD F3A the fourth unit on #6

Photo 10 - HW Combine on #6 (for checked baggage)
Photo 11 - HW Coach ex-CofG in “IC” Colors
Photo 12 - NYC Baggage Car (for express shipments)

Photo 13 - Bill Russell standing by NYC Baggage Car
Photo 14 - Bill Russell watching the action
Photo 15 - #2308 EMD SW1500 going to pick up piggyback cars dropped by #6

eclectic consist super neat

dan Wrote:
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> eclectic consist super neat

Yes, I wonder why the NYC baggage-express was being used?

Thanks for sharing these. Photo five at the depot is my favorite.
Bob

Great series, #6 would've been scheduled to arrive at 1349 into Salisbury, per the Nov. 1, 1972
Southern timetable.

The 6707 is an awesome locomotive. Would make a great model.

Dave

Thanks for these great photos.
I don't see many pictures of the Piedmont.
Gary

Awesome photos!! Thanks for sharing them.

Why did you not shoot the best car in the train?
Second car,lounge-coach.

Uncle Joe
Seffner,fl.

6707 was retired later that year. It was delivered with a steam generator (Southern made extensive use of F3s as passenger locomotives). Most of those F3s were upgraded to near-F7s.

retcsxcfm Wrote:
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> Why did you not shoot the best car in the train?
> Second car,lounge-coach.
>
> Uncle Joe
> Seffner,fl.

UNC:
Guess you call the Coach-Lounge the best car on the train because that was the food service car.
No matter what, the Piedmont consist always included one of the 950-955 Coach-Lounge cars.
Already had some photos of Coach-Lounge cars. I was conserving film, you might say.
I do have photos of Coach-Lounge cars on #3-#4 , the Asheville trains in late 1972 and once
in May 1973 even though food service was not offered on these trains.
ALLEN

On occasion a 950-955 coach lounge would run on the Southern Crescent, especially south of Atlanta. I really liked those cars.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/18 18:36 by ctillnc.

On May 12, 1972 while my wife and I were having a snack in the Coach-Lounge on #6 north of Danville VA, the train went into emergency because of a broken air hose on one of the piggyback cars. The Conductor and Flagman were off the train as soon as it stopped. They had the hose changed out quickly, and we were heading north again in no time. This was my most unforgettable experience in a Coach-Lounge.
ALLEN

krm152 Wrote:
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> I do have photos of Coach-Lounge cars on #3-#4 ,
> the Asheville trains in late 1972 and once
> in May 1973 even though food service was not
> offered on these trains.
> ALLEN

When you said #3 and #4, I thought you were going to say Royal Palm. I may have pictures of them on the #3 and #4 from an earlier time. Have to look.

> Yes, I wonder why the NYC baggage-express was
> being used?

NYC, PRR, and PC bags carried weekend NY Times to ATL, and also were in sealed mail storage use

Notch7 Wrote:
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> > Yes, I wonder why the NYC baggage-express was
> > being used?
>
> NYC, PRR, and PC bags carried weekend NY Times to
> ATL, and also were in sealed mail storage use

Thanks for the answer.

Do you think Amtrak was responsible for the NYC - DC segment using the PC head end equipment or was PC able to handle it? I guess you would have to have the NEC passenger train schedules to make it work, so I am thinking that Amtrak was involved.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/18 06:56 by ts1457.