Eastern Railroad Discussion > A day with EMDX 1201 leading NS 055 through Kentucky

Last Friday 10/26/12, Carmon and myself joined a few friends for a day long trip to follow NS 055 with EMDX 1201 leading, from Louisville KY to Oakdale TN. It would be the 2nd of 4 days on the road for us as we made our way South to shoot Southern 630 in GA, and to shoot some more of the soon to be gone signals on the 2nd and 3rd districts of the CNO&TP.

For a little background, EMDX 1201 is a pretty much run of the mill SD70Ace, except for the paint job. The unit is painted in a One of a kind CAT (Caterpillar) paint job. wearing CAT yellow accented with chrome, the 1201 was used to promote CAT and EMD products at a mining trade show in Las Vegas earlier this year, and after that moved to Peoria Illinois to participate in the opening of the new CAT museum near the main plant. After the festivities in Peoria, it was put in postilion to lead the weekly High/Wide train over the NS.

While Caterpillar has long been the industry leader in heavy equipment, they also own a controlling interest in EMD, so it was a handy promotional tool to have the 1201 lead a solid train of dozers, backhoes, excavators and dump trucks destined for export.

The day started out early with a drive towards Louisville. By the time we got to our first location at Pope Lick, the clouds had rolled in and the wind and rain started. That would pretty much be the way it was for a good part of the day. 055 got a late start from Louisville due to the ever present "to many trains not enough track" problem NS has on the Central Div, but once they got moving it was a non-stop day for us. By the time we got to Danville, the sun had started to show itself once again, and we took full advantage of it.

Late in the day, 055 once again got some delay around Gradison, and the crew wold go on the law and tie the train down there. After spending a hour or so shooting there at Gradison, we took the chance to grab a quick bite to eat in Somerset before starting the long drive on South.

After securing a hotel room about 2200 and letting Carmon have a break, we headed over to Oakdale TN to meet back up and set up for a night shot of 055 under the signal bridge at Tunnel 25. After waiting in the cold wind for a hour or so, the last shot of 055 was in the bag, it was off to grab 4 hours of sleep (after being on the road for 20 hours) before we headed to GA to shoot the SR 630.

I am slowly working through 500+ images from this 4 day deathmarch, and have some of my favorites of the 055 up on Pbase. Look for more new stuff, including SR 630, fall color on the CNO&TP and a ton of signal shots (night and day) in the next couple of weeks.

You can check out the full set of EMDX shots on Pbase at this link >>>> http://www.pbase.com/kd4jsl/emdx1201

#1 EMDX 1201 leads NS 055 as the train grinds up the steep grade at Wesst Waddy, KY

#2 The entire train is stretched out under that dark sky, as the train tops over the hill at Waddy, KY

#3. EMDX 1201 rolls through the cold Kentucky rain

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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#4 A yellow ACE and some fall color brighten up a gloomy day as 055 passes the block at East Harrodsburg, KY

#5 The sun is finally out as 055 starts down the 2nd District CNO&TP at Bowen KY

#6 055 at Gradison KY, just North of Somerset late in the day. They would pull up to clear the crossovers and tie it down until a new crew could taxi out from Burnside to take it on South.

E.M. Bell , KD4JSL
Salvisa, KY
Jreb.org NS group

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Great catch EMBell, that's what I ran for 41 1/2 years. Beautiful photos.
alan

SUPER pics!!!!! Well done!!!

Great series as usual Mr. Bell! Thanks for sharing!

-Brian-

IOTD. Great pic!

WOW! Those are nice!! The pacing shot is awesome. Best pic's I've seen of the 1201 so far and you actually got the hole train. Thank's for posting. Bill

This is an awesome looking locomotive on an equally awesome train.
Your picture #6 is the best shot I've seen of this train.

Excellent work.
John

Wowee, those are very purty - great effort! === === = === JLH

Sweet pictures, awesomeness in so many ways.

Ted S-P

Emmett,
good shots and variety of angles thanks for sharing.
Mark Mautner

I think its kind of funny that NS put a GE on this train!