Eastern Railroad Discussion > Clinchfield #800 Leading The 75th CSX Santa Train

Myself and the other thousand plus railfans chased the CSX Santa Train yesterday. I started at Haysi, Virginia and ended in Clinchport. We managed to capture it 11 times despite the crowds. A huge thanks to CSX and SARM for putting on this amazing event with amazing power. The joy of seeing a Clinchfield F3A on original rails was a sight to behold.

First 2 shots are from Haysi and it exits the tunnel as it prepares to make a stop

3rd shot is of the train accelerating out of Clincho

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South of Fremont the train is seen passing over a Ex Clinchfield bridge

Coming into Dante

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more from Dante

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1 more shot of the 800 at Dante as well as the SD45

After departing Dante the train passes under 65 south

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Next 2 of the train pulling in for a stop at Saint Paul

North of Dungannon the train passes a set of original Clinchfield signals

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shot 2 and 3 are from Fort Blackmore where the crowds can be seen anticipating the arrival

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south of Fort Blackmore the train is seen rounding a sharp curve as it heads to Copper Creek Trestle

Passing over the Copper Creek Trestle

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just a fraction of the railfans on hand

passing over a river on its way to Kingsport

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Thanks for sharing the great photos. All this happened with Hunter Harrison in power?

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Same route the #3985 traversed on the same train 25 years prior.

Very nice..!! Thanks for posting.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Thanks for sharing the great photos. All this
> happened with Hunter Harrison in power?

Reportedly he was somewhat enthusiastic about it, beyond being simply permissive.

Of course EHH was enthusiastic about it! Every railroad he's ever been in charge of has done a Santa Train, it's how he lives so long. He lures unsuspecting children on board the train, then steals their souls. LOL

Great series of photos Ohiorailfan!

Especially nice are those that well hid the CSX power behind, making
for a truly nostalgic flash back.

/Mitch

what a party! you got soo many good shots with such huge crowds



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/17 18:07 by dan.

Very nice set of photos. The black and white image is particularly impressive with the F unit on a bridge which, like the locomotive, is lettered Clinchfield.

Wow - a real nose door and no ditch lights - the horror!!

I've almost forgotten how good F units look with a proper nose door and no ditch lights...

rbenko Wrote:
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> Wow - a real nose door and no ditch lights - the
> horror!!
>
> I've almost forgotten how good F units look with a
> proper nose door and no ditch lights...

Makes you wonder why any F's have ditch lights??

How did they get around the "rule"?

/Mitch

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> How did they get around the "rule"?

Maybe it slipped past them until you guys just now brought it up. Right now there might be some guy at the FRA calculating the fine!

If you don't know what you are talking about please don't stir the pot. Locomotives (steam or diesel) built before 1949 and not in regular use are considered by the FRA to be historic and exempt from having ditch lights. A locomotive equipped with an oscillating headlight (such as a Mars light or Gyra light) is also excepted. The oscillating headlight is considered ample protection in lieu of ditch lights.

Directly copied from the FRA rule about headlight and auxiliary lights:


(h) Any locomotive subject to Part 229, that was built before December 31, 1948, and that is not used regularly in commuter or intercity passenger service, shall be considered historic equipment and excepted from the requirements of paragraphs (d) through (h) of this section.


Mgoldman Wrote:
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>
> Makes you wonder why any F's have ditch lights??
>
> How did they get around the "rule"?
>
> /Mitch