Eastern Railroad Discussion > Almost nostalgia SD40-2

Normally a 40+ year old SD40-2 merits a posting to the Nostalgia Board. However, this week, I managed to twice catch NS 6166 leading trains on the Charleston SC Branch, Tuesday on 21D (North Charleston - Greer SC stacks) and Thursday on 27T (Charleston - Spartanburg empty BMW racks). Totally took me by surprise to see an OLD SD40-2 (built June 1978) LEADING a newly rebuilt SD70ACC (rebuilt November 2018), and a trailing ET44AC.  

Here is 27T awaiting a TA at North Charleston 7 Mile yard. In the foreground is the new track being installed into the container yard. The grade crossing I'm standing on will be closed starting 5/20 while they cut the new track in. 

 

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I recognize that scene - LOL
Nice shot.

Are those steel ties being installed?

SNY1337 Wrote:
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> Are those steel ties being installed?

Sure looks like it - very interesting!  

rbenko Wrote:
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> SNY1337 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Are those steel ties being installed?
>
> Sure looks like it - very interesting!  

Seems like every place I've seen steel ties put in in the past, they were fairly quickly taken back out.

spwolfmtn Wrote:
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> rbenko Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SNY1337 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Are those steel ties being installed?
> >
> > Sure looks like it - very interesting!  
>
> Seems like every place I've seen steel ties put in
> in the past, they were fairly quickly taken back
> out.
 Their current expansion project in North CHS has steel ties on all tracks. NS uses steel ties here for their sidings at 7 Mile yard and at least Ridgeville.

Curious... I can't recall ever seeing them on any major railroad track in the US, much less being installed new.

Great catch there Ray... always enjoy seeing action from over that way.
As to the steel ties..I think the key word here is "yard"
When the 5th ramp was added at Austell Whitaker Yard a couple of years ago they used the same type ties.
Maybe a tad more cost up front, but almost zero cost to maintain.
Again, great catch.
 NSSpike

Phil Maton
Villa Rica, GA