Eastern Railroad Discussion > Doin' the "Dalton Dance"

Having seen 8 trains in 2 hours (1 hour at dusk on the 17th; 1 hour at dawn the next morning) in Cordele, GA,  my wife and I drove north on I-75 to spend the night in Dalton, GA ...... on our way to visit family in TN.  From the top of a downtown parking garage, I was treated to 6 trains in an hour and a half as the sun began to set in the west behind me.  The next morning, I hung out at ground level and saw 3 freights in about an hour.

I have labeled this post as the "Dalton Dance" because a busy CSX line crosses a busy NS line on a very tight diamond.  I believe that both lines link Chattanooga, TN with Atlanta, GA,

1.  Northbound empty coal drag as viewed from top deck of parking garage.
2.  DPU of coal train
3.  Perspective of the busy railroads below from inside my car.  Southbound NS auto rack is passing.

(More to follow)

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/24 11:27 by cinder.

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4.  Northbound covered hopper unit train.
5.  Northbound track geometry train.
6.  Rear car of geometry train.

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7.  A southbound NS intermodal. 
8.  Another southbound NS.
9.  Here's the reason for the "Dalton Dance" somewhat in the shadow of a street overpass.  While the NS remains straight, the CSX does the weave.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/24 11:19 by cinder.

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10.  A closer look at the diamond.
11.  A "trainless" view north from the diamond.  The CSX is on the left.
12.  Video of southbound NS unit train.  What commodities are carried in the NS and CSX covered hopper trains?  The intermittant flashing in the video is simply the low and rising sun shining through the gaps between the cars..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/24 11:39 by cinder.

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#9 classic L&N milepost! The W&A is an interesting railroad with a lot of history. Had a chance to borrow out there in the late 70's when it was still L&N while I was cut off braking at Pensacola, FL.
Steve

cinder Wrote:
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> 5.  Northbound track geometry train.
> 6.  Rear car of geometry train.

Interesting consist. I wonder where the first two cars came from?

The solid covered hopper trains through Dalton on both railroads are grain - loads south and empties north.

CW

Posted from iPhone

Northbound CSX could be phosphate.

Sam

I was going to ask what the passenger car at the station was but I took a gander on Google maps. Nice looking Southern stainless steel car. Rail travel just isn't the same or as appealing today, i just can't get myself to take a trip on Amtrak. Gag.
Nice post, thanks.
Gonut

Trainhand Wrote:
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> Northbound CSX could be phosphate.
>
> Sam

That’s a valid point. I was thinking phosphate trains would generally run via the Lineville Sub and Birmingham but, they may also be moving via Dalton as you note.

CW

Posted from iPhone

Phosphate often runs Cartersville to Cincinnati.

CSX there isn't as busy as it once was.
 

baretables Wrote:
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> Phosphate often runs Cartersville to Cincinnati.

Those trains wouldn’t be going through Dalton though.

CW

Posted from iPhone

How much freight does run via Knoxville these days?

Danny Harmon's Distant Signal has a video on the Dalton track arrangement. The history, how the layout has changed, how to read the signals for next movement, etc

ts1457 Wrote:
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> Interesting consist. I wonder where the first two
> cars came from?

Budd Sleeper:
SP 9020 -> Amtrak 2696 "Birch Grove" -> PPCX 800736 "Birch Grove"

AC&F Baggage:
ATSF 3680 -> Amtrak 1167(1st) Amtrak 1256 -> MRLX #800863 "Taos" -> GTLX #800863 "Taos"

The "Birch Grove" came with the "Moonlight Dome" purchase, the baggage car (now "Florence") was running with W001 a bit before that. A genset has been installed in the A end.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/24 19:27 by PCRC.

PCRC Wrote:
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> Budd Sleeper:
> SP 9020 -> Amtrak 2696 "Birch Grove" -> PPCX
> 800736 "Birch Grove"
>
> AC&F Baggage:
> ATSF 3680 -> Amtrak 1167(1st) Amtrak 1256 -> MRLX
> #800863 "Taos" -> GTLX #800863 "Taos"
>
> The "Birch Grove" came with the "Moonlight Dome"
> purchase, the baggage car (now "Florence") was
> running with W001 a bit before that. A genset has
> been installed in the A end.

Appreciate the answer. So CSX is in no hurry to repaint the baggage-gen and sleeper, I guess? Interesting!

Juniata Wrote:
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> baretables Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Phosphate often runs Cartersville to
> Cincinnati.
>
> Those trains wouldn’t be going through Dalton
> though.
>
> CW
>
> Posted from iPhone

Neither do the phosphate trains that 'generally run' via Birmingham.  They tend to run via Knoxville about as much as via Birmingham was my point.