Eastern Railroad Discussion > Foreign Power, and a beautiful C&O Sunset; Richmond on 6-20-2017

What started as a day to shoot the CSX Office Car Special turned into a day shooting almost exclusively on the C&O on the south side of town. They ran at least 20 trains in daylight, and I was able to glass 14 of said trains. The prize was a loaded phosphate train K810 which had a BNSF-NS-BNSF trio, and there were a few other nice catches had. Here we go!!!

As most of my days trackside start, I was on a mission. Tuesday's mission was to get a shot of CSX's Office Car Special coming through Ashland. Well that quickly changed when we heard how busy Richmond was. So, we hung around for a little while and grabbed a handful of trains in Ashland. First up was a late running Q135 stack train, with regional train P086 coming up beside him.

We kept working south, keeping close to the tracks. We didn't make it far before we heard Q400 leaving Richmond. Seen here at Elmont, a 12 engine consist that included 7 CW44AC's heads north.

Most people don't care to shoot the 'Buses' as we call them here, but I fancy them, especially the 'Super Bus'! P052 rolls north at Elmont as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/17 14:07 by Railfan94.

---

---

---

Finally down in Richmond, and the first thing we shot on the C&O was loaded coal train T211 headed for Newport News.

Though it's not on the C&O yet, this train would be soon enough. Running as a half manifest, half empty grain train, V756 is coming by Main Street Station, and the recently restored shed on the backside of the station building.

We slipped over to Meadow on the A-Line to shoot this extra section Q410, running as S410 with a solid train of green trash. A nice treat for power was a bonus, with an Ex C&O GP35, now CSX Road Slug on point, but this power would get spun once in Acca due to the cab signals on the RF&P.

---

---

---

The world famous triple crossing was almost a triple! As empty grain train V608 pulls to a stop, the same V756 heads west on the viaduct above and a car occupies the lowest level (now the NS Richmond District).

Said V608 with a track warrant heads up the Piedmont Subdivision running as a one unit wonder.

My usual partner in crime grabs his shot as loaded grain train G765 starts the move 'up the hill' to Acca, with the H770 helpers on the rear.

---

---

---

The prize for the day was this train! Loaded phosphate train K810-16 is seen crossing the James River with BNSF D9-44CW #4597 leading NS D9-44CW #9260, and BNSF ES44C4 #6522. If you look closely at the bridge below the NS unit, you'll see its true heritage showing through!

And then the waiting began... The crew sat for over 4 hours on this train waiting for the helpers assistance. Seen here at 'Bone Dry', the helpers H770 are dragging loaded coal train T328 up the hill past the K810.

And the head end power of T328 featured CSX AC4400 #37 leading, with a couple of GEVO's behind.

---

---

---

And so began the amazing sunset series. First up was manifest Q302-19, seen here coming across the Viaduct with a CSX D8-40CW and a CN SD70M-2 and a whopping 166 car train.

We shot this train about 8 hours before this on the A-Line, but after some complications, they went into Acca and ran around the train. Empty DODX train W868-16 is seen headed east toward Ft. Eustis with a fresh AC4400 on point.

And headed west right behind the W868 was rock train W665, seen here about to take his medium clear at Rivanna Junction.

Hope Everyone Enjoyed!!!

---

---

---

Nice pics!!

I would say you had a good day...

What a GREAT series of photos!!!

Nice sunset photos.

Excellent shots from around Richmond!

Great series of photos, great chase.
t4p.

Great shots!

WOW......EXCELENT .....espically the picture, before the last.......