9:29am
We chased him on toward Bluefield, catching him again approaching the St. Clair signal.
9:45am
Autumn on the Pokey
October 22 - 23, 2011
(click on each image to see a larger version -- approximately 1440X900)
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We started the weekend on the Clinch Valley in Virginia catching this Eastbound 80T at Tiptop. This place is appropriately named -- definitely the top of the grade. 9:29am |
We chased him on toward Bluefield, catching him again approaching the St. Clair signal. 9:45am |
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Next stop, Maybeury, West Virginia on the Pokey where we caught this Westbound stack train approaching the Elkhorn Tunnel. The colors are past peak and the train is a bit back-lit, but I like it anyway! 11:36am |
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Driving through Welch we missed an Eastbound but he had to stop to re-crew his helpers giving us a chance to turn back and find his head end. We caught it here at the portal of the West Vivian Tunnel -- perfect, because we heard another Westbound coming on the other track! But, wouldn't you know it, he pulled sooner than expected and blocked our view of the other train! 12:35pm |
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So, the chase is on with the two trains running side-by-side and us on the highway looking to get ahead.The spot we picked is a familiar one, across from the place we'll be staying tonight, the Elkhorn Inn. 12:43pm |
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| Both trains had pushers to work up the grade to the Elkhorn Tunnel but again the near train blocked my view. I tried anyway perched on the spare tire of my Jeep and barely glimpsed his headlights before disappearing around the curve. |  |
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We roamed Westward through the afternoon and stopped to check out the sagging CPL signals at Hull, Just West of Ieager. The late afternoon Sun in these hills makes for heavy contrast and shadows but we waited anyway, catching a meet between this Eastbound coal train and a Westbound manifest freight. 5:06pm |
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| As the Westbound approached the crossovers I re-positioned a bit to capture the sag in the signal bridge. I hate to see CPL signals go but I think these are being replaced in the nick of time! |  |
Sunday morning was foggy and cool but trains were running so I cranked the ISO to 800 and stepped out on the balcony for this Westbound hopper train. 7:54am |
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GIT OUTTA MY SHOT YA STUPID FOAMER!!!!!!!! The hazards of shooting from the railfan balcony at the Elkhorn Inn are evident in these photos. 10:02am |
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11:04am |
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The morning was busy with occurrences like this where an Eastbound grain train is passed by autoracks headed the same way. 11:27am |
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| There's that foamer again... |
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After the leisurely morning at the inn we headed back East and caught this Canadian power just outside Bluefield (Virginia). It's afternoon and this train is Westbound so shouldn't it be heading into the Sun? Yea, you might think that until you consider the challenges the mountains present. 2:23pm |
East of Bluefield the P-D District (the former Virginian Railway) parallels the N&W main above the volunteer fire department at Oakvale, WV. 4:04pm |
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Farther East at Narrows, the train goes back onto former Virginian Railway trackage (the NS Whitethorn District) via the bridge over the New River. 4:38pm |
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