CSX Transportation Historical Society

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NS - Roanoke District, 07-31 and 08-01-2015

Rail Fan Adventure --

1. Rather than take the C&OHS tour from Staunton to Clifton Forge, I spent the day on the old N&W Shenandoah Div. NS Waynesboro local V88 pulls out of an industry at Lofton VA, before heading back north to Waynesboro. Friday, 07-31-2015. NS 8838 Lofton.
Rather than take the C&OHS tour from Staunton to Clifton Forge, I spent the day on the old N&W Shenandoah Div. NS Waynesboro local V88 pulls out of an industry at Lofton VA, before heading back north to Waynesboro. Friday, 07-31-2015. NS 8838 Lofton.

2. Lofton is the highest location on the Roanoke and Hagerstown Districts. V88’s conductor locked the switch back and now they depart. NS 8838 Lofton. View 2.
Lofton is the highest location on the Roanoke and Hagerstown Districts. V88’s conductor locked the switch back and now they depart. NS 8838 Lofton. View 2.

3. Beginning of double track looking south at Pkin. NS signal Pkin.
Beginning of double track looking south at Pkin. NS signal Pkin.

4. South end of double track at Vesuvius VA. NS signal Vesuvius.
South end of double track at Vesuvius VA. NS signal Vesuvius.

5.North end of siding at Midvale. NS signal Midvale.
North end of siding at Midvale. NS signal Midvale.

6. S/b double stack 201-30 (Harrisburg – Rossville, TN) tops the 1.5% grade at Lofton. NS 7547-8351-9021 Lofton.
S/b double stack 201-30 (Harrisburg – Rossville, TN) tops the 1.5% grade at Lofton. NS 7547-8351-9021 Lofton.

7. NS 7547-8351-9021 has hold of 56 vans today, all for Rossville (Memphis). Lofton. View 2.
NS 7547-8351-9021 has hold of 56 vans today, all for Rossville (Memphis). Lofton. View 2.

8. 201 was coming off the steepest part of Lofton Hill at Vesuvius. Track speed on Track 1 is 45 MPH. NS 7547-8351-9021 Vesuvius.
201 was coming off the steepest part of Lofton Hill at Vesuvius. Track speed on Track 1 is 45 MPH. NS 7547-8351-9021 Vesuvius.

9. Not much time for anything at Midvale except to park, jump out and shoot! NS 7547-8351-9021 Midvale.
Not much time for anything at Midvale except to park, jump out and shoot! NS 7547-8351-9021 Midvale.

10. NS 7547-8351-9021 Midvale. View 2.
NS 7547-8351-9021 Midvale. View 2.

11. NS 7547 Midvale. View 3.
NS 7547 Midvale. View 3.

12. Not being familiar with local roads, 201-30 beat me to Natural Bridge. I missed an e/b coal train on CSX also. 201-30 was informed he would meet a northbound at Arcadia. NS 7547 Natural Bridge.
Not being familiar with local roads, 201-30 beat me to Natural Bridge. I missed an e/b coal train on CSX also. 201-30 was informed he would meet a northbound at Arcadia. NS 7547 Natural Bridge.

13. NS 9963 leads five units on n/b empty coal train 815. CSX’s former C&O James River SD is in the background. A hi-rail dump truck looked to be picking up discarded concrete ties. NS 9963-9453-9043 Natural Bridge.
NS 9963 leads five units on n/b empty coal train 815. CSX’s former C&O James River SD is in the background. A hi-rail dump truck looked to be picking up discarded concrete ties. NS 9963-9453-9043 Natural Bridge.

14. 103 brand new Freight Car America tubs belonging to class G119. The truss bridge was built by Virginia Bridge & Iron Co. 100 years ago! NS bridge Natural Bridge.
103 brand new Freight Car America tubs belonging to class G119. The truss bridge was built by Virginia Bridge & Iron Co. 100 years ago! NS bridge Natural Bridge.

15. These were built at FCA’s former NS car shop in Roanoke in 07-2015. NS hopper 53078 Natural Bridge.
These were built at FCA’s former NS car shop in Roanoke in 07-2015. NS hopper 53078 Natural Bridge.

16. This train and the engines were destined for Shire Oaks PA on the Mon Line. They were rolling at 45 or so, and I knew it would take US 11 and I-81 to get ahead. NS hopper 53068 Natural Bridge.
This train and the engines were destined for Shire Oaks PA on the Mon Line. They were rolling at 45 or so, and I knew it would take US 11 and I-81 to get ahead. NS hopper 53068 Natural Bridge.

17. Clear at Pkin on Track 1 to the main. NS signal Pkin.
Clear at Pkin on Track 1 to the main. NS signal Pkin.

18. NS 9963 Pkin.
NS 9963 Pkin.

19. NS 9963-9453-9043-1040-9757-9574 – all GEs except one. Pkin.
NS 9963-9453-9043-1040-9757-9574 – all GEs except one. Pkin.

20. These empty cars made a nice singing sound. No flat wheels. NS 9963 Pkin.
These empty cars made a nice singing sound. No flat wheels. NS 9963 Pkin.

21. The dispatcher revealed that 815 would meet 956 coming south from Shenandoah. As 900s are work trains of some sort, I didn’t know what to expect...maybe a GP38-2 with an air dump!
956-31 (Shenandoah – Bristol) was moving a 58-car T&S (Tie & Surfacing) gang at 50 MPH. My next goal is the bracket CPL’s at Lipscomb, the north end of the siding in the distance. 37Q was not ready to leave Shenandoah, and nothing would meet 956 all the way to Roanoke. I headed back to Staunton for my 7:00 PM slide presentation. NS 9902 Stuarts Draft.
The dispatcher revealed that 815 would meet 956 coming south from Shenandoah. As 900s are work trains of some sort, I didn’t know what to expect...maybe a GP38-2 with an air dump!

22. After attending a couple of Saturday morning programs at the C&OHS Convention in Staunton, Herb Parsons and I drove over to Waynesboro to see what was happening on NS. Local V8Q (an extra or relief V88) was switching the yard. NS 8838 Waynesboro.
After attending a couple of Saturday morning programs at the C&OHS Convention in Staunton, Herb Parsons and I drove over to Waynesboro to see what was happening on NS. Local V8Q (an extra or relief V88) was switching the yard. NS 8838 Waynesboro.

23. NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 2.
NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 2.

24. NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 3.
NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 3.

25. NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 4.
NS 8838 Waynesboro. View 4.

26. V88 backs south onto the main line. The second bridge in the distance is the former C&O Mountain SD. C&O interchanged at the far end of the N&W yard. NS 8838 Waynesboro.
V88 backs south onto the main line. The second bridge in the distance is the former C&O Mountain SD. C&O interchanged at the far end of the N&W yard. NS 8838 Waynesboro.

27. Backing under the C&O (Buckingham Branch). The sidings didn’t look like NS and BB interchanged regularly. NS 8838 Waynesboro.
Backing under the C&O (Buckingham Branch). The sidings didn’t look like NS and BB interchanged regularly. NS 8838 Waynesboro.

28. NS SD40-2 3450 is ex-CEFX, nee-UP acquired in 2011. Waynesboro.
NS SD40-2 3450 is ex-CEFX, nee-UP acquired in 2011. Waynesboro

29. NS Dash 8-32B 566 was renumbered from 3566. Waynesboro.
NS Dash 8-32B 566 was renumbered from 3566. Waynesboro.

30. NS SD70 2562. Waynesboro.
NS SD70 2562. Waynesboro.

Nothing was imminent, so we headed up to Blue Ridge Tunnel on the former C&O.

Train images used by permission of Everett N Young