Sanford, NC Return Trip

I did a little exploring. I went up the CSX to the NS interchange. There was the 7016 waiting.

As I was working myself back to town a CSX freight passed, but too late to video. I chased it back into town but arrived a bit too late. I went to watch more Atlantic and Western but they were finishing up for the day. So off the the chases. I got almost to Southern Pines and was going to pull over but the road was close and the gates were coming down, not enough time to set up so down the road and pulled up to another crossing, and caught it coming by. I pulled into Aberdeen and, as is a custom, I was going to the Aberdeen and Rockfish shops when I noticed that I was ahead of the freight and saw it up the tracks so part two of this video.

Finishing the video at Aberdeen, I came along trackside to the Aberdeen Carolina Western interchange and there were 6910 and 6918. I have not seen these engines before. These were a different paint scheme, as well.

Norfolk Southern, Charlotte, NC, November, 2010

In my last post, I thought to go where I had taken some Norfolk Southern Raillroad video, one time before when I was in Charlotte. This location was good as I was on the platform of the CAT station. While at the I 485 CAT Light Rail station, I notice that the NS paralleled at that point.. It would be nice to see at least one consist pass by. And by chance, here it is:

Charlotte's Light Rail

Many of my watching and chasing are unplanned and a sidebar to other activities. After chasing the Lancaster and Chester to Richburg, I had two choices, to try to catch it once more in Chester or go on from there to Charlotte, NC to shop or whatever. I was about 15 minutes from Chester, at the interstate that would take me into Charlotte in 40 minutes.

I decided to go into Charlotte. I came into the suburbs and decided to stop at the I 485 Light Rail Station, if for no other reason, to get my barrings. A couple of years earlier, I watched for the day the Light Rail. One location paralleled the NS. Actually most of the line out this far parallels the NS. I grabbed my camcorder, just in Case (right!) and went to the station. The next hour was spent filming. I stopped only when I out of power and memory for the camcorder.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Selma, NC, part 4

The Southbound Carolinian was a tad late and did not arrive until 4:20. After its passing, I drove by the NS yard to see if any activity. I drove to the other end and crossed the tracks and the best possible location to turn around (location B). When I did, I saw the headlights of an engine, way in the distance. For all I knew it was a local switching out cars and would take hours to get to me, if at all. I continue to the next crossing and still the lights were there. I continued to what I though might be the next crossing making guesswork truns. When I approached the next crossing (location C), The engines were crossing. You guessed it, the chase is on. Fortunately the highway parralled the tracks and the train was slowing down as it approached the yard. I got ahead by enough and took the video at location D. In all the perfect ending to a railfan's day off.

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Selma, NC, part 2

Shortly after the arrival of the Palmetto, I was surprised by a Norfolk Southern Freight, eastbound. I caught it here on the diamond as it passes.

We railfans tend to gather as here. We were talking about the good spots to sspot trains when a southbound CSX freight was heard in the distance.

Having some time before the southbound Palmetto so I went to see what activity is in the Yard to the east. As I was photographing the engines, the head light began to blink, indicating that it was ready to head out. Unfortunately, I did not have either my camera or camcorder ready. I simply put the car in gear, letting the camera and camcorder come on as I drove. 10 blocks down the road I was ahead and ready to video the passing train.

Now to get into position for the Southbound Palmetto, due soon.

North of Spenser, two Norfolk Southern South Bounds