Another Day Off

Days off can consist of a number of activities. I might play with the computer or just take a drive out. The drive out might be to look at something that I want to buy or just to get away from home. I have done most things around town, but just needed to get away. I put my camera in the car, just in case and heard out to Pinehurst and Southern Pines. I  Aberdeen, The graffiti on some freight cars was interesting. Are they gang tags? Now I have a new category of railroad pictures:



Next was a run by the Aberdeen and Rockfish shops. Usually there wasn't any thing new. However, two items, new to me were there. A deisal that I hadn't photographed before and a leased engine.

More in Hamlet

First out of the gate was the CSX, heading west.


I was wondering why the NS was working Hamlet, being so far from the nearest interchange. A fellow railfan told me that three times a week there is a west bound NS to work the Winston Salem Southbound between Wadesboro and Winston Salem. So here it leaves for its days work.

The Accidental Railfan

As in the last post, not all train watching is planned, set up. I was doing out doing some shopping when I heard the horn of a train in the distance. I just happen to have my cameras in the car, with me. I went into the Wal Mart bought a couple of item and came out. I again heard the horn of the train but closer and definately moving in my direction. I decided to take a few minutes (RIGHT) to take some pictures of that train. The next best site to use for video or pictures was in Hamlet. Coming into Hamlet, I crossed the railroad on a bridge and saw the tain up the tracks about 200 yards. I hurried downtown to the grade crossing at the station, the nearest one. I was not the only railfan there, by the way. I just barely got my video camera ready to get the following piece:


This was not the end of the event. Waiting were two trains, waiting for the green light to head west. To my surprise, there was a NS and a CSX freight waiting to leave.

A Chance Encounter

Not all train videos are planned. I was on my way home from Pinehurst, NC when I saw the Aberdeen, Carolina Western head west. I did not have a camera handy so I let it past. I am not chasing the ACW very often. However, I see it occassionally betweeen Aberdeen and Pinhurst. The next day, I made sure that I had my cameras with me. I was heading home along the tracks. I saw the headlight in the distance so I pulled into the first business, grabbed my video camera, and ran to trackside. I did catch the train as it went by. It was CSX units pulling the ACW freight, out of Aberdeen.

Some Jewel in the Crown of the Queen City

Between Amtrak and NCDOT cam this NS freight


Lunch time found me following and finding this ACW.


Before the last Piedmont, there is this Norfolk Souther pulled by a mix freight.


All makes for a nice a full day.

The Queen City, continued

After seeing the trolley, I decide to video NCDOT trains. First was No. 74 northbound, pulled by NCDOT 1755.

The next NCDOT was pulled by borrowed Amtrak Power, Amtrak 61, pulling Train No. 75 south and No. 76 north, all three being the Piedmont.


Note the low shadows, even being around 5:30.

The Queen City

Often, my excursions are planned weeks in advance. Some are planned over the week for the weekend. Occasionally they are spur of the moment or a detour. Back in January, I had thought about tracing the route of the Aberdeen, Carolina Western. I even stopped by Aberdeen to see what might be sitting there ready for operation, the next day.

Now came the news. The Kinkisharyo Corporation was showing their trolley, In Charlotte, NC. The trolley simply a light rail vehicle which has a battery so it can leave the overhead wires. The Kinkisharyo Corporation has many light rails in this country, including the new green line cars in Boston. This news of the trolley was the reason to change plans.

Charlotte has a light rail line from downtown to the north. They have plans for its expansion. But looking for the trolley could be tricky. Where to find it. The old vintage trolleys went to 9th street but the light rail stopped at 7th street. This made 7th street the ideal place to look first for the trolley. And, I was right for there it was.

To be cont.