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Rail News from Central Virginia
Week of August 26, 1996

By Vic Stone

* News from Central VA*

Before we begin with the news stuff - here's a different view of how
things went today during a photo trip.


A quick quiz:

Question #1 -
How much time does it take a train to get through the North Alexandria
interlocking?

If you're P081, running on Sunday, Sep. 1, 1996, then it would take 2.5
hours.

Second question:
How many train crews does it take to take a switch off power and put it on
hand throw?

Answer - Three.  P081, X961, and R191.

And for Final Jeopardy ...

Answer - An hour and a half.

Appropriate Question - How long does it take to talk P081 by the signal at
Ravensworth?


Now for today's story - Railfan Screwed Again by going to James River
Bridge.

Perhaps, third time the charm?

Today, a railfan waiting at the James River bridge on the North End
subdivision of CSX's Florence Division was left counting fishermen for
3 hours instead of trains on the bridge.  As the perfect weather went to
waste, the frustration was clearly evident.

"It's the second time I've been here to take a good picture of the Silver
Star coming over the bridge", said the railfan.  "And the second time that
I've left empty-handed."

But, all wasn't for naught at the massive concrete structure which was in
great light nearly all day, as R173 and P053 did roll over the bridge, the
latter as the sun was setting.

"P081 is by South Milford at 1945", reported control station operator
Allen Brougham.  "Let me see what the delay was .... hmmm, this morning,
Station Agent at Alexandria reported loose tracks - tie plates were
hanging in the air."  "Hmmm, track inspector reported track OK at 0930".
"Oh, here we go ... today's delays to the Silver Star ... none ... Awww,
horse *!@#)!@^".

"Well, I didn't do the damage that I wanted to [today], but I'll try again
to get the good stuff", said the railfan as he rolled off into the sunset
back to TC Dispatcher headquarters.

Be sure to tune back in next time - same Bat Time, same Bat Channel.

**********************


This was a lackluster news week here, so there's not much to talk about ..

NS - Most trains have returned to a "normal" schedule since maintenance
work has progressed south out of the immediate area.  Current work is
south of the Oak Ridge control point.

SL&H connection train 341 has been running with on-again, off-again sets
of CP power, now often mixed with NS units.  Train 211 has been running
mostly via the ex-Southern mainline.

A second section of 456, running as X56 was spotted on Saturday, with a
significant amount of Maersk trailers on the head end.  This is a
relatively unusual sighting, especially on a manifest train.  The train
was running in late afternoon.

CSX - An "average" traffic week, by this year's standards as the
westbound empties continue to roll, and no foreign power/leased unit
spotted this week.  However, according to the Bull Sheet, 70 units will be
leased for the winter season, so chances are pretty good that something
will show up here.

Virtually all westbounds now go over the North Mountain route, making two
one-way streets (in essence) with the eastbounds over the James
River/Rivanna subdivisions.


Although somewhat out of the immediate territory, a quick swing through
the Richmond area revealed some interesting notes:

- Acca Yard units of note were Chessie/WM-painted 4618, Seaboard (although
with a CSX Yellow Nose) 4601, and several GP15's.
- The enginehouse at Bryan Park had about 20 units on the west side of the
shops: All were in Yellow-Nose 2 CSX scheme.


Looking forward to the fall?  Here's what you have to choose from:

Partial Listing of Fall Excursions - 1996

Aug 31    UP 844 Chicago-Milwaukee RT
          Potomac Eagle trip to Petersburg, WV
Sep 1     UP E's Chicago-Union RT
Sep 2     UP 844 Chicago-Clinton, IA (return via Metra), Iowa 400 trip
Sep 5     MARC excursion over Conrail's Pope's Creek Secondary
          Bowie-Brandywine-Morgantown-Bowie
Sep 7     UP 844 Des Moines-Boone RT
          Excursion over Nashville & Eastern (Nashville-Watertown)
Sep 14    Excursion over Chattanooga & Chickamauga (to Kensington, GA)
Sep 21-22 Monticello RR Days (Wabash F7 1189 & ex-CB FPA4 6789)
Sep 28    Potomac Eagle trip to Petersburg, WV
Sep 29    MARC excursion over Conrail's Pope's Creek Secondary
          Bowie-Brandywine-Waldorf & return
Oct 5, 12, TVRM trips with 4501 Chattanooga-Trion, GA
19-20,
26-27
Oct 5     Potomac Eagle trip to Petersburg, WV (railfan photo special)
          MARC Cumberland Railfest excursion to Terra Alta, WV
          Altoona RR Days excursion around Horseshoe Curve
Oct 6     MARC Brunwick RR Days excursion Cumberland-Brunswick & return
          Altoona RR Days excursion around Horseshoe Curve
Oct 12-13 614 excursion on NJT: Hoboken-Port Jervis & return
          EBT Fall Spectacular
          Roanoke, VA Railfest
          Appamattox VA Railroad Days
Oct 12    Excursion over Nashville & Eastern (Nashville-Watertown)
Oct 18-30 AAPRCO train Oakland-Chicago-New Orleans-LA
Oct 19    614 excursion on NJT: Hoboken-Port Jervis & return
          Conway Scenic RR Railfan Day
          UP 844 St. Louis-Springfield-S Pekin & return
Oct 20    614 excursion on NJT: Hoboken-Port Jervis & return
          UP 844 St. Louis-Springfield-S Pekin & return
Oct 26    614 excursion on NJT: Hoboken-Port Jervis & return
Oct 27    614 excursion on NJT: Hoboken-Port Jervis & return
          MARC excursion over Conrail's Pope's Creek Secondary
          Bowie-Brandywine-Chalk Point & return
Dec 7     Wilmington & Western steam excursion


No doubt that there will be other trips as well.  If anyone knows of
others, please let me know, and I will keep updating the list each week.

- Vic Stone
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